Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-08

TRIAL OF OFFICER BLOCK.
Testimony Of Mr.. Lowenstein and Pri-
vate Detectives McDevitt and Flinders.
Yesterday afternoon in the Police Court after
THE 6rAR's report closed. in the case of In
spector Block Of the police force, charged with
compromising . felony, Mr.. Armes for the
government argued against the motion Of Mr..
Davis to quash the warrant.
Upon conclusion of the argument Judge
Miller defined the law under which the war
rant was issued and held that the alleged
ofense was an indictable one.
POSITION OF THE PROSECUTION.
Mr.. Armes then explained the position of the
prosecution. He said that when the case was
first brought to his attention he thought there
was something behind 1t. but upon further
| investigation he failed to find anything. He
SAID that he accepted the evidence Of the boy
bralnard alias Monroe, and then did not feel at
liberty to prosecute the case; that he took such
action against the suggestion Of Mr.. Block. Up
| TO that point he was unable to appreciate the
charge against the officer. But, he said, when
the warrant charged Mr.. Block with withhold
ing information and receiving money, he
thought the case had better be given hearing.
As to those charges, he said he had rec eived no
information. If they are true the officer ought
to be punished
Judge Miller thought that too much time
mad been consumed already and asked If the
government had any testimony to offer.
Mr.. Armes then said that he had received
information to the effect that COL Seaton's
sister had died, but he was Of the opinion that
the case could be heard up to the time it was
necessary to take Mr.. Seaton's testimony.
The court again suggested that the case 20 to
trial and Mr.. Davis entered @ plea of not
guilty.
TESTIMONY OF DETECTIVE M'pEvrTT.
Private Detective James A. McDevitt was the
first witness called. He was asked by Mr.
Armes what he knew of the discharge of Frank
Brainard alias Monroe. Witness answered that
he knew nothing Of his discharge. /.
Then what do you know Of his release2''
asked Mr.. Armes.
We'll, l was the one who brought him from
Jail" replied McDevitt, and added that he
knew nothing of Brainards leaving this coun-
try, but he and Mr.. Block we're to take the boy
members of his family and they wanted to get
rid OF him for awhile at least. Witness said
that the matter Of taking the boy away was
discussed by Mr.. Seaton, Mr.. Block and wit
ness and it was decided to send the youth to
Nicaragua, where he was to get a situation,
witness thought, through the efforts of a Mr..
Taylor.
BLOCK WAS IN FAVOR OF ARREsTINa BRArNARp.
Witness said that after the thefts had been
reported to him he suggested that the boy be
arrested and taken into court. Acting upon
witness suggestion, they visited Mr.. Blocks
house and he said that if he had anything to
do with it the boy would be arrested and stand
trial in the courts. Nothing was said about
Brainard, but the boy was spoken of as Frank
Monroe. Witness could not tell whether the
defendant knew the true name Of Brainard
alias Monroe not at the time Of the arrest
Witness said that he got the release for
Brainard alias Monroe from Mr.. Block and
when he returned from Jail he turned him over
to the detective office.
WAS Brainard alias Monroe known as a
common thief" asked the prosecuting attorney.
Il don't think he was" replied the witness
II knew that he had been guilty Of theft from
the family before, because had been called
in to investigate the case" Witness explained
that about a month ago the young man robbed
person named Parker, but witness did not
think Mr.. Block knew of it.
KNEW NOTHING OF MONEY PAID TO BLOCK.
'Was any money paid to Mr.. Block above the
expensss2" asked counsel.
II don't know" replied witness. Witness
said that Mr.. Seaton said he would like to pay
MIR. Block for his trouble and witness told him
not to offer Mr. Block INV money: that he
could not and would not take it. Witness after
ward told Mr.. Block what he had told Mr. Sea-
ton and MIR. Block said, ''you did Just righ- -
I've always had that opinion Of Mr.. Block
myself" interrupted Mr.. Armes, "but still III
prosecute when the charge is made"
Witness knew Of no act of Mr.. Blocks that
was done to prevent any prosecution against
Bralnard alias Monroe. The property in the
Parker robbery witness recovered and turned
over to Lient. Swindell at the suggestion of
Mr.. Block. as the case appeared on the books at
police headquarters.
BRAINARD's RECORD.
49, ,.l- IA L 4 .,
about Brainard alias Monroe's being common
thief and asked whether or not the young man
was clerk in the District building.
Witness replied in the affirmative and said
that his stealings began about month after he
left the District employment to crafty his ap-
petite for playing pool in this District
Horse poolY" the judge asked.
Eyes, sir, replied the Witness
Witness had discovered thefts before, but
could not arrest any one because be is not
empowered to make arrests, and he would not
have arrested Braipard alias Monroe had he
not been minor and had not his (tbe boy's)
uncle been with him. Witness really consid-
cred that the arrest was partly made by the
uncle. Witness was paid for his services by
Col Seaton and he acted under Col. Seaton.
He found the jewelry in the Parker robbery in
house in the division" and one ring he
found at Desio's on the avenue.
When asked about the information he had
received and communicated to Mr.. Block wit
ness said that if Mr.. Block had given the Dis
! trict attorney what information he (witness)
gave Block witness thought that the District
attorneys Office had acted wrong in the
premises.
PRIVATE DETECTIVE FLINDERS
was the next witness. He testified that he took
the young man to New York. Mr.. Block
hand ID him the ticket The defendant went
! to New York on the same train but witness had
charge OF the young man. Mr.. Block. he said,
paid the hotel bill and bought some clothing in
New York. Witness told Brainard alias Mon
roe that if he ever returned to this country he
would be prosecuted. Witness told him so be-
cause he thought the Young man had had
very narrow escape. Witness told of his in
vestigation of the Parker robbery, but he did
not tell Mr. Block. Witness said he put the
young man OH the steamer Hondo for Gray
town, Nicaragua.
estate any act on the part of Mr. Block" said
the prosecuting attorney ''that leads you to
believe that he acted for any corrupt pur-
pose"
II don't know Of any such act" replied wit
ness.
Prosecuting Attorney Armes here suggested
that some time might be saved by Mr.. Blocks,
taking the stand and explaining his actions in
the matter.
The judge suggested to Mr.. Armes that II he
hada case he had better call his witnesses and
prove his case.
TESTIMONY OF LowENsTEIN.
Ferdinand Lowenstein, who swore out the