Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-02
FREDERICKS IS
ACCUSED OF
DODGING DUTY
ADR0IT MOVE TO GUST CITY
OFFICIAL ALLEGED
REFUSES TO CONDUCT lNVEsTl.
CATION BEFORE GRAND JURY
Prosecutor Declares He viii Appear
Before the InquIsItorlaI Body
Today, but Only as Pr-
Vate Citizen
An effort made yesterday by Dis

A effort made yesterday by Dis
u trict Attorney J. D. Fredericks to
- pass along the duty of aiding the
grand jury to investigate municipal
graft to City Prosecutor Woolwine
failed, Woolwine refusing point blank
to put himself within ihe power of the
district attorney, whom he considers
unfriendly to his attempts at stamp
ing out vice.
Capt. Fredericks' letter to Mr.. Wool
wine was delivered late yesterday af-
ternoon. He offered the city prosecutor
the use of county funds and facilities
to prepare his data to be submitted to
the grand jury.
In his closing paragraph Fredericks
says that if Woolwine declines the ap-
pointment to act as Fredericks' repre-
sentative before the grand jury, the
district attorney will withdraw the sup
port which he has extended the city
prosecutor by appointing him a deputy.
Woolwine's friends see in this an
adroit move to force the young prose-
cutor out of office as without the pow
ers of a deputy district attorney he
could prosecute but few of the many
criminal cases that come within the
jurisdiction of his office at present.
Arraigns Fredericks
Woolwine bitterly arraigns Fred
ericks for what he terms the latter'sl
attempts to evade his plain duty and
force 1t upon another. He upbraids
the district attorney for failing to in
vestigate the charges that have been
| made and openly accuses Fredericks of
trying to drive him from office that he
may appoint another who will not be
so pronounced in his determination to
| enforce the laws.
The correspondence between Fred
ericks and Woolwin9 is appended.
| Mr.. FrederickS said in substance:
assume that when Mr.. Hewitt selected you
fcl the important position you hold he salts
| nee hlmself as to your ability, integrity and
courage. You have stated in brief that Won
nave knowledge Of the fact that officials of
L.. Angeles city crooked, and with more
power and FUNDS you could bring their
orookedness to light and punish them
Los Angeles city is a part of Los Angeles
| c. unity. | assume the crimes you refer to are
| mere than mere misdemeanors. We have
| something over million dollars in our county
| vaults and authority to employ and pay an
army If necessary in the detection of crime.
YOU are technically deputy district attorney
and 1 will state that l have every faith in
your valor and integrity Your ability in
matters of this kind practically untried but
have sufficient faith in you to give you an
| opportunity to demonstrate that.
| This is one of the gravest and most serious
| situations in your life. 1 have no knowledge
of the crimes you charge. If they exist they
| have escaped my observation, but cannot
| think you would make such grave charges un-
| less you had some strong evidence.
| Again. it is very detrimental to society that
charges of this kind should be made and
landed about without being either proven or
| disproven. 1t serves to keep the public mind
| IN an abnormal condition, and works harm if
II te charges are unfounded, and works harm
also If they are well founded but not vigor-
ously probed for.
Having made these charges against public
officials of the city, every citizen is interested
| IN our fair name. AS said 1 have no knowl-
edge of the facts you charge, and it is easier
| fer you with this knowledge you claim to
take entire charge of the matter than it
would be for any other.
| In this connection 1 might caution you that
| II is a terrible thing to charge man with
lime if innocent No amount of apology or
| retraction will place him right again
| Remember also that the greatest crime against
| the state is the refusal of public officers to
| enforce the law as it stands, open re-
| fusal by private citizens to acquiesce in its
mandates
A grand jury is now in session. made up. as
| rncst grand Juries are, of men who will scruti-
| nize matters Of this kind very carefully and
render a proper decision undoubtedly.
| l now direct you, as deputy district attorney.
| to attend the session of that body on Friday.
| the I'd inst, and take full charge as my rep
| resentative, of all Investigations of crimes
committed by Los Angeles city public officials.
The purse of the county Is at your disposal.
| |, of course, require you to be judicious in the
| expenditure Of public money. not to be rash.
| tuI to be thorough, to spare no one If any
| wrong Is DeluS uOHe. anu III THIS COunSCllOH
you can be assured that no man or set of men
| or political party interfere, far l
| am concerned, with your work.
| And in conclusion 1 caution you, as a repre-
sentative of this office, in this particular, that
| matters of this kind cannot be tried in the
| press so well as they can before properly con-
stiluted judicial tribunals
| Now take off your coat roll up your sleeves
and get busy.
If you decline to accept this order from me.
of course 1 can only withdraw from you what
lava ms q q
attorney without pay may have. but L have. as
said. confidence in you and do not look
Tor that contingency.
Very respectfully,
| J. D. FREDERICKS,