The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-09-26
TO PUNISH THE DETECTIVES?

--'-
Rev. S. +. Nicholson, secretary of the An
ti-Saloon League, has brought before the
Board of Police Commissioners of Balti
more, the action of electives Humphrey
and Hammerslea i'll testifyiug for the de-
tense i'll the case of David A. Fisher who
was acquitted in this Court last Satur-
day of the charge of violating the Havrc
dc Grace License Law. This action of
Mr.. Nicholson opens a question as to
whether or not he is anxious to get at
the records of Vein and Persol the prose-
cutting witnesses or is only trying to
punish the Baltimore detectives for testi-
| fying against the State. The News of
Wednesday has the following report of
| he action of Mr. Nicholson;
Because of statements that were made
to the Board of Police Commissioners by
officials of the Anti-Saloon League, Cap
tain of Detectives A. J. Humphrey and
Detective Harry HammcrSlea of the
Western District have been asked to make
written statements of their connection
with the case of David Fisher, saloon
keeper, of IIavrc dc Grace, Md, who was
tried at Bel Air last week for violating
he Sunday liquor laws.
Captain Humphrey and Detective Ham,
mcrSlea attended the trial and were wit
ncSSes for the defense, their testimony
seriously rejecting upon the reputa-
ton of Louis Vein, an agent employed
by the Anti-Saloon League to getevide, &C
against liquor-scllers suspected of violat-
ing the law, and securing the acquittal Of
Fisher.
Last Monday Rev. S. E. Nicholson,
secretary of the Anti-Saloon League,
called the attention of the Police Board
to the fact that Captain Pumphrey and
Detective Hainmcrsla had testified
against the character of Vein, and asked
the Board to make an investigation into
the manner in which the two officers Sc
cured their information. Mr.. Nicholson
stated to the Commissioners that the
testimony given to the Hartford county
Jury was of kind that showed that the
two officers had taken the trouble to
make an investigation ofthe Anti-Saloon
League agent when he was securing evil
dcnce against violators of the liquor laws
in Baltimore last spring. The minister
asked the Board why the officers had
been instructed TO investigate Wein and,
if such instructions had not been given,
why they had done so. He implied that
the Baltimore officers oftciouSly interest
ed themselves in the case in aid of a law
breaker
Tho questions asked by Mr. Nicholson
were embodied in a communication I'D
DIR, ssed to Detective Hammersla and CAP
tain Humphrey by Deputy Marshal MAN.
ming this morning. The two officers are
asked i'll the communication why they
went to Bel Air to testify against Vein;
it they were legally subpoenaed, or volurl-
tcered what they knew about Vein; from
what source they secured their informal
ton; why they sought such information,
and to whom they reported after having
secured the alleged knowledge.
Deputy Marshal Manning said this
morning that the written queries had
been forwarded to Captain Humphrey
and Detective Hammcrsle;l, and that he
expected both officers to reply to them by
next Friday.
Captain of Detectives Humphrey was
away from town during the earlier part
of the day, but Detective Hammersla was
seen by Il reporter of The News.
81 was legally summoned to Bel Air as
. witness in the case, he said. "When
| reached Rel Air found that | had been
summoned by the dc ense On the stand
told what | knew about Vein, and un-
der oath stated that he had made me
proposition to rxtort money from liquor
sellers against whom he claimed to have
secured evidence. | also testified that
Vein made propositions to ME to extort
money from keepers of diSorderly houses.
from lISSS plOpoSillOiiS SSSulSu my
knowledge of the mans character and
methods | was not detailed to watch
him nor To report TO any one. When
received my summons to attend court i'll
Bel Air notified the Deputy Marshal and
left the city with his permission. | was
not interested i'll the case against Fisher,
but when asked what knew about Vein
| told the TRUTH as will when | make
NV explanation to the Board Of Commits
siunerS'
"Mr. Nicholson is in New York today
in connection with the case. 1t is under
stood that he is investigating the charges
made against VEINS antecedents by the
! Baltimore officers 1t is said that an
,thcr agent of the Anti-Saloon League
will figure in the case if it comes before
! the Board"