Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-11
GRAND JURORS REPORT
PROVES VICE PROTECTED
In Scathing Denuncation of Present Administration
Minority of Inquistorial Body Exposes Shame
less Actions of High City Officials
Continued from Page One,

jury a result quite different and more
in accord with the present mind of the
general public, nauSeated by reason OF
recent revelations, would have ensued.
That all the information was either
not considered or disregarded by the
majority was proved when the minority
report was placed in the hands of the
court later in the day. A prominent at
torney at the court house said:
when the smaller report, bearing
the smaller number of signatures OF
men with stricter regard for the
public wish to be Informed as to the
acts of public officials and who are
prone to call a spade a spade, is torn
| apart and the pieces placed in their
proper places in the larger document
it is difficult to understand how any
person can peruse the result without
experiencing a feeling of righteous in
dignation, coupled with shame, when
he remembers the blow to his. city s
pride, administered by a body sworn
in to make an impartial investigation
of conditions as they exist or have ex-
isted.'
WoolWine Is indicated
That the charges made by Thomas
Lee Woolwine in September, when, as
prosecuting attorney he emphatically
declared vice was protected in Los An
geles, were not made without strong
foundation in fact, is amply shown by
the reports of yesterday, and this vim
dication of the young attorney is a
source of great satisfaction to him
self and friends.
The charges were made publicly by
Mr.. Woolwine September 27, just one
month after the grand jurors were
sworn in. The following day Mayor
Harper replied to the charges, making
general denial. Instead of deterring
him, the mayors action apparently
caused the prosecutor to become more
persistent, and September 80 he offered
to take the charges before the grand
jury. This was followed by letter
from District Attorney Fredericks to
Woolwine, offering to place him in
charge Of the investigation, which Of
fer was withdrawn few days later.
On October Is Woolwine was shorn
of his authority as a deputy district
attorney by Fredericks, while the two
men were in the grand jury room and
while Chief of Police Kern was being
questioned.
Fredericks Takes Charge
Captain Fredericks then took full
charge of the investigation, which con-
tinued until the last week in Decem-
of witnesses were examined.
News that the jury was split into two
factions was first spread shortly before
Christmas, and rumors were general
that the discussions in the jury room
were filled with chickering's and dissen-
sions. This was verified when it be-
came known on January 4 that the
foreman, E. w. Jones, struck j. j. An
drews, one of the jurymen, in an al
tercation over the wording of the re-
port to be made on the protected vice
charges.
Report Is Modified
Up to almost the last moment of
meeting it was believed generally that
the grand jury was deadlocked, stand
ing nine to eight, with two absenteeS,
and the larger number in favor of re-
turning accusations against certain
city officials. It needed only one more
vote to make a majority, and with
hope that this might be procured P.
F. Cogswen was called from his legis
lative duties at Sacramento last week.
Instead of casting his lot with the larg~
er number. however, he Joined the
lesser force, splitting the jury squarely
in half.
Nothing was left but to modify the
report then in readiness, and this was
done, the document approved by twelve
members and submitted to the court
yesterday being the result, while the
minority report signed by the six dis
senting members more nearly exempli-
fies the attitude of the opposing fac
ton.
The jury's report regarding county
affairs is filled with criticism. Some of
the things to which attention is called
are lack of system in expenditures at
the county farm, a too great freedom
in the expenditure of money at that in
stitution and at the tax collectors and
assessors offices on Spring street, and
too large an investment in furniture
instead of real estate. Recommends
tions for improvements in many
branches of the county government are
made.
Report in Full
Following is the report:
w. P. James, Presiding Judge, Superior
Court-Dear Sir: In making our report to the
court attention is called to the fact that We
have been almost continuously occupied since
the first of October investigating moral condi-
tions in Los Angeles city, and we have found
no indictments nor accusations as result
We therefore desire that the court be some
what informed as to this work which has
been performed by us, at some expense to the
county, and at great personal. inconvenience
and sacrifice on the part Of individuals COM
posing the grand jury.
While our work has been more difficult by
reason of the publicity given to the subject,
we have endeavored faithfully to counteract
that difficulty by additional industry and at
tention. The small compensation of a juror
could not be considered adequate for al
most continuous severance from ordinary busi-
ness for so long time, could We not add to
that the feeling of satisfaction arising from
having done full duty in the permises.
The long attention to this matter was borne
by a feeling of the responsibility of the situ-
alton, not only to the court, but to the public
at large.
Approximately 100 charges against public of
fcials Of Los Angeles city, ranging from
trifiing nidscretions to the gravest felonies,
were laid before the grand jury.
There has been strong sentiment that the
conduct of public officials should be carefully
examined by the proper authorities to ascer-
tain whether evil conditions found in other
communities have taken root here The grand
jury further felt that, having power and
authority to look into such matters, it was
responsible for the use of such power, and the
result could not but be benefciaF to the COM
monwealth if the investiga tion was thorough.
If the charges which were publicly made
were unfounded the establishment of the good
name of the city would be an end worthy of
attainment. If. the contrary. there was
corruption among the officials of the city,
their apprehension and exposure would like
wise be beneficial to the commonwealth. Either
end worth the labor, time and expense.
1t has been within our power to make one or
more of three findings: First, indictment
second, accusation; third. report
First-If found so-called grating =
which is term for bribery Chat is, the ac-
ceptance by an official of any money or other
valuable consideration for privileges be they
legal or Illegal, or any other felony, we could
return Indictment.
Second-If found that no felony had been
committed. but that the official had failed to
perform the duties of his office, an accusation
could be returned against him requiring his
removal from office under section 1853 of the
penal code.
Third-If failed to find grounds for in
dctment or accusation. could report to the
court the facts we found them