The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-03
PUTNAM'S DIARY
STIRS WRATH OF
CHIEF OF POLICE
Orders Arrest of Witness with
Whom He's Suspected of
Conniving
ANNOUNCES CAPTURE

ANNOUNCES CAPTURE
With the arrest and subse-
auent release, few days ago,
Of J. T. Roam. former member
Of the dry squad. who Is want
ed as witness In the New
Cecil hotel liquor case, Was dis
closed another chapter In the
history OF es.Sergt. Victor r.
Putnam, one.tlme head Of the
liquor detail OF the Seattle po-
lice department.
: Tom Roam was the man who oh
tanned most Of the evidence in the
New Cecil hotel liquor case. Tie
had testified against Savage. the
proprietor OF the New Cecil. In 20
lice court. and was TO testify again
when the ease was appealed,
Putnam alleged In his diary that
there was conspiracy on foot to
keep Roam away from the city. 50
he could not testify. and big dam.
age suit could be won against the
city. putnamss story implicated
Chief neekingham Oand Attorney
George Npanderyeer.
From putnam's Diary
On April IS. 1917. Putnam had
made ssAc folloeingo entry in the
diais
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K~sa % tn: Fig ~ asfffsiSagy wss
aeiux IN the cesif issass. cstsss Ssat Fsk
nssz2 10 ja.s ;siss. ssssss.it sssk rzsx
- ayshIhx. snst ~ ~ sss isasp
NJ would: Fiat ~ s:'Ss't t0sssa
talk ahans fake sssfiisssns J:ssnss'w
was going TO pest no Shout ssurs
hetti< sf whisky. which 5ehn~oa
ws~ gesnx To ei.iu, I had fiil~d witch
1tquse nst~rward- With thi. rs-tst-
peny Of Jehnsen. and for Roam to
testify falsely. they eeaid s~st the
sse> and get . good damage suit
swais~a the city.
Letter to Or. Matthews
Filed In the diary also was wn
anonymous letter to Dr. NJ A.
Matthews. written. according 10 Its
own statement. "by a citizen and a
taxpayer" who could not give his
name. because his position was his
livelihood. and he could not afford
70 lose II. This letter stated.
Tn conversation the letter
ssase~. - learn that . man BY the
name ef Tom Eean Was nm officer
IN Pssnans's dry squad. and IL was
~ who get ne~s o. the evidence
- the New Ceea the first time.
Rson. h~tnx . ~safh~r-er. was In
e~une sreabie IN his home state. ami
fag some reason did not dare to
sesuru home. In the conversation
the party said that the chief Of
WFe. sH}0 inc eff1Ffs ~ tsrBfAS
ysnderye~r. had gotten . telegram
6poa sSme sheriff In &isbsas. ask
ing fer the resayu Of Roam.
That s~sr,~ time later the chief had
~ this man Roam In . roam In tire
New Ceeif hotel in the pves~asc IL
vanAevveer and savage. wh~r~ the
chief showed hsm . telegram he
hoA stating that he had Noan In
eus4edy. and lesser stating he
km<w scthing 81 him. and asked
Meas which he woaid prefer for
ehe chief TO send. the telegram sr
tn letter. and then informed him
that " they sent the ritter Roam
exuse stay and testify In favor Of
savage. stating that Putnam had
evdered him to testify In police
esurt the wsy he I'D. and that hi.
testimony WAS false. That he.
nssn. had not bought the iiauer
~ claimed he had"
Never Told Chief
Chief Rockingham made public
both the letter and the diary today.
ia explaining the arrest OF Roam.
who was booked as a witness"
Roam quit the dry squad May
49," he said. When I asked Put.
nam why he quit. Putnam replied
4 guess he got scared and beat Il
out OF town Putnam never said
anything to me asbow, this story
Roam told him. tho woes bis supe-
rior officer. ! asa sass kssw a thing
about It until reas. toes barry after
Putnam was fired.
when was informes. Saturday
night. that Roam was In the city
again. | ordered his arrest at once q"
Police officers Appreciated &eas
shortly after midnsgkt. sssss s's wass
brought to the stas ssss. wsssss sss
papers from bis rsss.s, a..'s s..s
pieces on ne s'a''s. a.sssa' s,.s.'
ana the r,ss as :. -, y: $50 -.
AuH tHr1 Fss"N"aN No. &s '@tS~ssS W8s&~