Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-13
SERIOUS is
CASEAGAMST
LAW OFFICER
BLACKMAlL AND PERJURY ARE
IN COMPLAINT
DECLARE SPECIAL POLICE NOT
AMERICAN CITIZEN
Robbery Of SIavonIan colonIsts and
Family Quarrel Involved In Case
Instituted In Justice Sum-
merfieId's Court

Perjury and false imprisonment are the
charges against Special Police Officer j.
Cokolet in a complaint filed In Justice
Summerfields court, and in statement
to the police commissioners, which Deputy
Constable M. Miklauschutz claims to have
made in a request for the dismissal Of
Cokolet from the police force.
Behind the charges made in the COM
plant is story of the robbery of large
sum Of money from the Slavonian colon
lists on Sunset boulevard and a tale of
family quarrel and blackmail which
Officer Cokolet is said by the Slavonians
TO have used in his official position on the
Police force to intimidate Mike Marich, a
Slavonian.
Mike Marich is plaintiff in the complaint
filed in Justice Summerfields court, and
j. Cokolet. George Marich, John Doe
Cailer) and Richard Roe (jailer) are the
defendants. Mike Marich and his cousin,
George Marich, are members of the
Slavonian colony, which occupies two
houses at S17 Sunset boulevard. Officer
Cokolet is also a Slavonian.
Lacks Citizenship
In the complaint 1t Is claimed that
Cokolet is not an American citizen and
rerjured himself when he swore to being
a citizen at the time of his appointment
as special police officer. 1t Is also claimed
Marich and confined him in jail twenty
four hours without any complaint or just
charge against him. The plaintiff claims
that his Imprisonment was a conspiracy
between the officer and George Marich to
blaclxmail him into paying money.
According to the story of the Slavonians
they keep their money hidden in old socks
and shoes and other places about their
premises, fearing to trust it to the banks
No one, they claim could rob them of
the money except a person acquainted
with their habits of domestic banking and
the hiding place of their funds. Several
weeks ago they say they were robbed of
cash aggregating $500 to $500. The empty
pocketbooks and other receptacles in
which they money had been hidden were
found the following morning outside the
entrance to the house occupied by Mike
and George Marich. George Marich
claimed to have been robbed of $14O.
Arrested on Suspicion
According to the complaint Officer
Cokolet came to the home of the Marich
family at 2 o'clock on the morning of
November and made Mike Marich
prisoner taking him to the city Jail, where
he was confined twenty-four hours. The
Slavonians say that as soon as Detec-
tives Dixon and Craig investigated the
matter they Immediately released Mike
Cokolet, 1t is said, justified his action 10
the officers on the ground that George
Marich suspected his cousin Mike of hav-
ing taken the money. Mike Marich sought
the advice Of NJ. Miklauschutz deputy
constable under Ben Cohn, and the IN
vestigation made by the former resulted
in the complaint filed against officer
Cokolet and the presentation of the mat
ter to the police commission
MiIxIanSchntz saws thara is strong
feeling among the Slavonians that the
whole affair was conspiracy between
Cokolet and George Marich to blackmail
Mike Marich out of some cash which he
was known to have saved from his earn
ings.
Cokolet is said to have been in this
country seven years and has taken out
his first naturalization papers, but so far,
the Slavonians allege, has not followed
them UP by taking out the final natural
ization certificates. Miklauschutz says ne
went with the officer when he took out
his preliminary papers, and he is conf
dent the latter has never taken out the
final naturalization papers necessary be-
fore he could be sworn in to service on
the police force.
Charges Perjury
In order to secure his official appoint
ment by the board of police commission
ers. the plaintiff claims, Cokolet had to
swear falsely to being a citizen of the
United States. The plaintiff in the case
end his friends claim that Colsolet is in
the habit of abusing his privileges as
police officer in various ways, and shows
his star when he wants to get a drink
without paying for 1t.
Miklauschutz says that when the COM
plant was filed against Cokolet and
.tAI. H. NAkk