The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-19

vdnderVeer
Placed on
Stand

oco. NANdcTscef. FORMER at
torney for the BiIlingsieys. con-
fessed eootleseers. was called
as witress for the defense In
the booxe-graft conspiracy case
at o'clock Monday afternoon.
a general denial Of all
charges and specific denial
that he ever got money from
any Of the 6iliinssleys, or pro-
sected their liquor shipments.
were made BY Detective James
e. Doom IN the federal booze
graft conspiracy trial, when the
defense opened its case Mon
day morning.
The srrallcs. crowd since
testimony began to be taken
was on hand. there being few
vacant seats inside the railing.
Denials OF guilt BY the four city
detectives on trial. were made by
Attorneys Tenant and frater as
soon after court opened. as Judge
Neterer had finished telling the
Jury that ex.Sheriff Robert 7
Hodges absence was due 20 the fact
that he had been dismissed as not
guilty after the jury retired SatuT-
day.
Detectives Defense First
II was then announced that the
defense OF Mayer Gili and Chief
Rockingham would be presented
after that OF City Detectives Pool
man. Peyser. Doom and McLennan
had been completed.
That Chief BeckiEzham personal
" ordered seized, and later de-
stroyed. the truck load OF Margeit
liquor, for which Fred Billingsley
testified he paid the chief $500 at
the Star Carriage Works Sept. 20.
was the testimony OF William Tier
ney. driver of the truck. He was
the first defense witness called.
Disputes oovernmen. Testimony
He said he drove the truck to the
Star Carriage Works 10 have II re-
paired. that Il was repaired, but
That the chief seized II before he
could take II to the Grand Trunk
dock for reshlpment TO the juneau
Liquor Co. juneau. Alaska, where
Il was billed.
He said the truck belonged 10
the Fortune Transfer Co. and that
he was given orders TO get the
whisky Mt the O-W. team track by
one OF the CLERKS.
Detective Doom was then called
to the stand.
peyser Won Hero Medal
Attorney George Tennant, in his
opening statement 10 the jury,
said.
Detective Meyer Peyser Is ~
years Of age. was born in oregon
End lived here most Of his life. tic
was a member Of the fire depart
nnent until he reached the grade OF
lieutenant. and received medal for
bravery from Mayor Ballinger.
"He then decided to 90 into the
police depa rtment. where he work
ed for number OF years, and quit
10 70 into the saloon business,
which failed to pan out.
oul. Saloon Business
Going to Pc-' Angeles, he was
unsuccessful in the saloon business
and quit at the request OF his wife.
He returned and was reinstated In
the police department.
John Poolmsn." Tennant ex.
, planned. was born in Holland
came to this country at an early
age. and came to this state IL
years ago. lie has five children.
sHe worked as blacksmith aud
street car conductor and later IN
the police department. where he
has been employed for the last J."
years.
April 29," explained the atior-
ney, Chief Rockingham requested
that Capt. Tennant, Of detectives,
,end a detail OF men to work on
the waterfront to check on liquor
shipments.
Bribery impossible
THE detectives objected. after
working the detail, to the hours
they had 10 put In.
"The evidence will show II was
almost impossible to show which
shipments were Illegal and which
were not.
Didn't Drink
THE accused men never took
drinks in the Billlngsley drug
storer, as Fred and Logan testi-
fled.
They Arrested Fred
Instead OF protecting Billingsley
traffic. they continually broke up
: Blllingsley shipments"
lie declared Peyser and P0olman
arrested Fred Billingsley. following
the Westlake tragedy, and Fred
said then he would get even, and
he has been trying ever since.
They co-operated In every way
possible with the dry squad" he