The New York herald., 1922-02-09
GASKO GIRL TELLS
OF FRICKARD THREAT
Promoter Ordered Her to Keep
Quiet, Asserts Witness
Found on Farm.
PODD HELD IN $4,000
(hildren's Society to Ask Mag
istrate to Hold Tex for
Grand Jury.

Nathan Podbransky. alias Podd, was
cid in $4,000 bali yesterday by JUS
oe Isador Wasservogel in Supreme
fourt charged with bribing and
'hreatening Nellie Gasko, Is. held as a
Titness in the charges against Tex
kickard, boxing promoter.
Podbransky, who lives at 1907
Eighteenth avenue. Brooklyn, and who
bid he was "strike breaker" was
rraigned before Justice Wasservogel,
(tting as committing magistrate in
be Grand Jury room of the Crimina,
ourts Building, in the presence of the
.lrl. On request of Ferdinand Pecora,
citing District Attorney. the hearing
Fas adjourned until two o'clock to-
borrow In Justice Wasservogels private
|nambers at 81 Chambers street
The charge against Podbransky, who
|hvc his name as Podd when arrested
tuesday near Wappingers Falls by de-
,ctives Of the Society for Prevention
4 Cruelty to Children, is based on Sec
on 2440 of the penal code, which
akes it felony to "bribe a person
bout to be called as witness in a
-iminal action for the purpose of in
.nencing the persons testimony or in
.ucing the person to give false testi-
ony."
Mr.. Pecora said the Gasko girl when
Interviewed by him Tuesday night. after
he had been transferred to this city
nth Podbransky, told him that she
Rd been taken from Podbransky's
|ome on January 20 after both he and
ickard had told her to keep her mouth
hut" about her knowing the latter
tr. Pecora said the girl told him new
othes had been purchased for her by
|odbranslSy and that she then was
,ken to a farm near Wappingers Falls.
3e continued:
Nellie Gasko has given us very
.lluable information concerning the
.larges brought against Rickard by the
hidrens Society in behalf OF Alice
luck Her testimony will corroborate
nat also of Sarah Schoenfeld, as well
Is give her the status of a complaining
itness against Richard"
Asked If he expected to file additional
|larges to the one on behalf of the Ruck
.rl, Mr.. Pecora said:
"At present all complaints presented
J the District Attorney against Rickard
nth supporting evidence, will be pre-
|ented to the proper authorities for
.ction We feel we have a prima facie
ase against Rickard and will ask Mag
.trate George w. Simpson. at the hear
g on the Ruck charges in West Side
burt on Saturday, to hold the defend
ne for the Grand Jury
Mr.. Pecora said the girl told him
|etaied story of her meeting with
cikard last summer and of her visits
apartments at 20 and "a West Forty
|eventh street. The two apartments. nc
hid. were rented by n man named
Fields, who was in the employ of
tickard.
| According to police records Podbran-
Ky was convicted and sentenced to
[lmira Reformatory in June. 1910, for
rand larceny. On two other occasions
e was arrested. once for larceny and
|nce for felonious assault, but the
.harges were withdrawn.
The Gasko girl, whose home is at 725
|cean Parkway. Brooklyn, was ar
.,igned in Children's Court before JUS
ce Franklin Chase Hoyt and ordered
rtained in custody of the Children's So
ETY. until the hearing Saturday in West
| de court.