New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-04
Woman Denies
Cunson CHARGE
Was'Frame-Up'
Accuser, on Witness Stand.
Refuses to Alter Story of
Her Cash Gifts Made TO
Former Vice Detective
Girl Backs Accusation
Jewelry Clerk Tells of Sell.
ing Gold Belt Buckle
With j. ]. c." Monogram

Despite repeated attempts by James
w. osborne, counsel for John J. Gun
son, to force an admission that she had
on several occasions characterized her
charges against Gunson as frame
up" Rebecca Melyado, known also on
Broadway as billie Howard" and "Dia-
mond Billie" yesterday chung to her
story that the former plainclothes Of
ficer had extorted $50 from her.
.Gunson, who formerly was mem
Der of Inspector Dominick Henrv's
Wee Squad, was indicted in March,
1920, by the grand jury on the com
plant of Rebecca Melyado. She told
the jury that Gunson had entered into
an agreement with her by which she
could operate in his district in return
for a part of her earnings and that she
had given $50 to him. After forty
three postponements, the case is now
on trial before Judge Rosalsky and
jury in General Sessions.
Woman Tells Her Story
Over the objections of Mr.. Osborne
and Eugene f. Niece, the defendants
counsel, the woman witness rctold
her story of her relations with Gun
son. She totld of her presents to him
of silk shirts and of gold belt buckle
engraved with the initials ~. J G."
The latter, she declares, she presented
to Gunson on September 4. 1917.
Mr. Osborne was vigorous in his
cross eXamination and drew admissions
OF numerous arrests from the witness.
When she admitted that she was ar
rested in October 1920, and confined
IN the jefferson Market Prison. he
asked:
"Dldn t you telephone to Mr.. Smith -
MISS Melyado replied in the mega
tive. She denied that she had phoned
ASSISTANT District Attorney Smith or
had had any one phone to him for her.
"Dldn you say at the time you we're
confined in jefferson Market Prison
that the whole thing against Gunson
was frame-up by you and that YOU
would expose it unless something was
done to get you off ?" Mr.. Osborne
asked
absolutely no. she replied. ~
kind" WV
Witness Sticks to Testimony
Mr.. Osborne in his cross-examination
showed everal discrepancies between
the story told yesterday by the witness
and her story told before magistrates
Jean Norris In February, 1920. In the
mann, however, her story of the altered
eNtortlon was mistaken.
Marie Munck, of 318 East Sixth
Street, a saleswoman in a jewelry shon
testified that she had sold to Billie
Howard gold belt buckle in 1917 and
that the initials 81. J. G." were ordered
inscribed on it. She admitted that the
only time she had ever seen the com
plalnant was when she came to buv
the buckle and then several DAYS later
when she called for it after it had heen
Spanish Rose" who gave her full
name as Rose Gonzales and her address
as the Hotel Central, 81 Madison Aven-
ue' followed on the stand and related
her knowledge of Gunsons association
with Billie Howard" Miss Gonzales
lived with the Howard woman DURING
a part, Of 1917.
Spanish Rose" declared that she
saw the Howard woman give Gunson
a fifty dollar bill.
Gunson said he needed new suit
according to Rose. On numerous occa-
SONS the three went to restaurants
she said, and billie" invariably naid
the check.