Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-19
ROE DENOUNCES WITNESS
Policeman Says the Commissioner
Pledged Girl Protection.
OFFICIAL MAKES SCENE IN ROOM
Declares Blnecoat Testified Falsely,
Whereupon officer Hints mt
Legal Proceedings to
Back Him Up. ..,
lFrom a sax correspondent.l


dramatic scenes marked the noon
hour OF trial of Chief Of Police George
Yeager for alleged mal-administration In
office today. Testimony by Traffic Po-
liceman A. Il. Day brought out the state.
ment that Police Commissioner Roe had
visited certain house OF prostitution and
assured the girl inmate that so long as
crowds about her place did not get too
large or bosterous she would not need to
fear police interference. As the policeman
gave this testimony Commissioner Roe
jumped from his chair inside the court
railing and for several minutes raved as
a wild man. Hoots and cheers from the
crowded court room filled the room as the
policeman continued in his testimony and
considerable difficulty was experienced in
finally bringing order. .....
! Cne woman was placed on the stand at
the morning session to testify that num-
Der Of times she had reported information
of disorderly place to the police. but
had gained no satisfaction through her
efforts ..
| Additional testimony of Policeman Day
disclosed the fact that an ex-policeman had
stopped him in the street q short time
ago to tell him Des Moines was never so
wide-open as IL was at the present time.
The accusation. against Commissioner Roe
made by A. b. Day brought forth an en-
ragged reply from the witness superior Of
ficer and the commissioner even went so
far as to declare the policeman was testify
ing falsely.
| IF you accuse me Of swearing to a false
hood you will have a chance to prove the
truth of oyur statement in court" retorted
| the policeman.
At this juucture w. c. Barber the prose-
| mt t,.,e{ L., ~.
mony Of the girls themselves would be
brought in later to prove the traffic police
\ mans statements. .s..
Population Figures BODY Blow.
Exceeding disappointment was expressed
throughout the commercial district of Des
Moines today when the government census
returns gave the city, which has been
boosting for the last five years towards its
growth, return of only $685. AT the Of
fices of the Commercial club the report was
discredlted and Gels Botsford, secretary on
the body, declared the population had in
creased a per cent.
Judge Smith Mcpherson OF the federal
| court will hold conference at Red OAK
with representatives of the Agar Packing
company and its creditors regarding ar
| rangements to continue operations Of the
Des Mones plant of the Agar company
pending close of bankruptcy proceedings
now faced by the packing concern. 4
Poisoning from Cone.
| Ptomaine poisoning, alleged to have been
caused by eating an ice cream cone, re-
suited in the death yesterday morning of
Thelma Nelson, the 2-year-old son Of Mr.
and Mrs l.. W. Nelson of Elkhart, la. The
child died yesterday morning after passing
through terrible agony. Dr.. T., c. Ketchum,
IxS;nA Aal a
and death stated to Coroner IvervG. yMew-d
len that the death was directly caused by
poison ( nthe cone. -r frs
| The child ate the dellcacy Sunday morn
| ing and shortly afterward became ILL., The
| cone was of pink color. Coroner Newlen
will make rigid investigation OF the cir
oumstances surrounding the death. s'|
! Packing Plant Plans.
Arrangements to continue the operation
Eof the Des Moines plant of the Agar Pack
ing company were made this afternoon at
conference at the local plant. Simon
Casaoy OF Des Moines, the receiver, con-
ferred with Carl q. Sessinghaus and NAL
colin Mcdowell of Chicago and w. @. Agar
OF Des Moines regarding probable arrange
menLs for the continued operation. Mr..
Sessinghaus represents the creditors of the
Agar Packing company and Mr. Mcdowell
is appearing in behalf of the company,
against which bankruptcy proceedings were
recently filed in Chicago. Mr.. Cassidy said
this afternoon that he hoped to bring about
an agreement by which the plant may con-
tinue to operate.
Navigate Des Moines River.
First definite information was given out
in Des Moines today relative TO the pro-
posed navigation OF the Des Molnes river.
| Major A n - -.
work of surveying the river, has just re-
turned from trip Of $50 miles up the
river inspecting the lakes and tributaries
OF the upper stream. He declares that
there is an opportunity afforded to es-
tablish reservoirs to the aggregate OF 1OO0 900
acre feet. The cost would be moderate
Bids for the proposed flood protection OF
| the central business district OF Des Moines
were advertised for today by Mayor Hanna.
The probable cost of the work will be
nearly $ls5,OOO. Bids win be received by
the city council until August 20.
Des MOines Coal Combine.
Rumors OF combine among Des Moines
coal dealers and a similarity of bids Of
fered to the city school board last night
has caused a rejection of all offers pending
an Investigation. The board declares the
price Is exorbitant and the dealers come
back with a reply Of high price of labor.
The increased cost would average Is cents
to the ton.
Iowa Shippers and Rates.
Iowa, shippers along with Freight Com
missioner e. @. Wylie of Des Molnes and
Secretary George A. Wrghtman Of the
Iowa state Manufacturers association,
doubt II the railroads OF the state will obey
the interstate commerce law relative TO
the long and short haul clause which goes
into effect tomorrow, Railroads in Iowa
have not as yet notified shippers Of a new
schedule and this is required thirty days
before the change takes place. A warning
to guard against overcharges has been is
sued from the manufacturers state offices
here.
Conference ON New Epidemic.
There is no specific remedy known for
infantile paralysis" declared Wade H.
Frost, government expert, before the open
meeting OF the State Board of Health to-
day There was a large attendance OF ply
sicians aside from the members of the
board Messrs. Decker. Eiker, Moerke Nc
Manus, Richardson ana De Bey. Prof. II.
s. Beirring and Henry Albert were also