The herald., 1898-09-24

hitting magistrate, claiming that the
wording Of rule IS gave the station clerk
toe power to pass upon whether there was
suhcient evidence to hold a prisoner or
nos' and, as naturally followed. he con-
tended that II the clerk, in his discretion,
thought there was sufficient evidence, then
ing oelectives had right to incarcerate
the prisoner and register him, not upon
the blotter accessible to the public, but
upon the small book kept secret from all
but them1elves.
= Small Book Work
Jay b. Arnold, city editor OF The Herald,
enen gave number OF instances of small
DOCK work. He argued that the arbitrary
ruies OF the department were not only
against the rights and liberties of the citi-
xens, but they hampered the work of the
department The newspapers were always
an aid In apprehending criminals when
proper information was given them upon
winch to base their work. He cited in
stances where criminals were given oppor-
tun!ties to prosecute their work when a
warning through the press would have
put the people on their guard. Mr.. Arnold
referred to the work of a gang Of diamond
robbers who operated in this city some
months ago. The first robbery of the gang
occurred on a Westlake car, and the police
hid the fact of the commission of the crime
although the manner in which the work
was done showed that the robber was not
only an expert and an old hand at the
business but the circumstances plainly in
dicated he was one of gang. A few days
1lnr Nf
excursion to San Pedro. The gang of dia-
mona ROBBERS worked the train and some
sixteen valuable gems were stolen. Had
the people been notified that gang of dia-
mona ROBBERS was In the city they would
have been on the lookout for them.
Chief Glass excused himself for with
holding the news on the ground that they
caught the robbers who stole the first d,a-
mond and by keeping the affair dark re-
covered the gem, but admitted that he
could not convict the thief. The other
fourteen or fifteen diamonds stolen while
the matter was being kept quiet to recover
the first gem were not recovered.
Mr.. Arnold also cited the case of forg-
er. Alvin c. Afford, who was arrested and
his arrest kept secret. The chief and "tho
men under him. replied that the arrest
was kept secret in order to catch Affords
pals, and claimed they had caught them
and sent them to prison; but 1t was not
shown they were convicted upon any
charge connecting them with Afford or his
work.
Then Taylor asked permission to ask
Chief Glass question. He said there was
a story to the effect that. a woman had
been arrested for stealing $500 from an
insurance company, had been held in Jail
A number of days. while her friends were
digging up the money, and thendfscharged.
Taylor minated that in the case men
toned the police department had COM
pounded felony. and he asked Chief Glass
% explain.
Gibbon got in first. He said that he knew
If half dozen cases within the last five
observed to save the reputation of man
Or woman.
Chief Glass answered the question as fol-
ows: "If Mr.. Taylor can f1nd where 1 have
felony he should take the
natter before the grand jury"
II intend to-" said Taylor and the mat
err was dropped.
All this time Meserve was trying hard to
earn his salary. but Mayor Snyder OBJ
ected. Every time Meserve got up the
mayor set him down.
discussion followed, In which every
body took hand, and various cases were
lied and discussed. The argument grew
warm. but matters were getting worse and
worse tangled when Mayor Snyder invited
". A. Spalding. editor OF The Herald, who
vas present, to express his views.
Before Mr.. Spalding spoke Mr.. Gibbon
the assertion that so far as he
'ould see not single instance had been
'rought to the commissions attention
wherein the police had violated the law or
isobeyed the rules laid down for their
guidance.
A Plain Statement
II have been much interested in what you
AVE had to say on this subject" said M.
'paldng, when he arose to speak in re-
ponse to the mayors invitation, "but I
egret that the discussion has been var
owed down to the treatment of report. IS
y the police. I think you have missed the
main and vital point when you fail to con-
ider the rights Of American citizens.
mong which are life, liberty and the pur-
ut OF happiness. AS understand 1t, il I
Talk the streets OF Los Angeles today as a
rec man do so by the sufferance of the DO
zee department.. / may be arrested tonigh.
nd trown into Jafl my family not be no.
flied and no one know my whereabouts. I |
lay be held for three, six or nine days
here seems to be no limit. may even be
enied lawyer, II the policeman does not
rant me 20 have one. Further, my informa-
ion is that even If do secure an attorney
will have to engage some particular pet |
t the department.
This Is serious. II you tamper with the |
Ights of American citizens and overstep
r overstradn the laws of the land you are |
ding too far. There Is a law which YOU |
ave not quoted here. but 1t Is older than |
ny Of your rules or statutes 1t Is found |
, holy writ and forbids doing evil that
God may come Of it. II you overstep that |
NV you are taking dangerous ground. I |
m with you In your efforts to have GRIM
lals punished. But in violating the law
} accomplish this purpose you ara estab-
ishing dangerous precedent. Under
stronger force Of government these pre-
adents might operate with crushing force.
"Your liberty and mine is at stake. You
annot afford to set precedAnts which are /
alse and mischievous. Every city is not
uaranteed so good a police force as we
ave. We may not always have as good
force as we now have. Dangerous COM
locations will then ensue
Taking up the other phase of this dis !