The Attempted Assassination of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt - Part 21
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Part 21

A. A democrat.

Q. Democrat for what particular reason?

A. Well, as long as we were in the liquor business there in New York it was almost natural that we should vote the Tammany rule because every liquor dealer needs protection.

Q. On account of what?

A. Account Sunday law, because we was selling Sundays beer that we could not sell unless you belonged to that organization. You will have the police after you all the time. I suppose you know that as well----

Q. Did you ever contribute?

A. Well, we had to contribute at times--yes, sir. There would be a different way to contribute.

Q. Did you ever give money to the organization?

A. No, not to the organization.

Q. Or to the police?

A. There is a different way of doing that. If you didn't do it willingly of course there would be a way. They will be around one of those nice Sundays and arrest you and naturally there will be two there and they will impress a charge against you in a manner that will get you out in case you paid them. I have been doing that several times, gave each one five dollar bill or ten dollar bill and they won't press the charge.

Q. This money was to be used for what purpose?

A. That I could not tell.

Q. The men that came around on that mission were they police officers or politicians?

A. Well, regular officers, specials, what takes these Sunday----

Sheriff Arnold:

Mr. Zabel, did anybody here send for a man named Moss?

Mr. Bloodgood:

Yes. Send him in.

Q. Did you ever contribute anything to the Republican campaign fund?

A. No, sir; I had no reason.

Q. Was ever any contribution solicited of you by Tammany Hall or by the Police?

A. No, sir.

Q. Now isn't it a fact that a good deal of your feeling against Roosevelt was created by what you read in the papers?

A. It was not created, no, sir.

Q. Well, was it to a large measure influential?

A. I could not just deny that it had some influence but not to be decisive.

Q. Not decisive.

A. No, sir.

Q. Didn't it make you feel angry and unfriendly?

A. Not any worse than what I was.

Q. Didn't make you feel any worse or more unfriendly?

A. No, sir.

Q. Toward Roosevelt?

Mr. Bloodgood:

Q. How long have you been reading the New York Herald?

A. Oh, I believe since I am able to read.

Q. And the World?

A. Also.

Q. Now you said the other evening that papers you princ.i.p.ally read were those two--was that correct?

A. Correct.

Q. Now did you read them during August of this year. You were in New York then?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And state what impressed you in particular--what you saw in the New York Herald in August--at about that time of the formation of the new progressive party in Chicago?

A. Well, in fact I cannot remember much. I could not be very much impressed by the New York Herald because the Herald is a very conservative paper. The Herald is not what they call the Yellow press and the only excuse the Herald had is simply to say, Well, the Third Termer, that is all.

Q. Now what in the New York World impressed you during that time?

A. From that time?

Q. During that time.

A. Well, as I have said before, there was no special impression nohow.

It was only the same as anybody else could read, which was to be found in the editorials or the man was building up a new party and was deserting and he cries that he stole the nomination away from him, such as that; as anybody else would read. That didn't make any serious impression on me.

Q. Now, when did you write out these statements that was in your pocket?