Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-08
GRAND JURY
TURNS PROBE
ON DOG POUND
VACHER'S FOE is SUMMONED
AS WITNESS
CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST
CANINE CATCHER
Mrs. L. e. Geise Called by InquIsitoI ial
Body to Tell What She Knows
Of Alleged Wrong-
doing

Is the grand jury after the dog
catcher?
The most recent grievance to be
brought to the attention of the inqulsl-
torial body is in connection with the
alleged illegal and inhuman actions OF
George b. Vacher, pound Keeper
charges against whom already are
pending before special committee OF
the city council.
Mrs. L. e. Geise was called before the
investigating body yesterday. Whlle
she refused to say anything regarding
her examination, it is known she mas
been carrying on vigorous searcn TOT
facts relating to the treatment OF Los
Angeles CANNES and was fully pre-
pared to lay before the grand jury
large amount of information.
Mrs. Geise remained in the grand
Jury room less than hall hour, put
during that time 1t is understood sne
presented the results of her endeaVors,
both verbally and in writing, and told
the body she was fully prepared TO SUD
stantiate her charges.
These charges, it is believed, were
regarded by the Jurors as of sufficient
Importance to cause further inquiry,
Notwithstanding the large amount or
urgent work they now have before
them.
Charges Against Vacher
Included in the allegations against
Vacher are that he swore in minors
as deputy pound keepers and gave
authority to deputies who had not
been sworn in. The to-be-condemned
practice of enticing dogs from outside
the limits of the city into the city and
turning them in to the pound as dogs
lawfully caught is also a charge
against him. The use of decoy dogs
to entice other dogs within reach of the
dog catcher, assaults by deputy
poundmasters on law abiding citizens;
assaults on citizens by persons In pos
session of stars received from the
poundmaster; collecting fees from the
city on scalps of puppies born at the
pound; the instruction to deputies to
take the scalps of dead dogs and col
lect on them from the city; purchasing
dead dogs for the purpose of turning
in their scalps; purchasing puppies for
the same purpose, are other charges
made against Vacher.
It is also charged that IL and 49,
year-old boys have been permitted by
the poundmaster to wear stars as depu-
ties and take animals from the public
streets. Another charge is that en-
ployes of the pound unhitched horses
from their buggies, turned them into
the pound and released them only after
excessive fees were paid. The per-
hitting of deputies to be on duty while,
in a state of intoxication Is also
charged.
1t is believed Mrs. Geise presented
to the grand jury the names of num-
ber of witnesses who may be called In
the near future.
Appears Before Grand Jury
J. F. Lukens, diamond broker and
interested in the paint business, yes
terday called at the grand jury room
to present a grievance. The --ature of
it he refused to state, but 1t is be-
lieved to have a bearing on the in
vestigation recently begun in connec-
tion with work at county institutions.
Fl. Foster, who heads the expert ac
countants at work on the accounts of
the county, was notified to appear
before the grand jury yesterday, but
owing to the press of other matters
reports which he was expected to sub
NIT were continued until later date.