Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-23

lpust lOUnOTTDW 11lOTHHlb hh'
talk the matter over"
Mr. Stern said he thought the Mayor /
said something about having the matter !
He went to the Mayors ,
cottage the next morning, and sat on
the porch while the Mayor was eating
his breakfast. Presidently the Mayor
came out in his shirt sleeves and salo
to him: 81 have read that letter does
Senator McNichol know that you brougN
the letter here?'
II told him Senator McNichol didn't |
know anything about the letter, sald
Mr.. stern, and the Mayor said IDidht
Judge Gordon write that letter. j am |
not afraid of Judge Gordon or any one !
else. You had better show the letter
to Senator McNichol"
wanted McNichoI Called
Mr., stern testified the Mayor wanted
him TO call Senator McNichol on the
telephone. but he told him TO call nm
up himself, if he wanted to. The Mayor
replied. "al right and stepped inside
to the telephone. Senator McN.Cnoi
was then living at Atlantic city, said Mr..
stern, and, "T heard the Mayor say
over the telephone is that you. senator
Mr.. Stern is here with letter anu !,
IL the most awful thing | ever read ana
I told stern to let you know about ".
ne Mayor lntl lul ll'h w
He wants you TO take the letter up 10
him The Mayor asked me not TO nave
the letter published. and said he Woulu
SOC senator McNichol on Monday ana
see that things were remedied IN 'ne
Fifth Ward. as lie had an appointment
with the Senator on Monday to talk over
police conditions and changes IN the
Fifth Ward.
Gordon wrote Carey Letter
The Carey letter" referred to in Mr
Stern's testimony, was made the suDJec'
for further questions by Mr. 1aulah''
II was brought out by the questioning
that this letter, in which the MAYOR "dS
warned in detail Of Fifth Ward condi-
tions. had not been written by Mr.. Carey.
though II was signed by him. The wit
ness testified It was produced IN 'he
office Of former Judge James Gay COR
I don, after two-day conference IN "ni'h
/ the witness took part.
. Later, in reply to question NY MI
Ta,lan. MIR. Stern sail Detective
soudor had been investigating police con
! ditions in the Fifth Ward for the Mayor
and hc had seen Soudcr writing reports
before the primary Of 1917.
"What on?' the Assistant District
Attorney asked.
ION paper was tho nnS"'''
Reports Best Evidence
ludve Audcnried interrupted to say
,bat tho reports themselves would be the
best evidence.
These arc the confidential reports
which Mayor Smith refused to produce
in Municipal Court before, and out o
which grew the charge of contempt o
court
II now formally demand that the de
fcnsc shall produce these papers, Mr
Taulanc said.
Mr. Stern. continuing, said that N
had seen Detective Walsh writing re
ports and also man named l's'rans'
This he said, was in the office acros
from Mayor Smiths in city ilall.
The man I.estranGe referred 10 by IN
, witness is supposedly Lieutenant OF I've
: tcctives Lestrange.
"uoAy do YOU know they were re
ports?r Mr. stern was asked
.,They told me so," was the reply
Mr. scott objected to this as hearsa
evidence. The objection was susialn'
and the statement stricken from I'll
record -,,-..
Mr Stern then told Of his telephon
conversation with the Mayor al A'lant'
city on the night before tho l'l
, primary election
Telephoned Mayor
"t said. Mr.. Mayor. there is trounI
and murder in the Fifth Ward, W
, witness testified, skulls nave peC
cracked the Finletter club was raided
, ,hore are gunmen in the ward; III
, po,ice lieutenant is defiant ana there
, no order | wish you would come VI
$ also told him Deputy SherIH H''N'
n stein had been assaulted. 'oIu hl
- ] making raids.
whnn nersons we're arrested they wei
roIoaeed at once I told him every ma
4 assaulted was Carey man. asked III
. to nlease come up and take charge J.
said ne didn't think he could make
rain and asked me why ! didn't 81
Wilson or Robinson.
Il "I told him he could take an electr
= train. hut he said that was too $40
:. and that I should look up tho ira
schedule and then call him again
. II went to Broad street station al
made arrangements Tor Sp'cial tal
-, ,rbon I called up the Mayor ana 10
u hin, am engine and cars were waiting
: hiring him to Philadelphia. He sa
. .yGu can't pull any circus stun II
" that on me, I'm going to sleep ana
l. hung up. .,,,,, a.,
potrolmau Wirtshafter had heen se
into the Third District shortly peto
10 tho trouble. PatrOlncn Feldman a
Fran, had both been transferred trt
Q, tho second District to the Third shor
Id before the trouble. and Patrolman lia
n den had been sent into the Third u
trict about the same time. he said. /
~ trolman Murphy. he testified, belong
in the district.
~ on being further questioned by Mr.. ia
iS lane. Mr.. Stern enlarged on ms recoll'
u, tion of his telephone interview with
III Mayor. He said the Mayor told him
u had found out, all about the rad on
/. Elnle,ter club The Mayor told hi
~ ho said. the club had been full of poll
W, mon and that he intended to have :
s' rcant Hogan and Fireman Peters
-. transferred for political activity.
n MIR. Stern spent about twenty m
" utes under Mr. Scott's cross -eXamir
Ia lion Stern's direct testimony was
90 sected and he was asked to show
ev what authority he made virtually eve
n statement before the jury.
We Was Bill Kidnapped"
'0 In referring to the transit bill bef
mr. the Legislature committee at Harr
" burg. of which the witness was
nc chairman, Mr.. Scott asked il 1t was
he fact that the bill had been kidnapl
He and put in the custody of a subcomn
he tee appointed by Stern.
he "Didn't the bill disappear" Mr.. Sc
III asked
i'm IT don't know" the witness repll
est 'The Legislature did not pass it,"
tes The witness was asked from where