Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-04
EVENING LEDoER- -PHIIADELPHIA THURSDAY OCTOBER


one the Carey and one the Deutsch. and
.nat they were a lot OF people Of good and
pad elements, and that they were doing
everything they possibly could for one and
the other factions
" Yes, but what was your opinion as to
the police conditions there? A. My opinion
as TO the police conditions? 7 saw nothing
there myself personally.
~ didn't ask you whether you saw any
lnIne personally A. Nor any reports made.
y; You did not? A. That would show
condition except In those complaints. in
specific policeman.
" DIDN'T you form an opinion from the
reports as 10 the police conditions there?
A. TN Is in general way7
" In general way, yes A. No. did
not.
9 Were you not examined by the Dis
trict Attorney, and were you not asked by
nm as follows; (Reading) 20. You must
nave formed an opinion from your investi-
cation, and did you not say. what good
| is my opnion7" A. ! said that yes
Q. Just wait until stop You said. what
good is my opinion?" want to know
| what II Is, anyway. A. Mr. Rotan. I don't
know l don't know whether it would Inn
| press you or not
Q. You might tell me and let me de-
eide for myself what opinion you form from
the reports you found. A. 50 far as you
are personally concerned I might express
my opinions privately but not publicly. II
] were the chief Of police, whether II might
he the Director or the Mayor or the super
intendent, would not have tolerated II.
Mr.. Connor Wait now 7 object to thu,,
If your Honor please.
The Court. why?
Mr.. Connor. | object to it, first, because It
is cross-examinaton of his own witness,
and, secondly, because the opinion of this
| witness is not material here II is not a
| uupStiOn of u,ha ~ ic I L. n
| tlon of n statement Of facts and conditions
| existing there and his opinion is entirely
| immaterial
The Court-Based upon, as understand
| II. the reports of people whom he sent down
| there.
Mr.. Connor-If the court please, it is not
| asking this man for what he stated to the
Mayor, his opinion was, or what he stated
| to any of these defendants his opinion was,
| but he is now being asked what his private
| opinion was
Mr. Gordon-Not his private opinion.
| His official opinion.
The Court-His official opinion
| MIR. COnnor-AI right, his official or his
| private opinion. but his individual opinion.
| l submit that this witness has been frank
| and fair here,
CALLS sOUDER SHIFTING"
The Court-NIr. Connor, I do not think
| he has been
| MIR. GOrdOn-May Il please your Honor
1 am Obliged TO go into the police depart
| ment to get this testimony. This man II
| subject to dismissal by the Mayor OF the
| city, and that Mayor. Thomas Is. Smith
sits at this bar. being heard for high
crime ] must go to this man to get this
| testimony. It Is obvious to your Honor
that he is shifting. that he does not speak
| frankly of the facts. and he sits looking
into the eyes Of the Mayor, who has his Of
| fcinl life in his hands. ask your Honor,
| therefore, to let me ask him what answers
| he gave to the District Attorney in the Dis
trict Attorneys office, the District Attorney
| nm official of the Commonwealth, when
the Mayor was not there, and when he gave
his opinion of the police conditions in the
| Fifth ward differing from what he now
| says in his chair facing the Mayor.
Mr.. Beiter--1f your Honor please I have
| known Detective Souder for great many
years. If ! am not mistaken Detective
| Souder was detective when ] was Director
| of Public Safety. Weren't you?
The Witness-Not a detective.
| Mr.. Beiter-YOu were a patrolman,
| don't believe there Is man on the force
| that ranks higher in integrity and in the
| confidence Of his superiors than this man.
| He was selected because the Mayor had
confidence in him. He is not, his official
| life is not. at the call or the whim or the
| beck of the Mayor. He is as amply pro-
| .ccted, as Judge Gordon would find If he
| read the rest of the Bulltt bill. as a man
| "an possibly be. He is the Commonwealth
| wi ness and the Commonwealth has no
! right to cross-examihe him. But let Judge
! Gordon give him the reports that were sent
| by the Mayor to Mr.. Rotan. If he wants to
! examine him on the reports
Mr. Gordon-May it please your Honor,
the learned gentleman, / suppose arose to
give Mr. Souder a certificate of character
that he was on the force in the Police De.