The herald., 1896-02-02
ARE TRYING 70 DEFEAT Il
Communication Touching the
Police Inquiry Now On
WITNESSES INTIMIDATED
Lices From the Pen OF Party Who
Writes Forcib!y
A Young Han Who Is Striving to Do Hi
Duty-An Unsomght Responsibility
Placed on Him

Edltor Herald some time ago J. called
to the attention of the police commission
ers the fact that it had long been the Gus
tom OF some of the officers acting under
the direction of tho chief of police to arrest
and illegally and unlawfully detain people
at the police station in violation of the law,
the constitution of the state and of the
United States. I had, myself, time and
again, witnessed these outrageous acts
committed by members of the police force,
and therefore I had some knowledge of
what was, as citizen, bringing to the at
tention of the police commission. Never
theiess, after the communication which I
sent to the commission had been read, the
chief of police arose and stated that it was
written for political effect and was not
worthy of consi leration. Some of the
commissioners thought otherwise. where
upon the chief of police, in the open session
of the board, defended the acts which were
clearly illegal, unlawful, and surely un-
American.
In bringing the attention of the police
commissioners to the matter, it was not
my desire or intention to cause anyone any
trouble. My only object was to secure from
the commission an order directing that in
the future the policy of jailing people with
out warrant of law and along the line
adopted by the Russian police authorities
be not continued in the city of Los Angeles.
The commission decided. however, to in
vestigate the matter, and notified me to
produce witnesses to establish the facts set
forth in my communication. l, at that
time, stated to the honorable gentlemen
that inasmuch as was then engaged about
sixteen hours day in supporting q mother
and father, had no idle time to obtain
the necessary evidence. I. however, did
say that would give names and the COM
mission if it desired to get at the facts
could then secure the presence of parties
who could ties 'fy.
Later it became plainly evident to me
that the chief OF police was exerting every
influence in his power to secure from the
committee appointed 10 investigate the
acts of his subordinates, a report which
knew would be contrary to the facts which
could be obtaiued. The chief OF police OF
Los Angeles city has, as the result Of an
incumbency of number of years, built u[
veritable oligarchy here which it is con
sidered dangerous for most people to as
sail or antagonze. The honorable gentle
man has succeeded in convincing large
body OF the people, officials and otherwise
that he is impregnable in his position, in
fallible in his conduct and beyond tht
reach of public criticism.
! will admit that myself was one OF the
people who held TO this opinion, but mas
much as had directed the attention Of tht
commission to fragrant outrages upon thu
rights or citizens. TO a veritable overriding
of the constitution; to q tearing dowr
of the law of the state by the very officer.
who should uphold it. concluded that
would endeavor, in my humble way, to i'm
! press the committee Of investigation will
the truthfulness Of allegations knew abso
| lutely to be true.
| ! had conversations with great man,
! Cjtizens who came to me voluntarily to tol