Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-11
IT WAS SEE A HEAD AND HIT IT.
Police Commissioners Consider
Boyle Heights Primaries.
Officers Charged with Working for
Ex-May0r Workman.
Grsphic Descriptions of Primary Poll
tics Combined with Pugilism-some
Very Lively Testimony Given.
The Lie Passed.

The board of police commissioners
met last night in the mayors Office.
Commissioners Lewis, Sny der and Shat
to were absent. This left the board
without quorum, but as there were
charges to be investigated by the board
against Officers Hoff and Stevenson, the
mayor thought they could go ahead and
take testimony.
CHARGES AGAINST OFFICERS.
Mr. Robinson, the mayors clerk, read
the following charges against officers !:
: Sundry citizens OF the Ninth ward
prefer charges against Officers Steven
son and Hoff, alleging that they acted
in the interest of w. H. Workman at
the Democratic primary election held in
this city on the 25sh ult., showing all
kinds OF favor to all supposed to be fa-
vorable to said Workman and doing all
they could do to make it dieagreeable
for the friends of Rowan and other cam
didates. Where ruffaiuly and badly be-
haved men tried to vote illegally or help
others to do so, these officers not only
neglected to- arrest them but actually
refused to do so when appealed to for
that purpose. They further allege that
one Waiter Drown, henchman of
Workman's, attempted to prevent one
F. Cobb from voting and delayed his
voting at least 10 minutes; that several
good aud psaceable citizens were
Knocked down by Workman's strikers !;
and that said policemen are disgrace
to the service of any city and should be
investigated in order that justice may
be done. Signed by F. COBB, W. B.
Nichols, e. @, Reed and seven others.
MR.. sULLIvAN's STATEMENT.
Mr.. J. o. Sullivan, policeman who
was on duty on the beat near the polls
on the occasion named, wrote note to
the ommissioners, saying that he passed
the polling place In question three times
during the afternoon in question, and
saw no disturbance whatever; nor did
he at any time witness any conduct on
the part of Officers Stevenson and Hoff
which should subject them to censure.
j. r. Cowell-This gentleman, who is
real estate agent, and testified to hav
ing been at one time sheriff of Leaven.
worth, Kan, testified that on the day in
primaries and was attacked by Santiago
Arguello. Both these officers were pres
ent and did not offer to arrest Arguello.
Cowell was knocked down and badly
hurt. so that he was unable to leave his
house for several days afterwards.
Mayor Hazard-Were there any ar
rests made by these officers of any per-
son whatever?
No; that is, none that they returned
to the police station. They took them
out as far as Boyle avenue, where they
let them go.
Captain Maekey-Were you struck
with mans fist or weapon?
| DO not know how it was done was
knocked senselesa before l knew what
hurt me.
MR.. woRKMAN's EXCITEMENT.
the Mayor--Is there any OF the &C
cused parties who wish to interrogate
the witness?
Mr.. Workman-Yes, sir; 1 should
like to.
The Mayor-Go ahead, then.
Mr.. Workman>-Wba were you doing
there? You are no Democrat; you be-
long to the Peoples party.
Cowell-I have voted more Democrat
ic tickets than you hav'. 1t was my
privilege to be there as much az your
self.
Officer Stevenson Didn't you strike
Mr.. Chandler with an ax-handle?
Cowell-Yes, did.
Officer Stev venson-What did you go
there with an handle for?
Cowell-I broke my ak handle and
went to the store to get another, and
stopped at the primaries on my way
home.
COLONEL FRAMES TESTIMONY.
George w. Frame sworn: l was at
the primaries just after Cowell got up
off the ground. He said: II don't
blame you; l blame Chandler only"
This was said to Mr.. Stevenson.
Mayor Hazard-What was the intent
Of these remarks?
Frame-I do not know what they
meant. l only know what | heard, nd
heard nothing before it.
MIR. R. L. CLARK's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Clark said: l was at the primary
on the day in question. and saw some
man try to vote illegally and they
were about to eject him from the build
ing. He thought he would 90 of his
own accord. He ran against Mr.. Cowell
and turned him half around with the
ax-handle under his arm. The ak
handle struck Chandler's hat and
smashed it. This made Chandler angry
and he snatched the ax-handle and
struck Cowell in the face with it. As
he did so, Arguello ran up and struck
Cowell in the back OF the head with his
fist. When l saw Cowell, he was
struggling to get to his feet and Hof
was standing over him. He made no
effort to arrest either of the parties, and
I think l never SAW such an exhibition
of cowardice in my life.
Officer We're you not there
in the interest OF some person adverse
to Mr.. Workman? Did you not help to
destroy the ballots adverse to your
friends?
Clark-No, sir; l was there in no.
body's interest.
CONCERNING QUALIFICATIONS.
Hoff-Did you not tell Mr.. Workman
that you were opposed to him?
Clark did, because he said he would
not abide by the action of the caucus. l
him because thought he was
unfit for such a petition as mayor.
Mayor Hazard-What occasioned the
difficulty between yourself and him?
Clark-The tally list was stolen from
the election by a man named Hines.
who took it in the interest of Mr.. Work
man.
Mr.. Workman (excitedly)-That's q