Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-12
CITY TRUSTEE
is ARRESTED
VERNON OFFICIAL TAKEN INTO
CUSTODY
IIS SAID TO HAVE DISTURBED
WoMAN's PEACE
Flight Of Citizens Of New Town Against
Los Angeles Dumping Ground
to Be Aired In Police
Court

Whether the city will be interfered with
within It's work of dumping refuse on
the grounds in the southern end of the
city will probably be decided as the re-
suit of a complaint issued yesterday by
City Prosecutor Guy Eddie against
William NJ Stevens of Vernon and sworn
to by Mrs ]. d. De Turk, charging
disturbing the peace.
The city's dumping ground In the
southern part of the city is the property
of Mrs. De Turk. The grounds are on
the banks of the Los Angeles river,
and since the city has been using this
place to throw its waste matter. the
village of Vernon was incorporated and
took in part of the refuse pile, so the
property of Mrs. De Turk lies in both Los
4 Angeles ard Vernon.
After it's Incorporation Vernon OBJ
jected to the dumping of Los Angeles
refuse In its limits. and Mrs. De Turk
was compelled to order the haulers to put
the stuff in Los Angeles territory only
According to Mrs De Turks story, this
did not satisfy the trustees of Vernon
ard they began a campaign of perse-
cution, her most active opponent. she de-
clares, being Stevens. who she says
seems to have a personal grudge against
her.
Tfuotee Seeks Fight
Mrs. De Turk claims that neither
Stevens nor any of the other trustees
are lawfully in office.
She says the last election was passed;
that these men feared they would not
be elected if one were held, and that
they are now holding office without
the consent of the voters of Ver-
non.
! Stevens. she says made UP his mind
to stop the dumping in the vicinity and
SIX months ago threatened to stop the
teamsters from hauling the refuse.
He succeeded in stopping two of the
men, when Mrs. De Turk asked him
to desist. He became abusive, she says,
and threatened to strike her
"He pulled off his coat and wanted me
to fight she says. HE weighs over
22O pounds and I only weigh 100 and am
nearly fifty years old.
"a friend of Stevens. who is in league
with him. told him to go to his own
property and dare me to go with him.
He hoped to arrest me and have me
tried in Vernon, where 1 would certainly
have been convinced.
Stevens went to his property, which
Iadjoins mine, and dared me to follow,
but am no prize fighter, and told him
of a big man like him challenging a
small woman, and he had to go away
without fighting"
Woman Secures Warrant
Stevens, she says, has at different times
since tried to drive off the haulers of
lrefuse, but without success.
The climax was reached three days
ago when Mrs. De Turk while driving
with friend. met Stevens who was
seated on heavy wagon. Stevens, out
of pure malice, she declares, made her
turn far out of the roadway and when
Ishe protested he told her to keep off the
lroad while he was using it. This angered
Mrs. De Turk and when Stevens on
Tuesday had two of her drivers arrested
for dumping refuse on her own grounds
land then abused her when she made
a protest. she decided to appeal to the
law. She reported the matter to the
health officers, two of whom accompanied
her to the prosecuting attorneys office,
where complaint was issued.
The dumping of the city's refuse on
Mrs. De Turks property is a matter of
great moment to her. as it protects her
grounds from the encroaching work of
the water in the river and the city is
interested. as 1t must have a dumping
Iground and cannot tolerate interference
in the work of the haulings and there
fore to protect itself, must stand by Mrs.
De Turk.
1t was stated by Mr.. Eddie yester-
day that Stevens had gone far beyond
his rights when he had two drivers
arrested for dumping the refuse on the
womans property.