Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-05
LEFT IN TIE COLD.
DETECTIVE CONE AND THE LAW AND
ORDER LEAGUE.
The League, He Says, Deserted Him in
the Crusade Against the
Gamblers.
Dismissed on motion OF the District At

torney."
That is what has been inscribed on the
Superior and Justice Court records in at
past week or so, and that is what is causing
District Attorney Bruner a great deal of
mental agitation.
The trouble is on account of the dispo-
sition of prosecuting witnesses to shirk
cases after they have left the Police Court
and are ready for jury trials. Witnesses will
go on the stand in the Police Court and
give testimony strong enough to send the
culprit to State Prison for a long term of
years, but after the case has gone to the
Superior Court, and goes through the usual
continuances, the ardor of the witnesses
cools off, and they either refuse to testify or
seclude themselves and avoid being SUBJ
peuaed.
Pm getting thoroughly tired of it and
don't propose 10 stand 1t any longer" said
District Attorney Bruner to a RECORD.
UNION reporter yesterday. at places me
in bad light before the people, when, as
a matter of fact, | am absolutely powerless.
These witnesses refuse 10 testify, and the
result is have to 60 into Court and move
q dismissal. 1t comes out in the papers:
Dismissed on motion of the District At
torney, and people wonder what is the
INDEPENDENTLY when three or four of
them occur week. Hereafter l shall push
these cases to trial, whether there is any
chance for a conviction or not, and let
jury take the responsibility.
Naturally, then, when w. W. Cone. the
private detective who worked up the
cases against the gemblers-koss, Patrick
and Shunk-dropped into the District At
torney's office, and said he was not over
anxious to prosecute the cases further,
there was an explosion.
Assistant District Attorney A. ]. Bruner
promptly told the detective that the cases
would be tried, and there would be no dis
missals, no matter what changes might
have come over the witnesses
Mr.. Cone explained, however, that he
would not shirk the cases if the District
Attorneys office decided to proceed, and
would be on hand as witness. He stated,
however, that his feelings in the matter
were against prosecuting, and he had good
reasons for such feelings.
Mr.. Cone was seen by RECORD UNION
reporter later on, and to him he unbosomed
himself. las told Mr.. Bruner," be said,
Il will go ahead with the cases, although
much against my wishes. want it thor
oughly understood, however, that | have
not been bought off by the gamblers,
or anybody else. The trouble comes
from different source. You see
| was employed by members of
the Law and Order League and others
several months ago. to obtain testimony
that would convict the gamblers. | was
given to understand that general crusade
was to be instituted against all gamblers,
and was told that | would have steady
salary of $500 month until every gamb-
ling house in Sacramento was closed down.
| worked faithfully and did my work we'll.
We stopped Ross game and arrested the
gamblers. The cases came up in the Police
Court, and on the evidence | had procured
Ross, Patrick and Skunk were held to answer
before the Superior Court. | was ready
then to continue the crusade, and would
have done so, had / not suddenly learned
that the law and order peoples ardor had
cooled of, and no more money was forth
coming. When | would appeal to men,
Der he would refer me 10 somebody else,
and that somebody would send me to still
another party. Nobody knew anything
about it, and was left out in the cold. Do
you blame me. now, for not caring to take
any further interest in the cases? can't
work on wind, you know. The trials are
10 come up in the Superior Court this week,
and if summoned | will testify-I
| will do that much, simply as my
duty as citizen. But they won't
catch me again, can assure you. The
same parties are interested in this move
ment before the Trustees fer extra Consta-
bles. They came to me first, and asked
me what | would undertake the Job for.
But burned child is always afraid of the
| fire, and that was the way with me. l had
been there before, and declined their new
offer. | will push these gambling. cases
through, even at my own expense, but that
let's me out with the Law and Order folks
They didn't treat me right"
The cases of Ross, Patrick and Skunk
come up for trial in the Superior Court to-
| day.