New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-11
7. COWAN DISCHARGED.
Magistrate Hogan Dismisses Case
for Lack of Evidence.

Joseph Cowan. the senior member of the broker
age firm of Cowan & Co.. No. "A Broadway, who
arrested last week charged with having with
held, between March 10 and September 1 of last
year. $50 600 given him by Mrs. Blanche Hubbe
Smith was discharged by Magistrate Hogan in the
Tombs Police Court yesterday for lack Of evidence
Magistrate Hogan, in dischargtng the prisoner,
made a long speech, in which he characterized the
methods of the Central Office detectives in arrest
ing prisoners and having them discharged for lack
of evidence outrageous.
ACCOMPANIED by Abraham Levy, his counsel,
Cowan made his appearance in court. followed by
Mrs Smith with Frederick Voorhaus, her lawyer.
Assistant District Attorney Kresel also appeared
for the prosecution.
Mr. Levy opened the hearing by telling Magistrate
Hogan that his clients arrest and detention were
outrage
why Mr. Cowan does not even know the nature
of the charge that has been preferred against him.
the lawyer said.
us that true?' asked Magistrate Hogan Of Mr..
KreseL
TT is customary" said the Assistant District At
torney. for the complainant in cases like this to
wait until all the facts have been gathered and
then to make an affidavit to the charge"
''EIas that been done?' asked Magistrate Hogan.
NO" said Mr.. Kresel but if you will give me
forty-eight hours I will that the affidavit is
made
The complainant will make the affidavit
not at ALL" said the magistrate.
Mr.. Kresel, Mr.. Voorhaus and Mrs. Smith held
a hurried conversation outside the rail. and then
the Assistant District Attorney. in addressing the
court said:
when was given the by Mr.. Voorhaus
understood that he had all the facts ready find
now that we cannot make complaint not having
sufficient evidence"
Now ! would like to hear what Nj NoorhauS
has to say said Mr.. Levy. 80 ~,
Il thought had sufficient evidence, said Mr..
Voorhaus, but have since learned that during
the months in which Mrs. Smith suffered the
Mr. Cowan not in charge or the once IN
stead we find that Charles E. Dodge was in charge
NV client therefore withdrawS the complaint.
The prisoner Is honoraby discharged" said
the word ''honorabIy," land I wish to that
this is another instance of the poor work done by
the Detective Bureau. Last week they arra1sned
before me twenty-one prisoners. and they were an
DISCHARGED on short affdavitS made by the detec-
tfveg TO the effect that they had no evidence
against the prisoners. l consider that an OUT
rageous way Of doing business arrestlng men ana
having them discharged on short affdavits. In view
of my way Of looking at it. have been attacked by
persons who think the Detective Bureau should be
upheld in their methods of doing business one
have the afdaVits OF the detectives to prove what
I have said about them
Mr. Voorhaus said, upon leaving court, that ne
intendsd 10 look" for Mr.. Dodge.
AS Cowan was leaving the courtroom a summons
was served on him to appear In the Tombs court
on wednesday. The summons was secured from
con9ractor Of 10 LIS Lexing ton-ave.. who alleges
that on September 10 last he gave fifty shares OF
United States Steel stock TO Cowan. with other
securities TO sell for him. and that he never re-
SchUAdler JacobSon'S attorneys
Seated near Cowan in the courtroom during the
proceedings was woman who had two signs
hanging around her neck which said she had been
svvindIe5 nv ''get rich quick concerns Cowan
Sianced AZ the woman and the signs. but gave no
sign that he noticed the reading.