Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-07
CALL PELLETIER
in herman CASE
SEEKING $4,000


since his removal from office, Joseph
{. Pelletier, ousted Suffolk County
district attorney and disbarred law
yer, took the witness stand, today in
case which formed a part of the
network of charges woven about him
by former Attorney General ]. Wes-
ton Allen. Pelletier had been sum-
moned as witness by Mayor Ber-
man. former proprietor of a Boston
hotel. now seeking to recover S5O,0OO
from Daniel II. Coakley, a disbarred
Boston attorney. because of alleged
eXtortion of money by Coakley under
threats of criminal prosecution.
William ]. Corcoran, removed as
district attorney of Middlesex coun-
ty and now under indictment for lar
ceny and eXtortion. testified that as
result of a series of interviews.
Berman settled for 500, 200 a threat
ened civil suit. The threatened suit
was being brought by client of Cor
coran whose wife was alleged to have
frequented the hotel conducted by
Berman,
There was stir in the courtroom
when, at noon, Pelletier quietly en-
tered and slipped into a seat. Called
to the witness stand he admitted
that he knew both Corcoran and
Coailey. Asked if he recalled the
case of the hotel conducted by Ber-
man in early 1916. he said:
Il recall that something came up
about the Higgins hotel. Corcoran
called me up on the phone and
brought the matter to my attention
He said Il wish You would send down
to the Higgins Hotel and get the
register-not the one on top. that's
phony, but the one underneath the
counter.
II assumed that he wanted it for
official purposes and I sent for it."
Pelletier said that he heard of no
complaint against the hotel. He said
that he called up his special inspec-
tor and told MIN to get the register
underneath" i'.'
THE book was brought to me-"
he testified. Yes. it was the same
daylight away. Oh, very short
time elansed between the time Cor
coran called and the bringing of the
book
when I got the book I nut it on
the desk or in the safe. I did not
examine it.
almost Immediately after the
hook arrived. IN came Berman and
the hotel with Berranl. Berman
was excited and asked why sent for
the registe~
IT said District Attorney Corcoran
asked me to. He said. I'm going to
see my lawyer CoakIey'.
''T said. All right"
Pelletier testified that he never
knew whether or not herman had
been to Coakley and that he had
rot talked with either R,erman or
Gordon. The next time he heard
about the book. he said. was when
someone from the hotel called for
it, He said that after Corcoran he'd
eiven word that he had no obiec-
tions to it's return he surrendered
the register.
Pelletier said that he did not hear
of the book again until his removal
trial. Under close questioning he
said:
NO; I did not stop to consider
whether I had the right to send for
the book without some court author
ity. l had done similar things many
times before. If Berman had re-
fused 10 give up the book. Inspector
, McDevitt would not have used force.
i They offered no opposition, but let
him have it willingly"
mo. I never looked in the book.
SO far as I know nobody ever looked
in it while l had it.
II am sure l never destroyed the
thing with Corcoran and never
heard anything more about it until
the next trial"
Under cross examination. asked II
i: had been weeks or davs only be-
fore the book was returned. Pelle-
tier said he was uncertain-that 1t
might have been only two or three
days.
AS he was being excused by At
torney Garland, counsel for the
plaintiff, Garland asked if he could
be reached by telephone Friday
morning.
Certainly" Pelletier replied with
emphasis. Some paper this morn
| ing quoted you as saying last night
you were afraid I might skip town"
II did not say any such thing"
Garland replied.