Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-27
WOOLWINE OUT
OF OFFICE AT
OWN REQUEST
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED BY
ACTING CITY ATTORNEY
PROSECUTOR UNWILLING TO BE
BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS
Grand Jury Examines Numerous Wit
nesses-RedIight District Sup
posed to Have Been Under
investigation

Believing that his continued incum-
bency in the office of city prosecutor
would be an injustice and cause loss
of revenue to Los Angeles, and with
the interests of the municipality still
uppermost in his mind, Thomas l..
Woolwine, in a letter addressed yes
terday to Lewis r. Works, assistant
city attorney, asked for immediate ac-
ton on his resignation, filed Friday.
In accordance with Mr.. Woolwine's
wishes, Mr.. Works. who is. acting city
attorney during the absence of City
Attorney Hewitt, accepted the resig-
nation of the young prosecutor last
night.
The effect of Mr. Woolwine's COM
mendable step will have the effect of
placing at the police station some per-
son with authority to prosecute state
misdemeanors. The absence of such a
person, of course, has materially de-
creased the amount of money turned
into the city treasury Ind caused
great inconvenience to prisoners
charged with more serious offenses
than violation of the city ordinances.
Mr. Woolwine, following the dis
patch of his letter to Mr.. Works,
made the following statement:
Several days ago l resigned my po-
sition as city prosecutor, my resigna-
tion to become effective upon Mr..
Hewitt's return, but, as he will prob
ably remain in the east until after No
vember 1, 1t would be an injustice to
the city of Los Angeles for me to re-
main in office until his return, owing
to the great loss of revenue to the
city occasioned by my removal as
deputy district attorney.
"I have, therefore. requested Mr..
Works, assistant city attorney, to ac-
cept my resignation Immediately, 80
that some person agreeable to the dis
trict attorney and who may thus be
allowed to prosecute state misde-
meanors, may be appointed"
New Appointee Expected 81
District Attorney Fredericks will, 1t
is expected, appoint some person to-
morrow to prosecute these cases, but
the vacancy in the city prosecutors Of
flee cannot be filled until the return of
Mr.. Hewitt.
Investigation into the charges made
by Mr.. Woolwine that vice is being
protected in Los Angeles was con-
tinued yesterday afternoon by the
grand jury. The morning session of
the body, 1t is believed, was devoted
to further consideration of the affairs
of the West Side bank. This matter
was staken up several days ago. The
i
county affairs. Three witnesses testi-
fled during the forenoon, namely, j.. A.
Pirtle president of the Bank of Los
Angeles; A. B. Jones, assistant cashier
of the First Nationar bank, and Harry
Simons, believed to be connected with
a Pasadena brickyard.
Mr.. Woolwine was not called when
the afternoon session was begun and
it was announced that his presence
would not be needed until Wednesday
morning. A large number of other wit
nesses were on hand, among them
Arthur Trident, humane officer; Pa
trolman Peter McGann, John G. Ed
wards, Sergeant of Police White, Pa
trolman Oscar w. Botteroff, S. Fred
Hogue, a reporter, Jack Hartnagle, a
patrolman; j. A. Butler, newspaper
E. A. Clampitt, councilman;
r. W. Barnham of the Dun Mercan-
tile agency, and Anthony Schwamm.
fire commissioner
Commissioner Schwamm was the first
witness in the afternoon. He remained
in the jury room an hour and was in
his most serene mood when he
Oil Probably Discussed
While he refused to say anything
what had transpired in the
secret chamber, it is, however, believed
the commissioner told what he knew
in regard to the Los Angeles Utah |
Oil company. This was not a great |
deal, 1t Is thought, as Mr.. Schwamm
was made a director of the company |
without his knowledge or consent, and