The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-03
STRETCH UNDER FIRE.
Investigation Begins as to the
Jailer's Guilt.
WHO uNLocKEDTHE CELL DOOR,
stretch's Counsel Tries to Turn suspi-
cion to Omcer Totton--Monroe's
Emphatic Denial.


The police commissioners last evening
continued the investigation of the charges
against the three suspected policemen,
captain Henry Sheahan and Jailers I. w.
Evans and Ben Stretch.
The only case heard during the session
was that of Jailer Stretch, charged with
neglect of duty in allowing John Connors
to escape from the city Jail on January IL.
Although Captain Sheahan's case was
ended at Friday nights session, he was
present as spectator and was called on to
say whether he ever told Stretch to put
Connors in safe place.
The first witness was Officer Topping,
who detailed the arrest of Connors and the
mannerin which the prisoner assaulted
him. He said that no one was in the sta
ton but Clerk Fayban when he brought
the prisoner in; that he told Fayban the
charge against Connors might be murder,
but he could not tell
Fayban was called and said in substance:
The morning of the 18th of January
Stretch answered the telephone. He said
man at the Adelaide saloon had been
shot with gun and they wanted officers.
About twenty minutes afterward Connors
was brought in by several citizens. Top
ping followed behind him. his face was
covered with blood. He said the prisoner
had assaulted him. Officer Krebs came in
behind the men. He TODD the handouts
off Connors and helped search him. Most
of the time Jailer Stretchwas standing by
when he walked to the door with the pris-
oner. / said to krebs:
You go along and see that he does
not break and run away
When they got to the door said to
both of them:
Put him in a safe place
We supposed Connors was implicated
in the shooting"
Then Attorney Piles, for Stretch. cross
questioned Fayban and found him a
rather unwilling witness. The attorney
endeavored to prove that Officer lotion let
Connors out of Jail, and asked:
Who unlocked the door and let Con-
nors out ?''
WAS not the man who let this prisoner
out guilty of culpable negligence?"
Yes, sir.
Then neither you nor the chief of
police, nor anyone else about the police
station, has been able, since January IL,
to find out who this man is that let Con-
nors out ?"
Eve want Officer lotion here" said
Attorney Piles.
lotion was not. in the room and City
Attorney Lyons asked:
What do you expect to prove by Officer
Totton?"
I'VE want to prove that he let Connors
out of Jail, and that the chief of police
knew it, but was afraid to suspend him"
we are trying Jailer Stretch for not
putting Connors in a steel cell. We are
not trying lotion" said the city attorney
After some talk an officer was sent to.
find Mr.. lotion.
Detective Wilson testified: az heard
IF No.. ooI T.st AZ l.
did not lock Connors up in the steel cell,
and he said it was because the cell was full
OF 'sIeepers-chain gang men. The chief
then said:
"I suspend you for disobeying orders.'"
Chief Monroe was called and said that
the jail was in charge of two jaile rs, one
for the night shift and one for the day;
" Do you know who let Connors out of
that jail?"
II do not"
Was it not Officer Totton?"
:" don't know"
.,Do you mean to swear that since the
18th OF January, up to the present time
you have been unable to find out who
turned the key and opened the door, and
let that man out of jail?'
81 do, sir"
"Then you don't know great deal about
what IS going on up there 3?
81 do, sir. | know all that is going on"
Captain s. w. Peer was called and he re-
lated the conversation which took place
between Chief Monroe and Stretch, as told
by Detective c. C.. Wilson.
Bailiff John Roberts, of the police court,
was called by Attorney Piles, and was
asked:
Were you not down in the Jail when
Officer Tatton opened the cell door and
trtrf cd ON xrffh nfh
to y0lI to take to the police court for trial ?"
The question was objected 10 by the city
attorney and was sustained by the mayor.
Jailer Stretch then took the stand and
detailed ut length the circumstances of the
shooting and the arrest. In substance he
said:
Il was out after bucket of coal when
Connors was brought TO headquarters.
When / came in / saw Topping with blood
on his face. / heard him talking about
the affair and heard him say the man
assaulted him. When L took him out I
was laboring under the impression that
Topping, while arresting the man who
did the shooting. was attacked from be-
hind by Connors and that, while Connors
was behind, the fellow in front hit him
with gun in the face. thought he said
he would make 1t assault and battery
against Connors-
1.-THE steel cell was full of sleepers and
SO put OOnnOrS IN dnOtner place.
1.-The night-clerk did not tell me to put
him in a safe place"
How much experience have you had
with jails?"
''I've been about twelve months at the
city Jail and I-was for sixteen years sheriff
of Snohomish county. / never had a
prisoner escape from me. used to bring
prisoners from Snohomish county TO the
penitentiary in skiff."
Officer krebs was called and said he
never heard Night-clerk Fayban tell any
one to put the man in a safe place.
Captain Sheahan said he never gave
Stretch any orders concerning the pris-
oner.
officer Tatton had not arrived and on
motion of Mr.. Ledgerwood, the commits
sioners adjourned until this evening.
The case of Captain Sheahan is still
under advisement.
MORE ABOUT KELLEHER.