Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-22
ALL CONGRESS GROUPS .
IN ACRE MENT ON TAX
BILL FOR COOLIDGE 0. K.
TELLS OF PETTING
PARTY that COST
HIM S362,000

Cambridge. Mass, May 21-Ed-
mund D. Barbour, SO years old, suf-
fering from heart disease, infirm and
able to see but few feet in front Of
him, tottered to the witness stand Of
the Midlesex Superior Court today
and testified that he had paid over to
Daniel H. Coakley $4,000 in cash,
bonds and stocks for a "petting
party" he had in his Office with a
Mrs. Daley" Barbour, a Boston
china merchant, told the court that
he had never been the same since the
occurrence, that his body became in
firm and his mentality was shaken.
Coakley and William j. Corcoran.
former district attorney of the coun-
ty, went on trial today on indict-
ments for conspiracy to extort money
from Barbour and others by means
of threats between 1914 and the pres
ent time.
The incident, according to the wit
ness. took place in 1916. Barbour
said that he had known the Mrs.
Daley" for 10 years previous to that.
One day in July, 1916, he testified she
came to his office for money.
"While she was there" he said. 81
embraced her and we had a petting
party-just petting party, Your
Honor. and nothing else"
Suddenly. the witness explained.
he heard noise over the transom
and saw the head of a man who
claimed he was a policeman.
II was all excited and didn't know
what to do. But while the man was
still in my office, Mrs. Daley made
the suggestion which / accepted. to
60 see Mr.. Coakley who would be
able, no doubt, to straighten the mat
ter out"
Barbour testified that when he
reached Coakley's office only two
hours later he found not only Mr..
Coakley and Mrs. Daley" there but
a man who said he was Mrs. Daley's
husband. .7.--.s
II told Mr.. Coakley the whole
story and he said that L should re-
turn at later date and he would
then be able to tell me more definitely
what he could do for me" the wit
ness added.
Barbour said that at the confer
ence, Coakley told him that he
(Coakley) had found out through
Corcoran, who Is now under five
year sentence on other blackmail
charges, that there was a certain
man who had q grudge against him
and had spent $4,000 "to get the
goods on him." The witness said
that when he offered to reimburse the
mysterious sleuth for the money he
had laid out, he was told by Coax
ley that he would have to pay $751;
900, not $4,000. to appease the I'M
identified detective.
Barbour testified that he paid this
and thought the matter was closed.
but several days later he got a bill
from Coakley for $4,000 as counsel
fee for Corcoran, who. 1T was alleg-
ed, had induced the mysterious man
to take the $4,000. He questioned
this bill, he said, but paid 1t on
Coakley's assurance that it was "all
right.
Several months later. according to
the witness. the woman IN the case
whom he referred to as a Mrs. Da-
lev said that she wanted something
for her injuries in the matter. Bar
bour testified that he at once went
to Coakley.
"Nhen I got through Coakley told
me that ii was pretty serious mat
ter and that would have to give the
woman some money too" he said.
"By the time that he got through
paying" resentful but unidentified de-
tectives," lawyers" and 1.-THE injured
woman" Barbour testified that he
had expended 1862 200. This sum. he
said. he delivered to Coakley in
cash. stocks and >honds.
However. in all. this the witness
testified, IT was never. permitted to
see or know the name Of the detec-
tive who looked over the transom and
I told Corcoran in one of the confer
ences I had with him and Coakley
that I was entitled to this
There's force in your argument.
but 1t can't he arranged" Corcoran Is
alleged to have told the witness.