Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-24
DETECTIVE BLOCKS TRIAL.
He Tells the Commissioner About His
Connection With the Monroe Case.

The examination in the case OF Detective
Sigmund ]. Block on the charge Of compound
ing felony in allowing Frank Brainard, alias
Monroe charged with the larceny of jewelry
from Mrs. Alice Parker, to leave the city, was
continued yesterday afternoon before United
States Commissioner Stone in the Criminal
Court room.
Mr. Block testified to Col. Seaton's coming 10
his house with Mr.. McDevitt He then told Mr..
NJ, he said, that the young man would have to
be arrested, but he had heard of cases where
sentence was suspended. After the arrest wit
ness informed Monroe that he could hold out
no inducements and that the only help he could
now get was through the family. Witness
stated the facts to Assistant District Attorney
Armes and he understood that Monroe was to
be prosecuted for the Parker robbery. He
(Block) had acted, he said, under the orders of
the district attorney. He had advised Mr..
Armes to require bond after Monroe had been
used as q witness and the district attorney said
he would not be SO inconsistent He had not,
he said, received one cent, nor did he expect
any reward, and he so stated to Col. Seaton.
On cross-examination Mr.. Cook asked a num-
Der of questions as to Blocks visit to Newport
and received the reply from Block that 1t was
none Of his (Cook's) business.
Maj. Moore testified that when the district
attorney declined to prosecute the case Block
was allowed leave to go with Monroe to New
York.
VIM. Fredericks was called and Mr.. r. idle
stated that he expected to show that there was
conspiracy against Block. The offer was
overruled.
This concluded the testimony.
THE ARGUMENTS GO ON TO-DAY.
At 10 o'clock this morning Mr.. Cook opened
his argument, who commended that the
cf of hoA o,tfb ifx-
action in directing that Monroe should not be
prosecuted. He claimed that the theory of the
law was that amnesty may be exercised
as to an accomplish, but not as
to the principal, but in this case the
principal was the leader in the crime,
felony. and his evidence was used against a
party charged with a misdemeanor. 1t was an
extraordinary arrangement to allow his escape,
and it was agreed on by the parties before the
case was called for trial. 1t was the duty OF
the commissioner to send the case on for trial.
MR.. RIDDLE FOR THE DEFENDANT,
begun his argument at IL 80 o'clock, claiming
that officer Block could not do otherwise than
he had done after the District attorney had
decided that the case should not be prosecuted;
that Judge Hoge had the right to
act as he did. and that it was a mercifui prac-
tice Of the district attorneys Office to enter
nolle pros. or decline ID prosecute in such a
case. He defended the action of that Office
warmly.
THE CLOSING ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Cook made the closing argument, urging
that it had been clearly shown that the officer
neglected to file complaint as to the Parker
property, and up to that time the
district attorney had no right to APP
pear. He read sections 5459 and
$500, r. s., one in reference to allowing a per-
son to escape and the other as to one who has
knowledge Of crimes and conceals
the same, and said that they were
wise provisions, both of which had
been been violated. He had sympathy
with the officers when they acted within the
law, but not with those who had done as
Sigmund j. Block, who had secured the con-
viction of citizen by the evidence of a thief
he held In his arms and protected.
THE HEARING ADJOURNED
The commissioner adjourned the hearing to
Saturday morning at II o'clock, when his de-
cision is expected.