Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-03
Woolvine i'm Singing Rebuke Urges Fredercks DO His Dy

That letter in full is as fol
lows:
Your attention Is hereby directed to an
interview appearing in Los Angeles paper
of Sunday, September 81, last, In which
deputy under our city attorney, Leslie r.
Hewitt, to wit. Thomas Lee Woolwine,
makes certain serious accusations against
the undersigned. the mayor of the city OF
Los Angeles and the board of police COM
missioners OF said city, virtually charging
them with corrupt practices generally, and
in particular with protecting criminals.
in this interview Mr.. Woolwine uses the
following language:
u haven't a grand jury behind my back
OF a corps of detectives. I wish to God
had both. I'd make things in this town
hum, and there would be a chance to elect
some new city officials and pretty high
ones at that.
when l took this office 1 looked Mr..
Hewitt my superior, squarely in the eye
and asked him If he wanted me to en-
force the lews. He said he did. l have
taken him at his word; but at every point
the mayor of this city, the police commits
sIoners and hundreds of men Of influence,
Dnd many whose standing in the community
is such that you would be surprised at in
reference, have attempted to balk me. In
the matter of the red light district the
mayor squarely said he would not allow 1t
TO be touched. The conditions were ter
rible Men close to the highest city Off
occupied as houses of prostitution at
enormous rentals. and these dens over
Swallowed the houses of poor people VINO
could not afford to move out of the dis
trict. And all the time the mayor and the
police were providing protection"
In another authorized interview appearing
in the Los Angeles Express on Monday
September 2S, 1908, Mr.. Woolwine makes use
of the following language, TO wit:
II do not believe that the mayor and po-
lice commission as a body are in favor OF
the rigid enforcement of the laws, and / do
not believe that l will get the fullest
sympathy from them In campaign LOT
equal and indiserimnatc law enforcement.
II believe that there are numerous in
stances where gambling Is being permitted
and other unlawful practices being unmo-
Tested by reason of the attitude OF the
mayor and police commission.
81 believe that favorites are being played
and that Harper and the police commission
are to blame"
Brand Them as False
We hereby brand as false each and every
accusation made by said Thomas Lee
Woowine and charging the undersigned or
any of them with providing protection TO
criminals, or with any corrupt or improper
PRACTICES whatsoever, and we hereby re-
spectfully demand an immediate investiga-
ton of the charges and accusations or said
thomas Lee Woolwine. and in the event OF
the failure of said Thomas Lee Woolwlne
to sustain lis charges or ACCUSATIONS we
further respectfully request a yindication at
your hands.
In the first interview above referred to
you will notice that Mr.. Woolwine ex-
PRESSED the sentiment that The wished to
God that he had a grand jury behind MS
lack, in which case he would make some
things In this town hum" Inasmuch as
Your honora BILE body was in existence at
the time of said interview, we are at loss
10 determine what Mr. Woolwine meant by
rising the above language. His explanation
will no doubt be interesting.
The spectacle of a deputy city attorney
of Los Angeles publicly making unfounded
and unwarrsnted charges and accusations
against public officials occupying high and
important positions in the government OF
the city and thereby unjustly arousng, in
some degree at least, public sentiment
against such officials, should not be per-
mitted to go unmolested, uhchallenged and
unpublished.
We therefore respectfully request that you
make a thorough investigation and that.
with this object in view, you cause
subpoena to be issued directing said
Thomas Lee Woolwine to appear before
your honorable body for the purpose of en-
abling him to furnish you with the infor-
nation which he pretends to have, to the
end that justice be done.
We will also be pleased to respond at any
time to any request to appear before you to
answer any pertinent questions or submit
any information desired.