The morning call., 1892-03-29
ANOTHER POLICE SCANDAL.
Officers Smith and Knudsen Are
Charged With ExtOrtiOn.
They Are Accused Of Having Threatened to
Railroad John Lister to Prison-sus-
pended Pending an Investigation.

Another scandal is agtating the police
force from Chief Crowley down TO the mos
humble patroiman. Following closely upon
an expose Of the peculiar conduct of Officer,
Anthony and Clark comes another story
that places two more policemen in mos
uDsavory light
In short Policemen Hugh Smith and
Jacob Knudsen are accused of attempting
to extort money from John Lister, who had
been arrested on charge Of vagrancy. The
matter being brought to the attention OF
Chief Crowley yesterday morning he ordered
the suspension of Smith and knudsen pend
ing an investigation Of the charge. Follow
Ing are the circumstances of the affair as
related to the heads OF the Police Depart.
ment Yesterday:
Lister, who Is the son OF wealthy
ChicagOan, married IA Mexican woman six
months ago and has since lived at 300 Mont
gomery avenue. Last Monday night Knud-
sen searched him in Kearny-street saloon,
but not finding, as he expected 70. q deadly
weapon in his possession, arrested him on
charge Of vagrancy.
LISTER RELEASED.
Lister at once secured his release on
bonds. The following evening he was Wis.,
tied by knudsen aud Smith and in the
presence OF his wife and sister-in-law was
told that he would have to ''dig up dough"
or 60 to the House OF Correction for six
months. Lister offered to pay them $40.
but Smith demanded $50. saving it would
take three to six" the case The name of
the third person has not yet been revealed.
Lister stood OFF, the officers by promis-
Ing TO secure the money. and they secured
several continuances of the hearing Of his
case in order to give aim chance. AS
Prosecuting Attorney Stevens had been
warned OF the officers actions he granted
the c0ntinuances in order to let the case
properly develop.
night and paid him So on account. promis-
ing to give him the balance the following
day. Then, going to Captain Douglass,
Lister reported what lie had done. The
captain is reported TO have said: "Now,
sir, tomorrow Pm going to make you swear
10 charges against these men, and il you
don't prove them I'll send you to San
Quentin
IN THE TANKS"
Then Captain Douglass slowed Lister in
the City Prison tanks" and lett him there
until yesterday morning.
When Douglass took Lister before Chief
Crowley the latter took exceptions TO the
captains manner of treating Lister, so or
dered that Smith and knudsen be sus-
pended.
In the meantime Attorney Carroll Cook
had prepared Il writ of habeas corpus for
Listers release, alleging that he was unlaw-
July held prisoner. Hearing OF this,
Chief Crowley telephoned to Cook that he
had ordered Lis ter's release, aud for that
reason the ha5e as-corpus proceedings were
dropped.
Asked for an explanation, Captain Doug
lass said he had placed Lister i'm custody
because he was wanted Tuesday to answer
the charge of vagrancy. Lister had been
released on his own rec0gniZance and the
captain was very anxious TO have him in
court when wanted.
Late in the afternoon Attorney Cook pre-
pared charges against the accused officers
and Lister swoTe 10 them. The accused, of
course, deny the charges against them.
They Will be tried before the Police Com
missiOners next Monday night. Knudsen
has been on the force since February II,
1887. Smith was formerly baseball player,
but don ned the blue uniform August q,
$780,