The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-13
MEN INVOLVED
WANTED TO KNOW
COST OF DEAL
Stoneman Testified That
He Went to New York
and Secured Checks,
Notes and Stocks With
Which to Pay Women
and the Lawyers in the
Case

boston attorney, VINO is cHdTgeu Will
having acted as the "go between" ii
the transaction by which Hiram
Abrams and other motion picture mer
settled for 100000 possible litigation
growing out of midnight party at a
Woburn road house, testified before the
supreme court to-day that he was un-
able to find in his diary any record OF
his connection with the Abrams case
Stoneman said the reason nothing sp-
peared in the diary was because the
case was settled so quickly.
+, The supreme court is sitting in trial
on the charges of conspiracy in this
transaction and other alleged irregu-
larities on which Attorney General Al
len seeks the removal of District At
torney Nathan A Tufts of Middlesex
county.
The witness said he was employed
nv Abrams in May. 1917, about two
months after the dinner at Mishawum
Manor, the niM house conducted by
Brownie" Kennedy He first learned
of the Woburn party at conference
at Hotel TQuraine, where Abrams told
him of a Anner given to Fatty" Ar
buckle at the Copley Plaza on March
O and said that afterward some mem
bers of the party went TO Mishawum.
Nothing was thought of the affair
until an article appeared in a Bos-
ton newspaper and was brought to the
attention o. Mrs. Abrams, Stoneman
was told, he said.
The witness corroborated statements
in Abrams deposition that Abrams
had come TO Boston from Portland in
response to a message from Mayor
James NJ. Curiey, who told him there
was likely to be trouble; and that At
torney Daniel II. Coakley was called
into the case after conference here.
"The following morning Abrams and
Walter Greene went to Cambridge with
Coakley to endeavor to convince Dis
trict Attorney Tufts that they were
men of good standing" Mr.. Stoneman
said Abrams told him, he said, that
Tufts told them he would make fur
ther investigation as to their limo
cence. Abrams saio further, accord /
ing to the witness. that Coakley want
ed retainer of $4,000 and later
withdrew from the case.
Abrams knew or had been told the |
witness said, that Coakley had seen |
some of the women who were at the
frolic, or their counsel. Stone
man testified that he talked with |
Coakley but that the latter would not
agree TO come back into the case un-
less he received his retainer of $40.
600 and authority TO go out and set
tie suits.
"As ! understand it," he quoted
Coakley as SAVING, "the principal dan
ger to your clients is publicity and for
that reason | want to 60 out and get
rid Of these women Stoneman in
sisted. he said. that his clients want
the matter settled but wanted TO know
how much it would cost.
Coskley's stand was discussed at a
conference in New London, Stoneman
added, and he thought one of the at
said that If Coakley took the
rase without any agreement as to-
fees it might cost. 100000.
After they returned To Boston. the
witness said, Charles VI. Innes went to
Zee Coakley and later told the witness
nc had arranged with Coakley to-set-
lie the matter up for 100000, but that
sl5. 900 was to be taken out TO be dis
ributed among tbs lawyers d
Stoneman went e. New York. he tes-
flied, and obtained from Abrams
heck for 52.250. two notes. one for .
,25. 900 and another for $3.50. and FIVE |
hundred shares of stock in a motion /
picture concern. After realizing on the
totes. be gave Coskley two checks. one
or s52.250 and the other for S32.750.
In discussing the case with Coakley. !
stoneman ssid that he insisted on an
iron clad" release from all the wom-
n that his client had not troubled
nth. Coakley first asked that the
areement should say ss many re- :.
eases a. he could obtain but later
greed 10 procure all releases
A check payable 10 Levenson and
.evenson was giveL several dsys lat 4,
r. Stoneman said The money was
. be distributed among several law
ers. Stonemsn got 5000. Coaklev
old him that he had retained s250o0
cr himself. the witness said in answer
o questions
Stonemsn ssid r. did not ask Coax .
" the names of the women involved
b the affair He said be sursnissd
hsv uere wonaen Of the underworld. 4
InteTview With Tufts. 4
Stoneman testified that il a. mter- 3
isv With Cosklsy on May p. sbs lat q