The herald., 1898-02-16
Investigation of Hiriart
Proceeding
TWO WITNESSES TESTIFY
SALOON LICENSE REVOKED FOR
VIOLATION OF LAW
Van Nuys Will Hereafter Be Without
Barroom-Transfers Granted.
Appointments Made

| occupied by the police commission In lis
tening to evidence in the investigation as
| to the fitness or unfitness of Pascual Hiriar
for place on the police force, Il
which he was appointed on motion of Mr.
Preuss. AT the morning session of tn,
commission only routine business wa.
| transacted. owing to the absence of Mr.
| Gibhon. but at 2 p. m. the hearing was
taken up. Hiriart was represented by
! Attorney Trask. but had no witnesses or
| hand for himself
| Ross Phillips. a patrolman, whose beat
| lies in Chinatown, was the first witness
called for the prosecution. and stated tha
he had known Hiriart for several years
and knew him as a frequenter of the Ala
media street district. He had frequently
| observed Hiriart around the cribs and III,
Basket saloon, where he hung out around
the rear portion, talking with the French
| women who live there. He was often un-
der the influence of liquor. Attorney
Trask took up the cross examination
and tried to show by his questions
that Hiriart had been there on business for
Attorney Brooks. and also wanted to know
whether or not Phillips did not have mo-
tive for giving his testimony in that he
was aggrieved because he had not been APP
pointed on the regular force instead OF
| Hiriart. The witness was not shaken IN
| his testimony. however.
There were a couple more witnesses
| to be put on against Hiriart, but they
were not present. and wait of some min
utes ensued for the appearance of Frank
| A. Gibson, who had preferred the charges.
The time was enlivened by a discussion
among the commissioners as to the merits
of the case. Mr. Preuss was free to adj
nit that he thought nothing had beer
proven against the policeman. 1T seems
to me-" said he, that It is waste of time
trying to dig up witnesses who have heard
someone say that they had been told by
someone else that another person had
heard that there was this or that true about
man." He had used his best endeavors
to find some one who absolutely knew
something against Hiriart and had failed
in his search. There were plenty of ru-
mors, but nothing definite.
Mr.. Gibbon replied that he was of the
opinion that the testimony of Officer Phil
lips was far from the realm of hearsay,
and, if true, constituted cause why Hiriart
should not be policeman When he first
heard of the charges against the man he
had been of the opinion that he was being
prosecuted, and had told Mr.. Wyman So
Afterward he had become convinced thai
the charges had more than good founda-
ton, and hence had brought them before
the commission. He had even been tod
that q WOiiidu III tile Clty NllO Knew al
about the relations of Hiriart and the gir,
who afterward became his wife, but who
was afraid to come up and tell what she
knew on the witness stand, as she was
afraid of her life. for on one occasion
Hir.art had put pistol to her head and
threatened to kill her.
At this there was a general expression
that the witness should be found and COM
PEELED to testify. Mr.. Gibbon assured his
pOllpa that he would oil in III
power to bring any and all witnesses be-
fore the board. and moved that the chief be
instructed to send an officer to summons
them. The motion was carried.
Frank A. Gibson. cashier in the First
National bank, said that he had known
Pascual Hiriart for six or seven years.
At one time his wife had in her employ
a South American girl who was betrayed
by Hiriart. When Mr.. Gibson learned of
the facts he taxed Hiriart with the offense
which was not denied, and he was married
to the girl in Mr.. Gibson's office. Hrart
was not overjoyed at the prospect of mat
but acquiesced, although he said
that he was not able to support wife.
In answer to this Mr.. Gibson said that he
would do all in his power to assist the
young couple.
Afterward he learned that Hiriart had
given the girl medicine with which to pro-
duce an abortion. The medicine was taken
from the girl and was put in the possess
sion of Mrs. Gibson. from whom Hrart
tried to obtain it, using threats. but was
Up to this time Mrs. Glib
son had kept the girl in her service, al
though married. but at the medicine incl
dent Mr.. Gibson requested her to leave, |
and he had known nothing since of Hiri-
art or his wife Cross examination by Mr. !
TraSk failed to shake Mr.. Gibson's testi- |
mony, and he was excused.
1t being late. the commission here ad- |
iourned until Friday morning at 10 o'clock |
Hiriart. Just before adjournment filing an |
affidavit from Mary Galimany stating that |
she had known the family for n long time |
and that Hiriart's reputation was good, |
also his treatment of his wife and children |
while they were alive. He will produce
in his defense a the next ses-
sion.
Because of the fact that Bartender w. II.
Virgins had pleaded guilty in the police |
'ourt to having violated the Sunday clos
ng ordinance by selling liquor on January
10Th to Patrolman German, the license of |
the Van Nuys bar, in the name of NJ. NJ
Potter, was revoked. Secretary Todd read
The transcript of the court record, showing
hat Virgins had entered plea of guilty
% the charge and had been fined 800 by |
Justice Owens. When he had finished |
here was dead silence for a moment or
.wo, broken finally by Mr. Gibbon, who
stated that there seemed to be but one
hing for the commission to do: they had |
established the rule that, upon conviction
n court of any saloonkeeper for violation
1f the liquor law, his license should be re-
roked.
His remarks were supported by Mr.. Wy
nan, who insisted that the license should !
De revoked The commission had been crit
cised by some of the saloon men, who ac-
used it of partiality-of favoring the big
them to run and put
ing the clamps on the little fellows Here
was an opportunity to show that all would
De treated alike He moved to revoke the
license; Mr.. Gibbon seconded the motion
and the vote was unanimous, or rather
here were no nays. Mr.. Preuss and Mr..
McLain remaining silent.
The matter of the transfer of the license
It First and Broadway from Fred Hoppe
o Bob Kern coming up, Theodore Friese,
who formerly conducted the place, ap-
reared and said that he had objected to
he transfer simply because he had been
wndled out of his place-not by Kern,
however. He had been closed down on an
attachment and his saloon had been sold
lnder the sheriff's hammer for $40 without
lis knowing the sale was to take place.
lie had protested against the transfer of
he license for the purpose of revenge, but
vas ready to withdraw his protest, where
pon the transfer was granted
The application of Henry Bickel for a
cense at the northwest corner of First
md Los Angeles streets was granted on
avorable reports from the police depart
nent. This is the same location where F..
,onreys saloon was formerly situated. tho
license for which was revoked because of