The San Francisco call., 1897-10-01
Town Marshal Dexter Is
Losing His Former
Popularity.
Accused of PerVerting the
Law to Serve His Own
Purposes.
Be Made. With View to His
Removal.

SANTA MONICA, CAL, Sept. 30.-This
town has Marshal who is a law unto
himself, and the people who love good
order and justice are not proud of G. B.
Dexter. On several occasions, which are
matters OF record in the Justice Court, he
has without reason or excuse failed 10
serve warrants of arrest and has thereby
assisted offenders TO go unwhipped of
justice, to the indignation of the people
His peculiar course Of action in citing
himself up as Judge and jury in eonnec-
ton with his executive duties has con-
tinued for some time past. 1t was not,
however, until to-day that it was made
public. AS the result of this publicity
proceedings will shortly be Instituted
looking to his trial and removal from
office on a charge of malfeasance.
Back of these facts lies a story Of IN
trigue. Il is charged that the gambling
and other Iawless elements have com bined
to force out of office Justice of the Peace
7. II. Wells, vino is a representative OF the
class who stand for law. order and respec-
liability. 1t is a notorious fact that during
the past season card sharps and confidence
men have operate here openly on an ex-
tensive scale, to the sorrow of many a
victim. There are ordinances against such
practices. but no attempt was made to IN
terfere with the bunko men. One of the
m ost f1Ggrant cases against Marshal DIX
ter is in connection with the warrant is
sued by Justice Wells on the com rIaint of
l. A. Willis, prominent citizen, for the
arrest of Edwin James.
An examination of the records of the
court shows that the warrant for the ar
rest of James was issued Dpcem her 1896
The char was fast driving. Willis was
knocked down and run over by James, re-.
ceiving injuries which confined him TO his
bed for several weeks. The warrant was
placed in the hands OF Marshal Dexter on
the day it was issued. On Septemb Der 16
or nine months later it was returned to
the Justice without explanation OF why it
had not been served. As a precartion
against any charge that he had not full
filled his duty in the matter Justice Wells
made this entry on his record:
Sept. 16, 1897. The warrant of arrest in this
action. which was delivered 10 the Town Mar
shal on Decem Der 4. 1896. was this dav re-
turned by him without even he date OF the
receipt BY the Marshal, or anything else writ
ten thereon.
To Mr.. Willis the Marshal explained his
failure to arrest James py stating that
James reside outside of the town limits.
Willis declares tn at James was in town
almost daily and that there was ample
opportun ity to arrest him if Marshal
Dexter was disposed to perform his duty.
Several similar instances are of record.
Marshal Dexrer is just now out of town,
but on his return he will probably have TO
offi~e. Section 772 of the Penal Code pro-
vides that where an officer fails to perform
his duty he can be tried before Superior
Court and removed It also provides for
the payment of $500 to the person who
files the comnlaint on the CONVICTION of
the accused official. 1t is this provi sion
OF reward that has hitherto pre- ven ted
complaint being made against Marshal
Dexter.
Justice Wells was reluctant to speak on
the subject. but when pressed for the facts
simply turned to his record. He de-
nouuced the conduct of the Marshal as an
outrage on the community and said that
If no one else took action against the dere-
Iict officer he would do so himself He
would have done so sooner, he said, but
felt it would 4 ave greater weight if taken
up by some other interested person.
While Mr.. Willis feels deeply aggrieved
over the way justice WAS thwarted in his
case, he said he felt diffident about seek
ing the removal of Dexter. owing to the
fact that the law allowed $500 10 the suc-
cessful prosecuting witness in such cases.
He feared people might misconstrue his
action.
The regular meeting of the Town Coun.
Gil will take place on Monday next n.
a. Roth, a member of the Council. when
| interviewed, said the situation had not
hnfnrn hop rnoun n bot H. -.
be believed some action ought to be taken
by the Council. Various opinions are ex-
pressed as 10 the motive for Marshal Dex-
ter's course. The most generally accented
is that he has neglected to serve warrants
issued by Justice Wells so as to force peo-
pie 10 transact their business with Justice
A. NJ. Guidlnger, and so freeze out Wells
No one, however, intimates that Guidin-
| ger is party to this scheme.