The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-12-03
He Is Arrested for Imper-
sonating Officer When
He Goes to County Jail
Sheriff Hodge Had
Shorn Him of His Com
mission, and He Had No
Authority to Act.

~ fh1ts
Wearing a large deputy sher-
w badge on HE vest and carry
ing a revolver and q blackjack
IN his pockets, L. X. Church,
special agent In Vanderveer's
office, waa arrested early this
morning by County JaiIer John
Roberts for impersonsting an
officer and for carrying con-
cesled weapons. Church was
arrested at the entrance to the
county Jail after he had at
tempted to subpoena witnesses
for the grand Jury.
He was taken into the jail Of
flee and searched. The badge and
weapons were taken from him with
his other possessions. Church was
booked and placed In the north
tank OF the county jail Wander
yeer's special agent had spent two
hours in Jail when Vanderveer
asked Hodge II he would release
Church on his promise TO produce
him In court when needed. Hodge
ordered Church released
Flashed His Star.
When Church first entered Van
derveer's office he had a deputy
sheriffs commission Church's
actions In molesting citizens and
their property led Hodge To refuse
longer TO be legally responsible for
his actions. Hodge revoked his
commission months ago. Despite
the fact that he was no longer a
deputy sheriff. Church on many oc-
casions. in doing Vanderyeer's bid
ding. flashed his star and informed
the persons he was trying TO In
timidate that he was a member OF
the sheriffs office.
Church. al the time be was ar
rested, was attempting to enter the
jail 10 subpoena Witnesses for the
grand jury. No person has legal
right TO subpoena witnesses except
deputy sheriff.
Persists in Refusal.
Despite the fact that no one
subpoenaed BY Church or any of
Nanderyeer's private agents can
legally compel a witness to attend
upon the grand Jury. the prosecutor
persists In refusing TO allow the
sheriff's office 10 serve the
subpoenas as the law prescribes.
To harass Hodge, Vanderveer
had the jury yesterday make a writ
ten demand upon Hodge that Geo.
G Griffiihs be made deputy sher-
lff. Hodge refused to appoint him.
The sheriff told the grand jury that
he was not going TO make himself
liable for the actions OF a person
over whom he had no control. The
jury was told politely that II would
not be permitted 70 take charge of
the sheriff's office and appoint
deputy sheriffs. Judge Gillian ad-
vlsed the jury that Hodge was act
Ing within his legal rights.
His Fate In vsnderveer's Hands.
Joe Carroll. who has served two
terms in the state penltentiary and
Is now awaiting new trial upon
charge Of burglary Of which he
was convicted In King county more
than a year ago. complained 10 the
grand Jury OF the treatment of the
prisoners In the county Jail. Carroll
has always been a strong and en-
thusiastic admirer of the operation
OF the county jail until the grand
Jury was summoned. His change
of heart is attributed to the fact
that his future prosecution is In the
hands OF Vanderveer. BY aiding
the prosecutor IN his fight on
Hodge he soon hopes to be free.
Carroll this morning became dis
orderly in the jail and Sheriff
Hodge had him placed In solitary
confinement All of the iailers
were before the grand Jury this
morning. The examination was
simply as 20 jail management.
Sheriff Hodge escorted Juror
Broehm through the jail this morn
ing. The sheriff requested that the
handling and feeding of prisoners
be thoroughly Investigated.
The members of the grand Jury
are incensed az the unfair manner
in which the slot machine matter
has been handled by the prosecutor.
The only witnesses brought before
the jury We're those renting ma
chimes of Jean Romano. The at,
tempt was made TO make the Jury
believe that he had a monopoly OF
the business and was protected by
Hodge.
p. r Fechtner. who owns the
of the machines, was not
even arrested in Vanderveer's prl.
waite raid An attempt was made
to keep him hidden. He was ar.
rested by Sheriff Hodge yesterday,
and some 40 money and card ma.
chimes belonging 10 him were
seized.
Fechtnor asserts thas he never
had talked with or even seen
Sheriff Hodge until the time OF his
arrest. All of the witnesses called
in the slot machine matter have
failed TO connect Hodge with the
Not a word of testimony
has been introduced showing that
Hodge knew that the machines
were being operated in the woods.