Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-26
BUSY DAY SPENT
BY GRAND JURY
ENGAGED WITH WITNESSES
ALL DAY LONG
PROTECTED VICE PRESUMABLY
UNDER EXAMINATION
Police Officers, Detective, Former
"Redlight District" Resident and
Many Others closeted with
County Inquisitors

With the corridor in front of the
grand jury room resuming its aspect
of several weeks ago, when a score or
more of witnesses appeared after the
initial steps had been taken by the
investigating body into the charges of
protected vice made by City Prosecu-
tor Woolwine. the inquiry took new life
yesterday. At 10 o'clock, when the
session began, fourteen persons were
on hand in response to subpoenas, and
when the jury took its noon recess all
but two or three of them had been
questioned and restored to liberty.
DR.. L. M. Powers, city health officer,
was the first witness. He remained
with the jury forty-five minutes, emerg
/ ing in perspiration and. enshrouded in
silence regarding the nature of his tes-
timony.
After that the grand jury worked
| with the regularity of a sausage ma
chine. Police Captain A. j. Bradish,
Patrolmen James Harrison and Sam
| Mckenzie, Joseph Ford, deputy district
attorney at the police station; Frank
| Casey former saloonkeeper; w. w.
Glenn, a colored officer; Alfred Tri-
dent a private detective; w. N. Rice,
| proprietor of the Acme cafe; T. J.
Cook of the Sonoma Wine company,
and Theodore Lamb, who works for
| the Lankershim estate, jumped in turn
into the room and then jumped out
again. after scarcely more than time
to say How do" J. Cabell Read was
the last to enter the room before the
noon adjournment He remained If
| teen minutes.
Assumed Mysterious Air
For three-quarters of an hour Read
/ 4AgI I Il. yesTTTR Ned a n n
mystery and refused even to suggest
a reason for being summoned. He went
so far as to decline fatty to give his
name to inquirers, or to state whether
he had been called as a witness or had
come of his own Volition to air the
troubles between himself and the city
administration, following his efforts TO
secure payment of two or three months
salary to which, according to City At
torney Hewitt he is not entitled.
Read was appointed inspector of gas
meters under the McAleer administra-
ton. Several efforts were made to
Dust him from the office, which was
| looked upon by many as sinecure
and not worth the $175 a month paid
the occupant, who, it is claimed, sat
in a well-appointed office on South Hill
street and examined a few little wheels
each morning to discover the pressure
of gas Just prior to the advent OF
Mayor Harper the city council sue
ceeded in passing a resolution abolish
ing Reads office, but he held on, re-
fusing to be ousted, even at the man
date of the legislative body.
The incoming mayor, after some per-
suasion by Reads friends 1t is alleged,
told the inspector to continue at his
work for a month. Read did so, and in
addition put in two more months time
in the comfortable office, doing little
it is said but ever silent. Then he
handed in his bill for three months
salary. It was turned down, the city
attorney ruling that there was no or
dinance providing for the office, and
that therefore the bill could not be
paid.
From RediIght District
Clara Moore, a ponderous colored
woman, who a few months ago lived in
the "redlight district" was the first
person to squeeze her way into the
! grand jury room in the afternoon,
when a new batch of witnesses APP
peared. She squeezed out ten minutes
| later, and her place was partly filled
! by ]. H Russell, a clerk in the city
prosecutors office. Mr.. Russell soon
| reappeared, waved his hand in re-
Spouse to questions, and darted down
the stairway.
Harry G. Wright, formerly restaurant
|
ceeded by F. L. Coe, motorcycle police
man, who was excused a few moments
later to bring to the jury room seven
small memorandum books, containing
a record of the work done by Coe and
his partner, r. G. Humphreys, an
other motorcycle officer.
Then Police Sergeants James Nc
DoWell and G. j. Redmond, Patrolman
A. C. Berchtold and Sylvia Watson,
at one time connected with a collection
agency, were excused and told to re-
turn Friday. This was done only after
Nick Harris, garbage inspector for the
health department, had been in the Sc
cret chamber nearly twenty minutes.
Harris said he was not witness; that
is. he was not subpoenaed
Was Not subpoenaed
at met Captain Fdereicks on the
| street and told him [ was ready to go
before the grand jury and answer any
charges that have been against me,
either to that body or in the news
papers," said Harris. "There has been
a great deal of wild talk about me,
and now the takers will either have
to make good or shut up"
Whether Harris was questioned
about the charges that he had received
presents from Chinese doctors as a
bride to use his influence in their favo"
when the health department was wag-
ing a war against them, is, of course,
not known. 1t is surmised that he
was examined concerning other fea-
put to him regarding his own conduct
necessarily would nullify any indict-
ment returned against him.
Harris was the last witness of the
day. The jury will convene again
Friday at 10 o'clock.