The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-10
ATTACKS on ROGERS
The A. P. A. Assailing Him in
Regard to Merrilrs Case.
A FULL EXPLANATION FROM HIM
Charges without the slightest Founda-
ton I'm Fact. He Says and Only
Stir Up q Bad Matter.

Chief Rogers was seen In regard TO The
charges made in the speeca ard the letter
read at the A r. A. mass meeting yesfer-
day. ard ne gave his story as follows he
returned 10 Seattle on Tuesday night prior
20 MeTrIIs arrest. He had heard nothing
Of the AFFAIR and his first knowledge OF IL
or o. anything connected with il was on
looking over the roll on "Wednesday even
ing, when ne found Special Officer L. B.
Pierce pat down a. on DUTY. He inquired
% Capt. Hogie what was the occasion o.
this. and was told thar complaint had been
made by Miller some few days before that
somebody had been entering his stable and
committing crime against nature. and that
the officer had been detailed 10 watch the
stable and arrest the perpetrator should
the of1ense be committed again. The chief
opposed the detailing Of Pierce. but said
IL he made 10 arrest before The end Of the
week TO lay him or.
On arrival at his Office On Friday he found
that Merrill had been arrested for the Of
Tense, the first time he had heard OF Mer-
riiIs name in connection with the matter.
MerrilIs partner, West. shortly after came
up and asked 10 see the prisoner. After
coming out from his interview he Informed
the chief that Merrill was DESTROYS Of en-
pioy!ng Mr.. Piles 10 defend him. That
Ronald had been spoken to, had been 10
the Jail before the arrival OF the chief, but
was unable TO see the prisoner. He stated.
however. that he could not take the case,
as ne would probably be away. Merrill. ac-
cording 10 his partners statement 10 the
chief, was anxious 10 employ Piles.
The chief simply replied that any time
Mr.. Piles wished 10 see thu prisoner he
would leave orders that he might he adj
mitted. Nr. Piles came Up at O'Clock,
saying that ne had been seen by Mr.. West.
Shortly after West came Up and the two
together saw Merrill.
MeFrill's wife afterwards came Up and
asked 10 see him. but he positively refused
to see her. The chief took her into his
private Office ard as deiicately as possible
explained the nature OF the charge against
ner husband. lie then had her taken II ID
see her husband.
On Saturday the complaint was filed.
| The chief states that the delay in fling
the complaint was due entirely to the pros
ecuting attorneys deputies. who desired to
Investigate the case before issuing a war
rant. The warrant was issued, the prisoner
brought into court and released by the
justice on bail on Saturday.
The following day al f.39 Merrill visited
the chiefs private Office and insisted en-
telling his story and defense. He also
stated that Piles wanted more than he
could afford 10 pay 10 defend him, taat il
was mere money than he could raise and
wanted Rogers TO lend IL 10 him. taking a
mortgage on his mouse, d propositions WHICH
the chief declined The chief told him IL
Piles wanted too much, to get some other
attorney. who would take the defense.
Merrill's answer was that he wanted Piles,
that Piles was a good lawyer. and the
former firm of Ronald & Piles had done
all OF his business. The chief acquieseed
IN the statements as TO Mr.. Piles capacity,
but reiterated that If he was too high priced
there were other attorneys 10 be had, to
whom ne had better tell his story. Merrill
then left and went 10 the house of West.
West subsequently told Rogers that when
Merrill visited him he told him that he felt
In much better spirits since seeing the
chief and he believed the chief had no an
linus against him.
on the afternoon of the day that Merrill
committed suicide Chief Rogers was in
formed In fun of the contents of the letter
| left by Merrill, and he then said that he
did not care personally how much publicity
Was given the matter. The only TIME the
chief ever saw Mr.. Piles in connection with
any phase OF the matter was when the lat
ter visited the jail.
AS far as the affidavit of Miller was con-
cerned the chief says that Miller made
much the same statement TO him. Dexter
was sent for and asked what particular
business he had with a witness for the
state which he desired 20 transact while
on duty. Dexter made an incoherent state
ment somewhat TO the effect that he had
heard that Miller was intending TO kill
horse: that Dexter's brother desired 10
purchase a horse, and he thought maybe
he could get the one from Miller cheap.
The chief told him that he was OF duty
sixteen hours a day and had plenty OF
time 20 transact his business during those
| hours.
In CONCLUSION Chief Rogers states that
| out of consideration for Merrilrs wife and
| family ne has been DESTROYS OF having the
| whole matter dropped. but il the dead
| mans alleged friends insist on dragging
| the matter up. he and the police department
| court the fullest investigation, which viii
| satisfy any reasonable person that no pos
| sible blame can resi- on them in connec-
| ton with the affair.
1 L. La In. NH