The San Francisco call., 1908-11-24

SEVERE ON CAPTAIN DUKE
The verdict is particularly hard on
Police Captain Thomas Duke. who
searched Haas at the courtroom after
the shooting and who testified that he
had examined Haas feet and satisfied
himself that there was no weapon con-
cealed there. Chief of Police Bisgy was
burdened also with serious responsible
ity in the case. as was Detective Ser
geant Thomas f. Burke. who was in
charge of Haas when the man commit
ted suicide. Biggy swore yesterday
that at the county jail he did not think
it necessary to have the prisoner thor
oughly searched before he was put in
his cell because he had confidence in
the ability and efficiency of Duke and
Burke.
That the district attorney was about
to take occasion to show Chief of Po-
lice Biggy his duty was the startling
declaration made by Assistant District
Attorney Louis Ward during the ques
tioning of Policeman Frank Robl re-
garding the examina tion made OF Haas
by Duke and Special Agent William ].
Burns.
WARD INSTRUCTS BIGGY
Biggy interrupted the examination
OF Fobl to say that Special Agent Burns
and supervision of the board of police
commissioners. Ward replied that
Burns was appointed the agent of the
district attorneys office under author
ity of an ordinance passed by the
board of supervisors.
Biggy would not concede Wards ar
gument and asked for settlement of
the issue.
Il think we can settle this" replied
Ward readily And l will say the
district attorney will take occasion
shortly to show the chief OF police his
duty in this matter and in all other
matters"
The investigation yesterday went
largely over the same grounds covered
before at the inquest. Detective Ser
geant Thomas f. Burke produced some
prison Inmates in an effort to show
that he did not hand copy OF The Call
to Haas but the prisoners did not help
him. Burle's own statement that he
did not was corroborated by Police
men Bohle and Charles p. Kelly. who
were with Burke during Saturday aft
ernoon at the JAIL Kelly, who refused
Burns permission to see Haas, said
that he got his orders from Burke in
that matter over buzzing telephone
wire and that he understood Burke to
tell him to exclude Burns.
DENY ISSUING ORDER
Burke denied that and Captain James
Kelly and Chief Bigsy denied the is
suance of any such order. When Biggy
was on the witness stand he tried TO
place the entire blame for Haas hav-
ing the weapon with him on Police
Captain Duke.
The jury did not determine whether
the pistol was secreted in Haas shoe or
his overcoat pocket but Burke swore
positively that he searched the overcoat
before 1t was handed to the prisoner at
the Jail.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was
satisfactory to the graft prosecution. as
was evidenced in the remarks of Dis
trict Attorney Langdon last evening.
Whatever way the verdict is viewed"
said he. "it passes the responsibility for
Haas suicide squarely up to the police
department for failing TO guard the
prisoner properly The jury was also
quick in appreciating the fact that the
chief of police was not giving the
prosecution the assistance that was
expected from him. Tt emphasizes this
fact in its verdict and calls upon the
mayor to remedy the existing con-
dition of affairs"