Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-28
hereby charged with dereliction of duty

Ill bulS, bO-WlJ.
That heretofore the Council of th,
city desiring to abate the houses of pros
titution, gambling and opium dens in
Chinatown in said city, authorized sale
Chief and City Attorney to employ {
special detective for that purpose, the
police force Of said city being unable SC
to do. That since said time the said
Chief of Police has in every means in
his power endsavored to frustrate the
objects thereof and at no time since the
appointment of said special police has
said Chief furnished the City Attor-
ney or said special detective with any
information whatever with reference to
the violation of law as above, although
he has from time to time received infor-
nation which would have led to the ar
rest and conviction of the guilty parties
had he so desired
That on the trial of the case of the
People VS.. Chung Wa Ling. charged
with keeping an opium den and tried
and convicted on June l6, 1882, before
City Justice Adams, he disclosed to the
defence, with view to impeach the tes-
timony of said special detective, secrets
obtained by him (King) from the City
Attorney.
That in the case of the People VS.. All
Fung, charged with keeping house of
prostitution, on trial in Justice Adams
Coart, he neglected and refused, al
though requested to furnish the City
Attorney with information regarding
the general reputation of the house,
which information could have been
easily obtained by him; that a portion
of his time during the progress of the
said trial was devoted to secret consul
tations with the attorney for the de-
fence and that five of his subordinate
officers appeared as witnesses for the de-
fence and some of his subordinates were
openly in secret consultation with the
defence during the trial.
That there is and has been for the
year last past carried on in the city of
Los Angeles the gambling game of tan,
opium dens, and houses of prostitution
in China Town; and that he is, for want
of efficiency or otherwise, unable to
prevent the same. That he has so con-
Quoted himself and his subordinate Of
fcers, that conviction of any China
man for any of the crimes above named
is next to impossible.
H. Il. HAZARD,
City Atty for Los Angeles City.
June 9th, 1882,
Mr.. Cohn moved that it be received.
Carried.
Col. Godfrey considered the charges
too general, but he would not ask the
City Attorney to make them any more
specific, but, as they were general, Mr..
King would like time to answer the
charges, and asked for a copy of them
and time until July 9th, to reply.
Mr.. Scheitfelin moved for a day ses-
sion.
Col. Godfrey said that he could not
appear on the 9th proximo in the day
time.
Mr.. Ryan moved that the case be
postponed until July 9th in the evening,
and that a copy of the charges be fur
nished. Carried.
Mr.. L. Harris presented an offer to
rent the upper story of the building at
the corner of Temple and Spring streets
to the city to be finished on any plan
they desire. Referred to the Board of
Public Works.
Mr. Moore offered to take any men,
ber of the Couacil to see an opium den,
where opium is sold and smoked.
The City Attorney said if any OF the
members of the Council had any thing
to say against him that he wanted them
to state it.
Mr.. Teed said he did not think the
City Attorney or Deputy had any right
to defend certain cases.
The City Attorney stated that the
opium dens and houses of prostitution
occupied a great part of the time of the
City Court and yet they were offences
against the State, but he had never
shirked the work, though it was not his
duty.
Mr.. Gage, Deputy City Attorney,
stated that if he had to resign his prac-
tice he would not take the joint salaries
of City Attorney and Deputy. He had
declined fees out of delicacy. He was
proud of his record in doing his duty to
the city.
Mr.. Teed said he had been ignorant of
the duty of the City Attorney.
Mr.. O'Neil wanted to know if he
Gage took suit against the city, if
the City Attorney would defend.
Mr. Gage said that the duties of the
City Attorney were defined.
Mr.. Cohn thought the debate out of
order; there was no use in making de-
bate.
Mr.. Moore renewed his offer to take
anyone to on opium den.
Adiournad