The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-27
POLICE SCANDAL


MuFbn pointed 10 q Mr.. curtis, Com-
missioner Smiths law partner, sitting
near the police ofhficial. and asked
the witness IL he recognized him.
Violin did
aud Mr.. Curtis and Mr.. Smith
sued you for green goods game put
up on German named Corneffel.
didn't they?"
They sued me, yes. I'd like to
explain that"
But he wasn't allowed 10 do so just
then.
you've never liked Smith since
then have your" Murfln resumed.
I've liked him since he was com
missioner"
Murfin brought out that Violin had
twice been In trouble with the courts
once In connection with the green
goods" case and on another occasion
on charge OF extortion. He was tried
in the recorders court but the jury
disagreed and the case was later
nolle pressed, as II developed, at the
request OF Assistant Prosecutor Nc
Clear.
On redirect examination Violin was
allowed 10 explain the green goods
Violin Explains.
I'm that case he said. with some
show of anger, MT smith represent
ed crook and liar am not
crook and I've never served time yet.
Violin was about TO leave the stand
when Attorney Murfln asked II there
was anything else he cared 10 OFFER,
Violin rather spoiled the good i'm
preston he had first created by blurt'
ing out enormously:
"Yes. have. Smith amt got
good friend in the Seventeenth ward
today I've been out looking up some
evidence myself in this case"
well. have you found anyone out.
side of a dsorderly woman, or an EN-
bezzler or something else that can
throw any light on this affair? Muir
An inquired, with a sneer III you
have. I wish you would produce him,
Annie Smith had testified that Com
missioner Smith. after saying Hello,
Charlie" TO Violin In her saloon, had
turned TO her with the remark, Look
out for that man; he's a crook" VOL
lin had evidently read this statement
and was inclined TO be sure" about IT
from one OF his remarks on the stand.
Nemath Recalled.
AS the first witness at the after
noon session. Joe Nemath was recall
ed. with Andrew WeisZ, of No. % Mac
'kil-st., acting as interpreter. He went
Onto detail as 10 the alleged visits or
commissioner Smith TO Annie Smiths
place, which he said were four In NUM-
Der, TO his knowledge
On cross-examination Nematch adj
mitted that, when he first told his
story before Justice Jeffries in the
grand jury room. he went down ar
the request OF Annie Smith, but the
story he told before Justice Jeffrfes
was not the story he told in court
did you ever tell anyone. until you
got on the stand today that you sa~
Commissioner Smith in Annie's
place." was asked.
"No."
Then how did Mr.. McClear know
you would tell this story?"
The question was objected to and
Mr.. Murfin dropped IT,
Saw "Gray-Haired Man."
Witness stated that he did not know
who Smith was at the time he testi-
fed before Jeffries, but told simply
that he had seen a ''gray-haired man"
there, the man he now Identifies as
commissioner Smith. Nobody told
fhim az the time he saw Smith in An
mics place that he was the commits
ssioner OF police, Nemath said.
AT this point Mr. Murfin asked per-
omission to refer to the grand jury
sminutes for the purpose OF showing,
yas he claimed, that no mention was
made of a "gray-haired" man before
the grand jury. Prosecutor Yerkes
lobjected on the ground that II the de
tense were allowed to see the testi
lmony OF one witness II could make
/. the same claim with reference To all
the testimony taken before the grand
I jury. Then he put an end to the dis
cussion By conceding that there was
mo reference to the commissioner In
1.-THE grand jury minutes.
The remainder OF the crossexamina-
yance.
Annie corroborated Again.
Walter Boepke. florist on Gratiot-
yave., was sworn and testified that he
lhad sent flowers to Annie Smith. No.
Is Solvay-ave.. Dec. 81 last on the or
bder OF Frank Hibbler. He produced
his books showing the sale and iden-
titled the card that had accompanied
the boQuet in which the name John
Iaon" appeared His testimony fully
Icorroborated that of Annie Smith as
no the receipt OF the flowers. Hibbler
|patd IS for them. IL appeared.
Assistant Prosecutor McClear char
|ed IN open court. just after the exam
dnation was resumed at 2 O'Clock, that
htho peoples witnesses were being
|fampered with, Bessie King in part.c-
sIar.
lin that case you know your duty"
aid Mr.. Murfin.
IA II certainly do" replied McClear.
Justice Stein ordered the prosecutor
40 make full investigation.
McClear complained that he could
not even talk to the peoples witnesses
jwithout humping into three or -four
detectives or other officers, and that
he had found II impossible to talk to
witnesses alone until he had threat
ened 10 get an order from the court
directing the detectives to keep out
OF his way.
Steve Santo. one OF Annie Smiths
bartenders, testified, Tuesday, TO Il
visit TO the Delray resort by Commits
sioner Smith but couldn't definitely
fix the date.
"As matter OF fact II was last
February when you saw him there,
wasn't it?" asked Murfin.
NO"
Santo went back on his first state
ment that he had seen Newberry in