The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-09
THE sIEzSaON CASE.

1.-THE FINDING of Coroner John J. Pheian A in the Siemon case is one which no thoughtful citizen will read except with pain. 1t must have been with deep regret that Coro- ner Phelan approached d duty so painful, but-soa necessary in the case of one who is a servant of The public, and whois especially sworn to main tain justice
 in quality and mount the coroner finds De Mar tno was killed by 9he automobile driven by MT. . Siemon, that, the car was moving at the speed necessary to hurl the body forty feet through the air, that the headlights on the car were not burning, and that the occupants of the car continued to travel as before, regardless of the death they had caused.
 MT. siemon is found guilty of criminal neg ligence.
 The accident occurred on Oct 2o, 1910, Al most three years of silence prevailed, when, April 21, 1913, Mr. Siemon sought Judge Wilder, of the City Court, and was by him advised to- see his law partner, Henry Shannon, which Siemon did
 Shannon caused Siemon to make affi davit containing request that the matter be fully investigated"
 MT. Shannon then laid the entire matter before MT. Hill, president of the police board, Detectives Arnold and CT'onin
 Mr. Hill informed the detectives sthat they need go no further with the matter of investiga ton that he would take care of it himself.
 m Of the eeEnate and direction of Pres Pres ,-a ,r *s -sSe ,sz n,ent erintendent said detectives prudently. but without the part Dreaident. fully oaesrs Tor such anai and legal d5ustInent oP'a LIE HE Poaa Pss E AT sss f n HAD SOME or THE ESSENTIAL STATEMENTS or THE There was no se1denes brought out to show that Hlll has st any time easd or attsnapted to ter of said deat, but. On the contrary sangs sought for nd Feaaired by the aE
 Thus the unfortunate affair was hushed up for 30 months and until Siemon felt conn pelled by threat of criminal exposure to make knowledge of the happening by affidavit
 Coroner Phelan relentlessly exposes two grave offenses against the public.
 The least of these offensesy judged by con- sequences perhaps was the killing of DeMar- tino, and the silence of Siemon.
 The killing was not intentional, although, SIemon's car appears to have beer. driven to the last degree of recklessness
 Siemon was the offending person, and it is ia the nature of human frailty that men found in such situation will seek to escape the con sequences of their error. This weakness is recognized in the criminal law which provides that no accused person shall be required to tes- tifF against himself. M
 The most serious offense by far, measured bv the public injury certain to flow from it. was Hill, who though the chief administrative off cer of the police department under oath to suppent the law in a manner above the duty of ordinary citizens, interfered with the executive conduct of the department not to aid justice, but 10 prevent, or delay, justice.
 Such conduct, if carried generally into the practice of officers of justiee could not but ter minate in the substitution of the arbitrary will of individuals in place of due course of law.
 It could mean only that the crimes of those of wealth, power, or influence would be remit ted while the crimes of the friendless and the humble would be punished with peculiar rig Or.
 Yet the offense of MT. Hill is not entirely without extenuaton There are some condon- ing features
 What was done to shelter Siemon appears not to have been done from political or mer- cenary motives. It was done to 'help a friend"
 So much may be conceded to Mr. Hill, and 50 much may be given it's due weight in miti- gating the element of personal disgrace which must grow out of these regrettable proceedings.
 It may be admitted, also, that Mir. Siemon seemed worthy object of the friendship that went so far in his behalf. He manufac- turer, who had risen to prominence and pros perity by his own efforts He was of standing in the community. His wife at the time very i'll, and the announcement of his arrest might have injured her.
 These facts will qualify, to some extent, the harsh judgment of individuals
 The judgment of men in their social capac- ify must be of different nature However tenderly they may feel toward the human weak