Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-01

Continued from raEe One
and was going to Philadelphia by troll.
ley.
on the eve of the September primary
last year, wirtschafter was serenely un-
conscious of the raid on the Finletter
Club, the Carey headquarters, ne told
the jury today After the raid he went
to the Pennsylvania Hospital to inter-
view Sergeant Michael Hogan. who had
been b,ackjacked at the club From
that interview and his subsequent inves-
tigation at the Finletter Club. Writ
schaftcr gained the impression the battle
at the club was simply family squab-
BILE" among It's members.
The witness denied he fired shot
into the club A Commonwealth wit
ness identified wirtschafter positively as
the man who discharged revolver
through n window. The shot preceded
the rush of gunmen into the place.
Taulane Springs Surprise
Assistant District Attorney Taulane
launched his surprise attack on Writ
schafter the instant Gray ended the d.
rect examination. Taulane showed the
defendant paper and asked II the
signature John Wirtschafter" was
written by him. The witness, with sur
prise registered on his face and with
out looking directly at the paper. would
not admit the signature was his. He
would not assert the signature was not
his either. wirtschafter called attention
to &C." he said, missing from the
signed name. The prosecuting attorney
asked him to write his signature. which
was done Taulane and his associates
then compared the specimen signature
and that on the offered document Mean.
time Attorney Gray tried unsuccessfully
to see either the document of the speci-
men signature. The Court would not per-
NIT the defense attorney to see either
without prosecutions consent. Writ
schafter persisted he could not identify
the name unless permitted to read the
entire paper.
Finally Admits signature
He would not admit the signature
even looked like his. Driven into a
corner by Taulane, Wirtschafter de-
clared he was not familiar with his
own handwriting.
Did you make a report to the SUPER
intendent of poice?" asked Taulane.
Yes, sir" Whereupon the prosecut-
!
the signature identified by the witness.
The Court at length suggested that the
witness be allowed to read the paper.
Wirtschafter then said the signature was
his. and asked permission 10 explain.
Wrote at Tate's Direction
Wirtschaftcr said he was taken to City
Hall after primary election day and con-
fronted with Butch" Masca and later
with Lefty" Coaelo. both serving long
terms for the murder OF Policeman
Eppley The witness said the guumen
were asked If they had seen him, Writ
| schafter. at Sixth and Spruce streets. or
In New York city. The gunmen. the
| witness asserted, answered no.
After he was confronted with the gun.
men Wirtschafter, At the direction OF
James Tate. then captain of detectives
wrote several statements concerning his
| knowledge OF the murder and other elec-
| tion day events In the Fifth Ward Writ
schafter said he was nervous and shak.
Ing when he made the statements.
Admits MIsstatements
wirtschafter declared he made severa
misstatements in his City Hall reports
miss tatement, he explained, that he
would be undergoing trial in con-
spiracy case.
To prove his contention that Writ
schafter was political cop" Taulant
quizxed the witness about his police rec
ord. He made the defendant admit III
was transferred to the Second and
Christian streets station just before thu
Salus-Moore contest in the Fourth Ward
He was transferred to the Third ant
Delaney streets police station, he ad
tAf~ ha - ~
Deutsch contest began in the Fiftl
Ward. Taulane's hammering sent Writ
schafter up in the air" He began argu
Ing with the Assistant District Attorne.
and was cautioned twice by the Court.
Didn't Know Of Deutsch-Carey Fight
wirtschafter added few flowers o
his own to the bouquet of denials mad
by Lieutenant Bennett and 1saa
: Deutsch He did not know where tn
Finletter Club was. He did not kno'
was usually referred to as the "Deutsc
, Club" But the climax was when Tau
!, !, lane. in a disgusted tone! asked Wir,
schafter II he knew there was a contet
, in the Fifth Ward at the Septembe
: primary between Deutsch and Carey
II did not" was the answer. Taulan
!, pointed his hand at the witness an
. waved him out Of the witness box.
t Before he left the stand, the Coul
asked wirtschafter II he wanted
. make any explanation of the reports {
statements in the possession of the DiI
' trict Attorneys office.
e After wirtschafter was excused. A
e torney Gray deferred calling the otht
! police defendants. to sandwich-in nun
Il ber Of police witnesses. He explaine
that Vii Philadelnhin con
pelled the early return to the city {
] the group of sergeants and patrolme
who came here to testify.
House Sergeant Davis, of the Thir
3 District, was the first summoned. II