Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-26

NOle-ttdNe lUc dbNNt 'lltSNlDl hIl-
swered in writing and signed by the
ABOVE-NAMED PARTY II no such
party exists write the NAME AND AIl-
INFORMATION,
THE policeman insisted that I sign the
paper Mr., Bright told the court. II re-
fused to do So told him that --"
"I object" said William d. Connor coun-
sci for the Vare-Smith Republican city CONF
mittee. 1T has nothing to do with the
case"
This is intimidation Of witnesses" re-
Joined Mr.. Bright THE police department
is taking this means to intimidate witnesses
in this case. The police try to induce
signers of the nomination petitions to say
that they did not sign"
II do not see that this mas anything to
do with the case before US" replied Judge
Davis. Il cannot control the police outside
of this court"
William a Glasgow. another attorney for
the Town Meeting party. arose at this
point to press home the point made by Mr..
Bright.
CHARGES INTIMIDATION
'I want to call the attention of the court
to the fact that policemen are going TO
signers Of petitions and Witnesses and trying
to intimidate them" he insisted They
attempt to make signers sign statements
that they did not sign.
what suggestions have you to make,
Mr.. Glasgow" asked Judge Davis.
we would like for you 10 make an an
nCuncement from the bench that you will
have any one indicted for contempt Of court
who is guilty of intimidatng witnesses "
said Mr.. Glasgow. We want you 10 realize
that witnesses under subpoena actually are
beng intimidated by the police
Judge Davis then made the Following an
nouncement:
"The court will not permit any of it's wit
nesSes under subpoena to be intimidated.
We must know, however, that the parties
approached are witnesses under subpoena {;
otherwise whatS'er is complained of is a
matter for investigation outside of this
court. ] will take such action as is proper
if the process of this court is interfered
with by any one"
NEIGHBORS CHASE COPS
SO insistent were some Of the policemen
that the papers be signed that they We're
| chased from doorsteps by indignant house
holders, according to Frederick S. Drake,
another lawyer for the defense. In the
wealthy Overbrook section, he said, neigh
bors and servants in several instances
threatened the policemen with violence if
| they did not leave,
Il received many complaints early this
morning.. he said. Friends and clients
! called me up on the phone and asked what
! could be done with policemen demanding
| admission.
"The policemen are not to he blamed.
| They are acting only on orders from
| higher up. Although these visits from po-
! licemen are annoying. they are doing the
| Town Meeting party a world of good
! Director of Public Safety Wilson, In send
| ing his policemen out on this errand, has
| swung many votes toward the Town Meet
| ing party
| The drive of the Vare-Smith police 10
! round up witnesses to prove irreguarity of
| the Town Meeting partys nomination papers
| began early today with uniformed police
| men making house-to-house canvasses of the
! homes of signers.
| Lieutenants from all the station houses
| including David Bennett Of the Bloody
| Fifth Ward--were supplied by Superin-
| tendent Robinson with the affidavit petition
! sheets OF the new party that are under
| FIRE before Judge Davis in Court of Common
| Pleas No. 9.
Four hundred policemen from every dis.
trict in the city, acting upon orders re-
! ceived from their respective lieutenants
| worked all night Canvassng the various
| wards. HouSeholders were awakened al
early hours this morning by patrolmen in
an endeavor to find evidence of fraud ir
the Town Meeting party's nomination pa
| pers.
When the attention Of Director Wilson
| was called TO the action of the police in
searching the city for more witnesses who
| may be Of value TO the forces opposing the
new party, he declined to make any de
tailed statement