The herald., 1897-12-29
a QUEER CASE
piquant Predicament Of a
Policeman
HIS PECULIAR TRANSACTIONS
IN A RECENT SANTA moN1vA
CASE
HIS PECULIAR TRANSACTIONS
Cause Caustic Comment and Will Be
Investigated by the Grand Jury
at Its Present Session

and will Emmett at Santa Monica on
charge of grand larceny which Will prop
ably result in making the official conduc
of Policeman Willard Webb OF tina
place a matter of judicial investl
cation by the grand jury at its presen
session. Serious charges are mace
against the officer which will place hin
in a position somewhat similar to tina
now occupied by certain members OF the
Los Angeles board of education. The
charges are of nature to show tha
Webb entered into a conspiracy with one
of the prisoners to secure his release
for sum of money.
Emmett and Feezell were arrested OF
the oath inst, charged with having
robbed John Sparks of his purse con-
tanning $500 in gold. They were held ir
the county Jail until Monday afternoon
when they were taken before Justice
Cuidinger of Santa Monica and the com
plaint against them was dismissed on mo-
tion of the district attorney. AS soon as
this was done Emmett sworc to a new
complaint charging Feezell with the
crime.
This action was taken after he had
learned certain facts during his confine-
ment in the county Jail which convinced
him that Webb had entered into con-
spiracy with Feezell to secure him I'M
munity from punishment. Last Sunday
while both men were in Jail Emmett
passed a note to Feezell by trusty, in
which he asked him to make confession
and exonerate himself, as he had moth
ing to do with the crime and did not
want to suffer for anothers misdolngs.
In reply he received note from Feezell
which was in substance as follows:
"From A. F. to w. G.: Webb has got
a hundred dollars and swears that he
won't say anything. John has got his
money back and is going away. He is
satisfied with getting his money and Is
not going to appear, and If you'll keep
still we'll both be released Monday. John
is going away. Don't say nothing and
we'll get out. Goodbye. A. F."
Monday morning Justice Guidinger re-
ceived a letter purporting to be from
John Sparks, the man who was robbed
asking to have the case dismissed. 1t
was as follows:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, Dec. 26, 1897.
A. M. Guidinger, Justice OF the Peace
Santa Monica, CAL:
Dear Sir: I am the prosecutor of Will
lie Emmetts, Feezers case, and since
the boys have been arrested I have
found out that the boys were not guilty
and do not think it is right for them to
suffer any longer, so I will not appear
against the boys. Yours truly,
JOHN SPARKS.
Justice Guidinger mailed this note tc
the district attorney and received a re-
ply instructing him to dismiss the COM
plant. Officer Webb was detailed tc
bring the prisoners into court.
Emmett, who had all along protested
his innocence, and against whom there
had never been the slightest evidence OF
guilt, was taken first to Santa Monica
On the way he asked Webb how it hap
pened that he had been arrested, wher
he had done everything he could to helr
the officers find the money and catch the
thief Webb had replied that the evil
dence was very strong against him.
"Well," said Emmett, Il have note
In my pocket which would clear me be-
fore any jury" Saying this, he pro-
duced the message from Feezell in which
the latter stated that Webb had received
one hundred dollars for his promise to
square matters. Webb read the note
and then. according to Emmett's state
ment, to which he made affidavit yes
terday, said: Nov I'll tell you some
thing, young man. l think that you'll
get released right away after you gel
down there if you only keep your mouth
shut. If you go to talking, you will be
bound over for trial and you may have
to lie in Jail six months before the case
comes up. l have a good deal of infu-
ence. in Santa Monica and things are
likely to go pretty much as I want then
to go.
Nov, if you'll tear up that note III
do all can to get you out of this scrope
I have letters right here in my pocket fol
your release if you'll destroy the note"
Emmett said that he did not want his
release so much as to have his name
cleared of the charges which had beer
made against him.
Webb then said: "Well, then, if yor
will just keep still and give this fellow
his nut, I will get you released and
then after I have got him released will
have him s.rite out a confession clearing
you and taking the blame on himself
When he has had chance to get out
of the country l will take this state
ment to the papers and have them pub.
lish it. That is all you want That viii
clear you in the eyes of the p&sle."
Emmett told Webb that if he would
show him the letters calling for his re-
lease he would tear up the note from
Feezell. Webb then produced two let
ters, one purporting to be from Sparks
and the other written by Assistant Dis.
trict Attorney Williams advising the
dismissal of the case. Emmett accused
Webb openly of receiving a hundred {iol.
lars of the stolen money from Feezell tc
secure a dismissal of the case. Webl
made a half-hearted denial and init.
mated that the money had been prom.
ised, but not paid. He said that he be-
lieved Feezell would fix up job witt
Sparks as soon as he got out of Jail ant
freeze him (Webb) out altogether. Be
fore arriving at Santa Monica Emmett
tore up the note which he had received
from Feezell.
The complaints against both Emmett
and Feezell were dismissed. Emmett
Immediately sWore to new complaint
against Feezell who was arraigned be.
fore Justice Guidinger and had his ex.
animation set for December S1st. He