Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-20
R0RKE, ON STAND,
DENIES ANY FIXING
Seeks to Provide Alibi in Alleged
Conferences With Defendant
Witnesses
JUDGE PATTERSON TESTIFIES

A sweeping denial of statements alleg :
ing he induced witnesses in murder
case to change their testimony was made
today by William +. Rorke, lawyer and
state legislator.
Rorke is on trial before Judge Albert
W. johnson in Quarter Sessions Court
on charges of conspiracy and suborna
tion of perjury. He was under direct
examination in his own defense for
thirty minutes this morning.
Court adjourned for the noon recess
when the lawyers direct testimony was
concluded. His cross examination opened
the afternoon session.
The state representative was called to
the stand by his counsel, !. Washington
Logue. after numerous witnesses, il =
Guiding judges and lawyers had testi
fed favorably as to his private and pro .
fessional reputation.
Judge Patterson a Witness
Judge John NJ. Patterson was one of
the character witnesses heard.
Mr. Rorke's testimony was built
around two dates, November !. and No
vember !. II was on the latter date he
began defending Anthony Zanghi, ac.
cuscd of murder.
Evidence given by three alleged per &.
iucers was to the effect they talked about
the Ianghi case with lsorkc on Oc-
tober 2S, November 3 and November :.
Judge Patterson replied favorably to
questions concerning the defendant 8
reputation, private and professional,
when called TO the stand. He was
cross examined by James Gay Gordon,
Jr.. assistant district attorney.
Are you the Judge Patterson who
70 fpr ,,f 10,
the last primaries?f asked Gordon.
II am, but you shouldn't hold that
against me. | wasn't elected" replied
the judge quickly and smilingly.
Pattersons Reputation Praised
They haven't found that anything
against your reputation anyway in
terjected J. Washington LOguc. counsel
for Rorkc.
Another bit Of byplay occurred when
Byron A. Miner, state representa-
tive. testified as a character witness.
Were you n member of the Legis-
lature with Mr.. Rorke?' queried Mr..
Gordon.
Il was. ! was perfectly satisfied,
aud the people appeared to be-" re-
sponded Miner.
Are they still satisfied with youE
Il will find that out at the next cleo
ton. was the reply.
Among those who testified to the good
reputation of Mr.. Rorke were Judges
MacNeille and Bartlett, of the Munich
pal Court; John r. X. Scott, Il. L. d.
Roach secretary of the committee Of
seventy Joseph p. Gaffney, United
States Commissioner Howard Long aud
George Brodbeck, clerk of the United
States District Court.
Evidence tending to establish an alib
for William +. Rorkc, accused of con
spiracy and subornation of perjury, and
an incident in which Judge John NJ
Patterson figured marked the trial of
the lawyer and state legislator in Quar-
ter Sessions Court today.
Joseph White, 1S41 South Front
street, one of forty-one character wit
nesses examined for the defense this
morning, said he was with Mr.. Rorke
tie morning of November 3.
White said he accompanied the law
yer to Quarter Sessions Court on that
date, saw Mr.. Rorke until II 40 o'clock
and then left when the lawyer began
defending case.
White further testified he called at
the lawyer office November >, and
that he saw several men whom he did
not know in Rorke's private office. He
added he heard Rorke say: Tell the
truth. That is all you have to do"
Whites Testimony Important
The Importance of Whites testimony
is based on the statements of three men
involved in the alleged subornation of
perjury who said they talked with Mr..
Rorke at 10 o'clock on the morning of
November 3. They said they also
talked with the lawyer on November ).
The commonwealth alleges Rorke in
Structed the three men TO give testi-
mony at a murder trial differing from
that they gave at the preliminary hear
ing and the coroners inquest.