Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-18

Twenty -eight citizens OF Los Angeles
county will appear In department four
of the superior court this morning In
response to summons for grand jury
duty. From this number Judge w. +.
James hopes to be able to select nine
teen men, who will constitute the spe-
cial grand jury ordered Monday in re-
sponse to the request of District At
torney ]. ID. Fredericks for the pur-
pose of investigating anew baneful
conditions in Los Angeles.
Two of the thirty men whose names
were drawn from the grand jury box
could not be reached by the sheriff's
deputies. They are Frank Simpson.
1922 Ingraham avenue. and Arthur
Bent, 165 East Avenue 40.
Judge James prepared his instruc-
tions to the jury yesterday and these
will be handed to the foreman, whose
selection Is in the hands of the court
Immediately after the jury is organized
The instructions contain nearly 100
words. and while nothing regarding
their nature could be learned yesterday
it Is understood the jurors will be di-
rected to consider nothing except mat
ters germane to the causes which led
to the recent chaotic conditions IN city
administrative circles.
To Hold Daily sessions
While il is not expected the special
grand jury will begin the work of ex-
amining witnesses today. everything of
a preliminary character will be ar
ranged. The jurors will begin work
in earnest Friday morning and WILL 1T
is understood. be required to hold daily
sessions until the report of their labors
is filed. Report fixes the limit of time
for their service at two weeks
Nearly score of persons have been
subpoenaed as witnesses. Among them
Is A. G. Harper, former mayor. who
arrived in Los Angeles from Corcoran
about o'clock yesterday morning. Ed
Kern, former member of the board of
public works, has also been subpoenaed
and Alfonso Durand, an associate of
Nick Oswald. is in the county Jail
awaiting call by the grand jury and
at the same time preliminary hearing
on a charge of attempting to evade a
Durand was arraigned' in Justice
Stephens court yesterday and his ex-
animation was set for Friday at 10
o'clock His bond was fixed at $4,000.
which he was unable to furnish.
Oswald in Mexico
Nick Oswald. former king of the ten
derloin, apparently made an easy and
unhampered exit from Los Angeles
Sunday afternoon, eighteen hours after
the alleged call for his arrest was is
sued. William Lawrence, alias w. l..
Fenner. one of Oswald's first lieuten-
ants, disappeared about the same time,
It is believed, and the two men whose
testimony is said to be all important
are reporte dto be enjoying themselves
without fear of molestation at Tia
Juana, across the Mexican border.
They are we'll supplied with money.
N..fl 1Ixr fIA
circumstances allow their leaving to be
dignified by such word-has aroused
some severe criticism, much of which
is directed toward District Attorney
Fredericks who declares his intention
to again take charge of the special
grand jury, despite the evident failure
of the body appointed last year to pro-
cure results after months of investiga-
tion and while he acted as adviser
Here are the facts in regard to Os-
wald as they are understood by un-
prejudiced officials: "The district at
torney requested the calling of a spe-
cial grand jury Saturday and at that
time stated Oswald had refused to tes-
tify before the body recently, but had
sold his information to others 1fter the
session ended. and that this informa-
tion was instrumental in bringing
about the resignation of Harper The
district attorney was assured that a
jury would be drawn Monday. and this
fact was given publicity. The neces-
sity for Oswald's presence as a wit
ness must have been re allied at the
time, and, with the facilities IT the
command of the district attorney. his
arrest, If really desired, could have
been effected easily. for Oswald was in
Los Angeles at that time. In fact, thu
ex-boss of the redlight district was
In town until midday Sunday being
seen at Los Angeles and Commercial
streets between ~ and o'clock on that
day"
Oswald's arrest was decided upon at
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