Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-15
SASE Or DETECTIVE BLOCK.
Hearing Before u. s. Commissioners
Johnson-Arguments and Adjournment.

| Oohnson-Arguments and Adj0urnment.
This morning at 10 O'Clock United States
| Commissioner J. ]. johnson called the case Of
the United States against Sigmund J. Block,
detective Of police, on . charge of compound
ing felony. For convenience the hearing was
in the Criminal Court room. This case grows
out OF the prosecution of NJ. Lowenstein for
receiving stolen goods. There were preseat
Detective Block and his counsel, Mr.. H. E.
| Davis; Chief of Police Moore. Inspector Swim
dells, Lieut.. Boteler, District Attorney Hoge,
Mr.. W. A. Cook, Mr.. and Mrs. Lowenstein, Col.
Malcolm Seaton, Detectives McDevitt and Film
der and others.
Mr.. Davis asked who appeared for the prose
cution
The commissioner asked Judge Hoge IL he
| appeared to prosecute the case.
Judge Hoge said he had no knowledg Of the
matter excepting what he had seen in the news
papers. He was present as a witness.
The commissioner said that if the district
attorney was not present to prosecute it was in
| his power to ask some one to act as the friend
Of the court, and he therefore requested Mr.. W..
A. Cook to SO act.
MR.. DAVIS SAYS THIS CASE rs 'sFoR PURPOSE {"
Mr.. Davis said that the commissioner should,
| before proceeding. see if he was not being made
| use Of for a purpose, and he should examine
the case with that in view. The police Judge
had dismissed this case as one without founda-
ton. That this proceeding had been brought
for purpose will be developed hereafter. The
object OF the commissioner is to hold to bail
| supposed offenders, and this was public Of
| fcer who was here in case the grand jury
| should find bill. 1t would therefore be an
| imposition on the time of the commissioner
| to have a rehearing OF this case unless there
was public end in view. As to the prosecu-
~ hot FRO Ns4n 80 Tit taNA
| attorneys Office. He (the commissioner
| should not entertain charge founded on NAL
ice, and he should not be made a dupe by sit
| ting in such a CASE
MR.. COOKS REPLY.
Mr.. Cook said that any United States tribunal
could call in a friend to act He would not
| reply to personal illusions. He denied that
this case had been tried in the Police Court.
The question then was the escape Of a notori-
Gus thief andft did not involve the failure to
make an information against the party. Judge
Miller had decided that except for the inter-
vention of Mr.. Armes there would have been q
| case made out and that when Mr.. Armes as
| sumed the responsibility that the court could
not then hold Block. As to his right to appear
here he read several authorities. Mr. Cook re-
ferred to Mr.. Davis. in the pay of the District.
defending Officer Block in criminal charge
as Q spectacle rejecting no credit upon him.
THE SAME CASE OR NOT.
Mr. DAVIS reiterated That this case had been
the subject of judicial inquiry and he urged
that the commissioner should be careful not to
be dragooned into it. He asked him IL he was
willing to enter upon an inquiry which would
end in smoke.
The commissioner asked how he was to know
that this was the same case unless by the evil
dence.
Mr.. Davis replied that If he examined the
| records he would see that it was the same case
and challenged the defense to produce the
stenographic notes.
Mr.. Cook said that in the case before the
Police Court it was the silver stolen from Mr..
Seaton which was involved and in this case the
property charged is that of Mrs. Alice Parker.
Mr.. Davis-"Produce the record"
Mr.. Cook-'I do not choose to obey the
commands of q man representing Block" He
submitted that, witnesses having been sum-
moned, the case should proceed.
PosTPoNEMENT.
The commissioner said that the turn taken
would require him to examine the matter and
he would therefore postpone the case.
After consultation the he airing was adjourned
till Monday at 10 o'clock.