The herald., 1898-03-18
THE CHARGES QUASHED
DETECTIVE GOODMAN HAS RE-
TURNED PUPKE's WATCH
GILL0TT's PECULIAR STORY
Charges Against the Police Depart
ment of Illegal Arrest and
Detention


Pupke against Detective Goodman Of un-
lawfully sequestrating a watch which had
been by the court adjudged his property,
were to have been fully aired and both
sides had been notified to appear and ex-
plain the matter. The whole thing was
squelched in its incipiency, and the detec-
tive protected by the action of the chief
and the backdown Of Pupke who had, since
he made his roar" been given back his
property, and the whole thing squared, so
that he filed written statement saying
that as he had recovered his watch he did
not desire to further prosecute.
At the last meeting the chief had been
ordered to see that the watch was re-
turned to its owneT and the detective
produced to explain his actions but when
he appeared he said that Pupke had told
him that he was willing to drop the matter.
He had paid out of his own pocket the
$3.50 demanded by the pawnbroker from
whose shop the watch was taken, because
he did not wish to see that individual lose
by the transaction.
From appearances the whole affair arose
out of an attempt by Goodman to make
Pupke pay $3.50 to the pawnbroker, money
dQVdHCcu, DelOTc H6 WOuiu give up d
stolen watch which had been identified by
the owner. The police are free to admit
that they like to stand fright" with the
pawnbrokers, as those WORTHLESS can often
materially assist or interfere with them
in the prosecution of their duties and the
capture Of criminals.
Another alleged outrage Of the rights of
a citizen by the police was brought to the
attention of the commission through the
following communication, filed by James
elliott, a resident of Pico Heights:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, Feb. g. 1885,
ITO the Honorable Board of Police Com
Observation-Disclosures Your petitioner
respectfully represents that on the i4th day
of February he obtained from one Thomas
Brown permission to take a few small
pieces of lumber from building in the
course of construction on Westlake ave-
nue., near Eighth street; that he was de-
tained In the city until about o'clock p
M, and arrived at said building between
and 10 o'clock at night for the purpose
of securing said lumber, and while In the
act of taking same he was arrested by
Officer Foster; that he explained to the
arresting officer that he had a sub-con-
tract on the building and had permis-
sion to take such lumber. He further
asked said officer to accompany him to his
own home to explain his absence as he is
a married man. living with his wife and
two small children, and also to the resi-
dence of Brown, and offered to drive the
officer to both places, but this request was
other officer. who he believes was sent
bo or 70 Il i'm,
there.
THAT upon his arrival at the police sta
ton he requested that Brown be sent for,
but his request was refused and he was
detained over night. That on the morning
of the 18th he requested that note be
sent to his partner, George Slyter, and
wrote such note and gave'it to one Of
the city jailors. who informed your petit
toner that he came on duty at o'clock a.
M, requesting that said note be sent TO
Slyter. but it was not delivered. During
the same morning he was asked by the
jailer, whose name is unknown to him, If
he wanted to employ a lawyer. and in reply
said that he did, and that he wanted Mr..
Myers. That he asked permission to tele-
phone to said Myers, but was told by the
jailer that he could not; that Hugh j.
Crawford, a lawyer, was there, and that
he could employ him or do without. That
he then consented to see Crawford, who
demanded of him the sum of $25 to defend
him, and upon Crawford's writing out the
order hereto attached, marked exhibit
A. he signed the same. and that thereby
Crawford secured from the clerk of the
police court the sum of $40, the same be-
ing deducted from his money. That after
ward he was required by said Crawford
to sign the I. o. u for SIS, hereto at
tached and marked exhibit B.
"That later on in the morning Brown
heard of his arrest and at once proceeded
to the police station and informed the
officers there that your petitioner had re-
ceived permission to take the lumber and
he was thereupon discharged. That he
thereafter demanded of Crawford the re-
turn of the sum of SO so obtained from him
in the manner above set forth, which he
refused and still refuses to do. That he
was also required to pay livery bill for
the care of his horse and wagon over night.
That at the time of his arrest he had upon
his person the sum of $2S or $24 or there
abouts, and the lumber taken was of the
value of 25 cents or thereabouts.
"That your petitioner is a resident,
householder and taxpayer, and takes this
method of protesting against the indignity.
humiliation and disgrace thus thrust upon
him and the extortion and expense i'm
posed upon him by the officious, unwar-
ranted and unlawful acts of said above
named city officials. All of which is respect
fully submitted.
(Signed) JAMES elliott,
Residing on B Street. Pico Heights"
When the clerk had finished the reading
of the charges Mayor Snyder burst forth
Indignantly: "This case is simply awful!
The idea of an innocent man being treated
in this manner. Why, if this communica-
ton is true no man is safe in this city,"
Chief GLASS interrupted to say that there
were always two sides to a question and
that while this kind of complaint was
common. 1t was usually found that there
was little basis of fact in them
Special Officer Foster. who made the ar
rest, stated that the communication was
false; that he had asked elliott to tele-
phone to Brown. He offered the use of his
instrument, but elliott showed no desire
to telephone; that he had been arrested
after dark while tiptoeing into the build
ing and had said that rather than let
any one know of his predicament he would
spend the night in Jail.
A spirited discussion ensued among the
commissioners and the chief, but, although
much was said, nothing came of it ex-
cept the motion of Mr.. Gibbon that elliott
be summoned to appear before the board