Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-10
A POLICE
Detective Block Sent Back to Precinct
Duty Pending Charges.

y CuuAuS SihdTscSs
ANOTHER PHASE OF THE MANY-sIpEp LowEy-
cAsE-Ir Is ALLEGED THAT THE
OFFICER WAS TRYING TO BRING ABOUT NUN
RoE's ESCAPE FROM TRIAL
Maj. Moore having been advised that
charges are being prepared against Police man
%Sigmund j. Block, who has done detective
duty for several years, has directed that officer
to report to Lieut.. Vernon for duty pend
ing an investigation. The charges, 1t is
understood. grow out of some recent happen
ings in the case of Frank Munroe, alias Brain
ard. Munroe, it will be remembered.
robbed some Of his relatives about a
year ago and after his arrest he
was used as a witness against
Ferdinand Lowenstein, who was
charged with receiving the sto-
len goods. Lowenstein was convicted
and appealed to the Court in General Term,
and has been pushing his case to a hearing.
Munroe while the trial was in progress was
sent out of the country to escape prosecution,
and Mr.. Block saw him safe on a steamer
bound for Greytown, Nicaragua.
MUSRoE's RETURN.
Some weeks ago Munroe returned to this
49, eN. ASN Atb vhOh
the case came up in the Police Court the charge
made by Lowenstein was ignored and
Mr.. Block swore out a new warrant
charging Munroe with the larceny of jewelry
from Mrs. Alice n. Parker. Munroe
plead guilty to the charge and the case
was sent to the grand jury. Recently Munroe
plead not guilty. Almost two weeks ago
Col. Cook stated in court that he understood it
was contemplated to give bail for Munroe that
he might escape trial.
CHARGES MADE BY W. P. wooD.
Affidavits were today filed by Mr.. W. P.
Wood with the Commissioner tending
to show that Block had attempted to get
one of the officers about the court to assist the
family in having Munroe escape and also max
ing other charges. The order of Maj.
Moore practically suspending Block
comment in police circles today. 1t is gener-
ally thought that Major Moore is acting under
the suggestions of the Commissioners. Mr..
Block has been looked upon as an efficient
officer, and some of his friends assert that he
will be able to vlndicate himself on trial.
MR.. WOODS CHARGES.
Embodied in the charges submitted to the
District Commissioners are three afidavits of
William T. Wood and one affidavit OF Deputy
Marshal James W. Springman. The first aft
davit of Wood calls attention to statement
~ NNA's 'cNtV tAinNaS w ~ II ulhS III lDObs
when the latter was chief of police. Continu-
ing it reads:
BY an arrangement between a notorious
policy dealer named O'Brien and Block these
warrants (pOlicy warrants) were quietly OBJ
tanned and the larger portion of them we're de-
livered to and kept in possession of O'Brien;
a compromise was arranged between the par
ties interested and the warrants were
returned to Judge Mills in mutilated
condition. No legal service was instituted. or
further record OF the matter was taken, OBrien
informed me that $500 had been secured from
the policy players and Block had held on to the
hons share. = = At the time l made the
foregoing statement to Mai. Walker | also
stated that Block was proprietor of an mill
cenSed bar, then keptin the Smithsonian build
ing, where lager beer was sold. Mai. Walker
requested me to put my in writing
ana immediate action would be taken. | de-
clined to write out the statement. but requested
Maj. Walker to look into the matter himself.
Shortly after this Maj. Walker informed me
that he had investigated the charge of Blocks
keeping an unlicensed bar in the Smithsonian
building and at once removed him from police
headquarters" &c.
The next affidavit refers at length to the sale
OF lottery tickets and policy writing. After re-
ferring to the removal of the old detectives
and the appointment of their successors the
affidavit reads: IF these detectives were linz
tied to the salary they received from the Dis
trlct 1t would barely enable them to
make all ends meet and defray
their current expenses. whereas two of these
gentry, who have been conspicuous in the lot
terry, policy and gambling specialties. have be-
come possessors of large real estate properties
and monied wealth. which they could not have
earned honestly or S we'd from their salaries as
detectives; these two headquarter favorites are
Sigmund j, Block and Henry Raft"
In this affidavit the af1iant says that certain
detectives have been i'll the habit of extending
favored facilities to certain lawyers by placing
cases and business in their hands, which has
become SO notorious that other lawyers felt the
injustice of it and loudly denounced such prac-
ticc. The third affidavit recites the history of
the case OF Frank Munrce and tells what ad-
vice was given Munrce by Col. Wood.
WHAT sPRISGMAN SAYS.
The affidavit of Deputy Marshal Springman
recites that Block approached him in the City
Hall and told him that Munroe's family was
terribly worried about his being here and
wanted to get him ont of town.
Il told them" said Block, according to tho
aftiant, Il could not do it. as | was mixed up in
the Lowenstein suit. and it would not do for
me to act in person. but | have a friend, Mr..
Springman, a United States deputy marshal,
whom | can persuade to get him out of the
city"
The affidavit further recites that Block
promised Springman Il watch If he succeeded
III getting Munroe out of the city. Springman
went to see Munroe at the Harris House as re-
quested, but the young man had paid his bill
and left.
BLOCK on LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
MIR. Block having entered on a ten days
leave of absence yesterday has not reported
to Lieut.. Vernon, nor will he do SO at this time.