Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-05
MANY WOMEN
ARE UNJUSTLY
INCARCERATED
Police Methods Cause
Protests
Manner of Locking Up Mexican Prls-
oners on Suspicion May Result
in international COM
plieations

In retaliation for the recent frequent
arrests of innocent Mexicans oy the
local police and the Incarceration of
men and women several days at a
time on suspicion" allegations, Attor-
ney Horace Appel, working In con-
junction with the Mexican consul, yes
terday began an investigation of the
suspicion" system which, If not ex-
planned, may result in a straining of
diplomatic relations between the
United States and Mexico.
The Suspicion" system at the po-
lice station has resulted in untold
trouble during the past few months.
Prior to that time more experienced
officers were being used to do plain
clothes work. Recently scores of per-
fectly innocent people are said to have
been taken to the police station,
locked up and held there for a week
or more at a time, while only "sus-
picion" charge rested against them, and
they were released with no explanation
when the police had gotten tired of
keeping them there. According to the
statement of Attorney Appel, who has
represented the Spanish population of
Los Angeles for many years, the police
have always stated that if false arrest
has been made the victim always has
the right to sue the police officer for
that false arrest, but this plan has
proved a failure because of the fact
that most of the police officers would
be unable to pay judgments against
them.
Frlendless Woman Arrested
The recent arrest of Juana Macias
by Detective Rico has proven the i'm
mediate cause of the starting Of an
investigation. The woman is a poor,
friendless little person and was un-
fortunate only in that she happened to
live in part of the same shack where
man named Estrada lived.
Estrada was arrested charged with
the murder of another Mexican, and
officer Rico went to the house and
took Juana Macias to the police sta
ton. She was kept there six days,
not knowing what was to become of
her, fearing the unknown, and with
out friends; and on the day she was
finally released one of the detectives,
according to her allegations, told her
that if she mentioned the fact that she
had been locked up the police depart
ment would persecute her by frequent
arrests until she would be forced to
get out OF town.
AS soon as the little Mexican woman
was released from the city jail she
went to the Mexican consul and asked
him if it was necessary for her to
leave town, and she was told that she
might remain, while Attorney Appel
who had been at work on an investiga-
tion of similar cases, took up the Ma
cias case with Mayor Harper.
Yesterday Attorney Appel was at
the court house preparing affidavits III
the case and collecting evidence.
Says Laws Are Violated
1T seems a shame that these poor
people receive the treatment they do
at the hands of some police officers,
who try to bully them," said the attor-
ney This thing has been going on
for a long time, and certain Mexican
officers have been most instrumental in
the intimidation of men and women
of their own race. This woman, who
is a friendless, dependent sort of a
little creature, lived in part of the
shack where the alleged murderer lived.
When they arrested her, If they had
anything against her why didn't they
file a complaint. 1t is misdemeanor
in this state for an officer to hold a