The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-12-29

| The above self-explanatory letter.
placed In the mail Wednesday noon.
is the introduction to Chapter two of
the lively little controversy that has
arisen between Justice Jeffries and
others over the re-arrest OF two ped
dlers for alleged completely In whole
sale robberies from the Pungs-Flnch
Auto and Gas Engine Co. after Justice
Jeffries had released them. In Chapter
one, Chief OF Detectives Mcdonnell
was threatened with imprisonment for
contempt of court. Now II Is Mr.. Pungs
who has incurred the courts dis
pleasure because he declared. in pub
lished interviewssthat IL these men
are not convicted he will take the mat
ter up with the governor. He also an
nounced his intention to call the case
TO the attention Of the Board OF CON-
MERGE and the Wholesalers and Manu-
facturers' association.
"Will you charge Mr. Pungs with
contempt?" Justice Jeffries was asked.
You wait and see." he replied. Its
pretty serious thing to threaten
court the way Mr.. Pungs has threat
ened me, IL he has been correctly
quoted. will give him an opportunity
to explain, however.
II fined Mr.. Pungs $25 once for ex-
ceedlng the speed limit with his auto
mobile. He was pretty sore at that
time. and | suppose there Is still some
soreness on his part. But that does
not give him any license to attack me
the way he Is reported to have done.
Should Mr.. Pungs fail to appear be-
fore the Justice within the next "a
hours Justice Jeffries will probably
send an officer In search OF him. His
latitude Wednesday morning, when the
Pungs interview was called TO MS
attention, showed plainly that ne was
genuinely Indignant.
More than $1,000 worth of brass
was stolen from us In five days" said
Mr.. Pungs in police headquarters We'd
nesday smorning. "A member or the
gang under arrest implicated these two
men, and IL they are not soaked / am
going to get up a petition to the gov
ernor and find out why.
But in the meantime. Mr.. Pungs has
taken the matter up with the whole
salers and will present the facts TO
the Board Of Commerce. He left the
police station in high dudgeon, and an
nOunCeQ Indt ne was gums uhS~Siy -
the prosecutors office to lay the fac1s
before Prosecutor Van Zile.
The confession of young brass
thief. caught with some stolen brass
In his possession, caused the arrests
of Hoffman and Pricolk. The police
declare that he told them that Pric-
ok drove the rig in which $1,000
worth OF brass was carted away from
the Pungs-Finch plant, and that Hon
man stood guard while the plumber.
stolen by the young thief and pal,
was removed.
"Mr. Pungs insisted on pushing the
cases TO the limit. and that's why re-
arrested the two men after they were
released" said Chief Mcdonnell. i
don't want to get into any controversy
with a police justice. but when we
have a man under arrest and are hold
ing him until we get evidence enough
to ask for wrrant, l don't think IT
is good policy to release him. We
want to hold the man until he Is iden-
tilted as far as possible and until we
hear from enough witnesses to justify
us in asking for warrant. Taking
prisoner out OF custody gives the sus-
pect chance to Ak things up, so that
we can never go into court with the
case"