The herald., 1897-06-30
IN THE WRONG COURT
A VERNON CASE TRIED BEFORE
JUSTICE SEXTON
It Is Denied That Constable Hughes
Forced a Man to Break the Law
and Then Arrested Him

On last Thursday Armand Ballou was
arrested by Deputy Constable J. D.
Hughes for selling liquor without a IL
cense, and was taken before Justice
Sexton of Ballona township, who fined
him $50. A story gained circulation that
the constable went into Ballou's place
and upon being refused liquor when he
asked for it, drew a revolver and forced
the man to sell him some whisky, after
which he was arrested because he had
no license.
There seems to be no foundation for
the story. In fact, Ballou's place of
business is at the corner of Jefferson,
on San Pedro street, just within the linn
its of the recently annexed Vernon dis
trict. 1t has been generally known in
the neighborhood that he conducts a
place where liquor is sold, although he
has never taken out license and has
often made his boast that it was better
business policy to pay an occasional fine
than to pay for a license.
Deputy Constable j. D. Hughes learn
ed of the place and decided to arrest Bal
lou if he could secure evidence against
him. In company with man named
Brown he drove to the place. Brown
got out and walked inside, Hughes
watching through the door. Brown
called for a bottle of whisky and laid
a quarter on the counter. Brown picked
up the money and handed down the bot
tie, but just as he did so saw the con-
eft yyhn
door. AT this he refused to deliver
the liquor, and grabbing the bottle hur-
ried out into a back room. Hughes fol-
lowed him and placed him under arrest
The officer declares that he never drew
his revolver at all.
Ballou was taken before Justice Sex
ton of Ballona township and pleaded
guilty to selling liquor without a license
and was fined $50. He could not pay the
fine and was given chance to see his
friends and borrow the money. He was
unable to secure it and was about to
be taken away to serve his time in Jail
when his wife came to the rescue and
offered a lot of her jewelry as security
for the payment Of the $50. Justice
Sexton took these and locked them up,
giving Ballou until July 1st to redeem
them.
1t now appears, however, that Justice
Sexton did not have Jurisdiction in the
case at all, as Ballou's place is located
in that part of the Vernon district re-
Gently annexed to the city, and is there
fore within the city limits proper
In speaking Of the matter Justice Sex
ton said: "At the time the arrest was
made both Constable Hughes and my
self believed that the Ballou place was
in the Ballona township, and therefore
subject to the jurisdiction of my court
The man was tried and sentenced whila
1 was under this impression. A day or
two later my attention was called to the
matter, and upon looking it up on the
map 1 discovered that we had been mis-
taken and that he was few feet across
the line, which places him within the
Los Angeles city limits. I decided to do
nothing further in the case until it
comes up again Thursday, when 1 will
probably dismiss it.
II am sure that there is not a word
Of truth in the story about Constable
Hughes arresting this man in the man
ner which is stated. At the trial of
Ballou, Brown and Hughes both testi-
fed as to the manner of the arrest, and
Ballou did not contradict any of their
statements. He does not understand
English very we'll but the testimony
was translated into French for him.
AS far as my experience with Mr. Hughes
has gone l have found him an eminent
ly capable and trustworthy officer"