The herald., 1896-02-02

me of instances with which they were &C.
quainted, where men and boys had been
confiued in noisome dungeons for from
three days to four weeks, without ever hav-
ing been charged with crime.
Ihave already presented to the honorable
gentlemen, comprising the investigating
committee. evidence which established be-
yond doubt the truth Ct the allegations l
made. find, however, that it is not diff
cult to secure witnesses, but it is difficult
to prevail upon them to appear before the
commission to testify as to other acts Of
outrage by 'so-called peace officers.
hnd that a great many people who
could testify are afraid to for fear they
will he prosecuted by the subofdinates of
the chief of police in various ways. A man
can be subjected to police persecution
and it can be made decidedly unpleasant
for him, although he be in no way an Of
fender. Furthermore, he is without re.
course. The usu al bulldog ing methods are
being adope ed by the chief and his sub.
tieation. The impression seems to be
abroad that no matter what testimony Is
adduced before the investigating committee
MIR. Glass will be rong enough to mould
the report along his own lines. do not
believe it.
Yesterday afternoon I requested, the
chief to be present before the commission
10 give teStlInOnys anu 66rVeu nlIu WIN u
written notice. He failed TO cone. Not
only this, upon the advice of The police de-
partment, several other witnesses whom
lad asked, and who had promised me to
attend and testify were not there. The
chief is endeavoring to dodge the re spon-
sibiiity for the acts which haye been COM
mt.ed by his subordnates, of which he
was at the time cognzant,, and WHICH he
sanctioned and approved. He did so
through ignorance, in all probability, of
what the constitutional rights of an Amer
lean are. However, that is no excuse.
The chief. 1t is plainly evident. is attempt
ing IT, defeat the investigation by pursuing
his usual bull-dozing tactics whenever any
indiscreet act of either himself or his
subordinates has been brought to the at
tention of the commission. He, himself
on the morning of the 2lst instant. the
day after filed my statement with the
commission, called me into his private
office and endeavored to buildcze me. As
there exists no reason why | should fear
John M. Glass, chief of police, or any
other officer of the law, l declined to be
bulldozed.
In this particular case of the illegal, un.
lawful arrest of people in defiance of their
constitutional rights. propo q to make the
best endeavor possibly can to show what
The police department has done. If fail
and l certainly cannot, il the commits.
sioners who are looking into the matter
will judge 1t upon the evidence shown and
the law of the state as laid down at sscti or
S46, SAT and S14 of the penal code, il will
be because my efforts to secure witnesses
and to prevail upon them to appear before
the commission and tell there what they
have told to me have been defeated by the
threats and intimidation of Mr.. Glass ant
his subordinates, which may have the effec
of keeping Witnesses away.
Personally, save the one instance ts
which l have referred above, Mr.. Glas,
! has always treated me with kind consid
GRAFTON. This last sentence would apply
with equal force to every member OF thu
department save one.
! do not ask for myself any exemption
from The police department or its head b,
reason of any errcrs of my own in thu
past. do not claim to be great, nor do
deem myself All exemplar. / am simply
endeavoring to do my duty and to do righ
| as God gives me the power to conceiv,
OF right and duty. This is the patl
I have marked out for myself, and this il
the path intend to follow. Yours,
| RICHARD j. CoLvER.