The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-23
PASTORS REFUSE THEIR EVIDENCE Fail to Back Up Charges Against Hartford
 Police.
CITIZENS ARE AROUSED
Ministers Subpened and Will Finally Have to
 Talk.

Hartford, May 22.-The four minis- ters who made sensational charges from their pulpits last Sunday regard ing alleged police collusion with crim- inals here and the existence here of houses of ill-repute and gambling dens, refused, at public hearing tonight before the police board, to submit, at this time, the evidence they claim to have in their possession. Mayor Hen ney and Judge Garvan thereupon call ed upon the prosecuting attorney to issue subpoenas to compel the clergy men to submit the evidence in support of their charges. A consultation fol- lowed between Prosecuting Attorney Harrison B. Freeman, jr., and the four clergymen-Rev. H. E, Peabody, Rev. w. w. Ranney, Rev J. Coleman Adams and Rev. F. Der. Miel-at which the ministers agreed to appear at the prosecutors office at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon to further discuss the situation.
 When the meeting was opened in the city hall the council chamber was crowded by citizens from all walks of | life. Mayor Henney, after a few pre- l liminiary remarks, called upon the clergymen, in the interests of good cit | izenship, to present their evidence. Rev. MT. Peabody arose then and stat ed that he and his colleagues had con- ferred as to what course they should pursue, and had reduced their opinion to writing, which, he would read He then presented the statement as their side of the situation. Tn substance, 1t was to the effect that a state of law l lessness and open vice existed here, Icreating situation which justified their call for the enforcement of the law and the punishment of the crini- nals. It recited that the ministers would not present their evidence at this place or at this time, because the ends of justice would not be served for if the criminals themselves were not in attendance their agents were and they (the clergymen) did not pro- pose to play into their hands in this public way. They were willing to sub init their evidence to committee ap- pointed by the mayor, with power tc take evidence and to cross-examine witnesses under oath. They maintain ed that it was not the duty of private citizens to procure evidence for off
 eials, but, on the other hand, as re- suit of the alarm they had sounded, il was the duty of these officials to use
 the police force to substantiate the
 charges they had made.
 Mayor Henney then called the at
 tention of the clergymen to the fac that there was no authority nor power
 for the appointing of any such com
 mittee as they had suggested, and tha'
 it was the duty of these gentlemen
 not as ministers, but as citizens, tC
 assist the prosecutor in every way pos ; sible to run down the criminals.
 The chief of police was present ant
 said that no charges had ever beer
 presented to him by the ministers ol
 any one else
 Prosecuting Attorney Freeman thei
 arose and said that he had never beer
 consulted in the matter in any form whatever.
 It was at this point that the mayo called upon Mr. Freeman to issue thu subpoenas, and he replied that h, would do so at once.
 Judge Garvan, of the police court supported the prosecuting attorney saying that he had appointed him ant ordered him to proceed at once to pro cure all the evidence in the possession
 of the clergymen by issuing subpoenas