The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-09-14

Three months ago yesterday the
iron doors Of the foulest dungeon in
the United States closed behind
John King. whose only well defined
crime Was that he had for years
outNltted the Seattle police. Since
that hour he has never seen the
sunlight immured In the south
tank % the city jail. where noHe
but the day turnkey ever goes. King
PAGES a narrow cell. rceking with
filth and swarminK with vermin.
awaiting the day OF his deliveranee.
When IL viii come. or whether Il
will ever come, be does not know.
nor can he ascertain. Commnniea-
ton with the outside world. except
through the polsce. u absolutely de-
MED him. Under the Law be vas
entitled to his liberty within TWEEN
ty-four hours after his arrest. on
the morning Of June ~. provided No
charge had been filed against bin
before the expiration 81 that time
on the police register the charge
against his name - still uuWrltten
and for ghty-eight days John king
~nas been deprived OF bis liberty In
violation Of the constitution Of the
United States. the constitution Of
the state OF Washington and the
code OF the city OF Seattle.
Kings misfortune IL that certain
q Police Chief Deianey's men. 10
whom the methods Of the spanish
inquisition and the Russian secret
service appeal. suspect him Of CON
piicity In the alleged kidnapping 81
little Prewitt Baker. Who dlsap-
peared from the summer home q
his parents at Eagle Harbor last
MAJ. and whO has never been found.
The police claim that King Is being
held in fail for the purpose ~ ex-
fortiuE from him a confession Of
that crime.
A. a matter % fact, a majority o.
Chief Delaney's own officers have
long believed that desire 20 be
revenged against q criminal shrewd.
er than themselves and a determlu-
alton 10 make good on an exploded
theory regarding the Baker kidnap-
ing are Jointly responsible for the
high handed outrage perpetrated
against John King BY the detectives
Who arrested him.
Kings arrest was the result Of
enthusiastic detective work on the
part Of
DfME-NOvEL REPORTER
on a local paper. who was looking
for sensations. rather than facts
For a time King was played upi In
|. big type az the kidnaper Of the
ssaker baby. but this theory was
IN quietly dropped and the police
fave since been waiting for King to
tire ~ the bat cave In which be Is
confined and make some confession
10 some crime. even 10 witnessing
a dog fight. In order 10 hold him
for trial in the superior court and
thereby make good.
The constitution Of the United
States guarantees life. liberty and
pursuit % happiness. The conatitu-
ton Of the state o. Washington pro
vifes that no person shall be de-
pflVed Of liberty without due pro
cess u Law. Yet King Is being held
IN the city bastlle In total disfe-
gard of the laws Of the United
States and the state ~ Washington
and the code Of the city Of Seattle
which f. based on them.
Upon what charge King Is being
held. even Chief Delaney Sc unable
70 explain. Neither can Detectives
Hubbard and Freeman, who we're
the InatlgatOrg Of the arrest. give
any reasonable excuse. Their only
claim Sc that King o. a bad char
aeter but not one OF the officers In
terested IN the case viii enter upon
the book al police headquarters a
specific charge.
The law provides that a prisoner
<erhalI not be held more than q
kourg without some charge being
Eeierred against him, but King has