The herald., 1896-08-12
Finally Arraigned and Gets Word to
an Attorney
4 Lack OF Evidence for the Prosecution and
the Man Released
p. 0evurtz Tells a Tale Of Imprisonment, n,
Without Warrant-Notes to Friends
Intercepted-Lost to the World
for Over a Week


rumors that have reached the ears of the
public of the Siberian methods en-
ployed by the Los Angeles police and
detectives, of throwing people suspected
of crime behind the iron bars and dingy
dungeons of the city Jail without in
forming them of the cause of their in
carceration or permitting their friends,
acquaintances or attorneys to have ac-
cess to them, and when inquired for by
friends or attorneys the question has
been answered by direct denial of any
knowledge of the missing persons.
The friends of Mr.. Gevurtz, a young
salesman employed in the Chicago
clothing house, have for several days
been searching for him in every possible
place and as last resort even went to
the clerk of the police department to
ascertain if he had been seen. but re-
ceived reply in the negative and a pos
itive assertion that he was not in Jail.
Yesterday morning, in spite of the re-
peated assurances that Gevurtz was not
confined the contrary was proven when
the young man was brought into Justice
Morrson's courtroom and arraigned
upon a charge of burglary. Up to this
time he had been for eight days confined
in a lonely cell, unable to get word to his
friends of his condition. When he was
arraigned in court the young man de-
manded that he be allowed to send for
an attorney. which was granted by the
justice. and b. l.. oliver, esq, appeared
to represent him. The case was post
poncd from the morning to the after
noon session for hearing. at which time
it was developed that the prosecution
was not ready to proceed. not having
sufficient evidence to make a case.
Mr.. Oliver, on behalf of his client, de-
INJURED at any further time being given,
and on his statement that habeas corpus
proceedings would be Immediately COM
menced unless the detectives proceeded
TO show why they held Gevurtz a pris
oner the case was dismissed and the de-
fendant discharged from custody. When
seen by reporter GeVurtZ seemed to be
suffering from nervous trouble. and says
he has been under the care of physi-
clan for some time. The following is
his statement of the matter. duly attest
ed by a notary public under oath, bear
ing date of August 11th:
state of California, county of Los An
Geles-ss.
p. Gevurtz, being duly sworn, deposes
and says as follows: That up to the
S1st day of July. 1896, he was employed
as a clerk in the Chicago Clothing COM
pany in the city of Los Angeles. Up to
the 4th of July the keys of the store
were carried by w. Harris. member of
the firm, and one Percy Smith had key
to the front door for the purpose of
opening the store in the morning; that
the said Percy Smith was discharged
from the employ of the said Chicago
Clothing company about the 4th day of
July and thereafter it was the custom
of Mr.. w. Harris to give the key to the
front door to this atfiant at quarter to
seven IN the morning: as the clerks US
ually got there at seven o'clock. On the
morning of Friday, the 31st of July, it
was discovered that somebody had en-
tered the store and had taken box
containing money that was usually Sc
creted in the piles of clothing in the
store. such box containing the proceeds
OF sales made after banking hours of the
day before. On Ffiday evening. July
3lst, Detective Goodman came to my
room about 1880 o'clock in company with
another man, and told me to dress my
self and come along with him. / got up
and dressed and he took me down to the
police station and put me in Jail ION sus-
picion," as he said. On Saturday about
a o'clock he came in and said he was
satisfied that | had nothing to do With
things and let me go.
AS had been unwell for some months
/ had arranged Under the advice of my
physician, DR.. Nadeau, to go to the coun-
try for a rest and to try to recover my
health. On Monday the 3rd of August. 1
arranged to go up to Crescenta in the
foothills with Mr.. Spencer on the fol-
lowing day. Before going l went up to
see Mr.. Paul to ask him to be on the
lookout for situation for me. When
l came upstairs at about $40 in the
morning Detective HaWley grabbed me
and said: You are just the man / am
Looking for" threw back his coat to
show his star and arrested me- He
TOOK me into a room in the same lodging
come to get a 6ivvy." While we sat in
the room l asked him what he wanted.
lie said: You wait awhile until my
partner comes and you will retire where
your friend is" giving me to understand
that Paul was in Jail. About s o'clock
Detectlve Auple came up; they had
tax and then Detective Hawley took me
down to Jail, searched me, locked me
up in dark cell and kept me there fo1.
about two days. Then he game and took
me out to his private Office and showed
me couple of valises of clothes. He
caid: do you see that? Those came
from the Chicago Clothing house. Did
you ever see them before?" Then he
said: Now, Paul knows he is in the hole
and he talks right; he teiss me that vol,
got him these clothes to sell them.'' I
told him that l knew nothing about IT:
about what Paul says or what anybody
else says" He said: "Oh, we'll fly
you before we get through with you; we
have seen fellows like you before" Then
put me back in the dark cell again. l
asked number of times and wrote sew
eral times asking to send out to some
friends of mine thatU knew and to tele-
graph to my brother, but nothing was
done for me in this way.
About Thursday Detective Auble
came and took me up to the "rogue's
gallery and had my picture taken.
asked him what he wanted that for
He said, "Oh. If we don't convict you.
We'll never use it." Then he took me
back to Jail. was there until Friday
when they took me up into court about
II o'clock and told me that was charg-