The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-12-17
Bitterly
Attacks
Motives
Brown Insists Jur-
ors Listened to
Politician Trying
to Discredit Him
BY John W. Nelson


With the King county grand
jury engaged in the consider
alton of additional indict-
ments, Mayor E. ]. Brown
Monday launched a bitter at
tack upon Prosecutor Malcolm
Douglas vice cleanup drive by
charging it was "a political
move"
They are political indictments"
the mayor saidF THE grand jury has
taken the word OF politician as to
the law and written the indictments
as this man ordered"
The mayor vigorously defended the
Seattle police department and de-
clared that the administration OF
Chief OF Police w B. Severyns has
been absolutely satisfactory TO him.
Members OF. the city council IL
cense committee. however. took the
action OF the grand jury in return
ing II indictments as evidence that
gambling has been permitted on a
wide scale and expressed determine
ton TO cancel the cardroom licenses
OF the men indicted.
II favor immediate cancellation Of
all card room licenses where the pro.
prietors have been indicted for gam
bling" Mrs. Landes. OF the council
license committee. said. 81 have
heard numerous reports against
these places, but have lacked specific
information.
Chairman Robert d. Hesketh, of
the license committee. said that he
also favors cancellation OF the IL
censes of the card rooms.
Il favor delaying action until we
have information on all the places
indicted, then to cancel their II.
censes," Hesketh said.
Councilman A. Lou Cohen, third
member Of the committee, said he
did not favor taking action against
the alleged gamblers until they have
peen convicted in court
Twenty-nine persons had been ar
rested on the warrants issued on au-
thority OF the grand jury indict-
ments up TO noon Monday by Sher.
iff Matt Starwich and his aides.
LEAK SOME PLACE,
SAYS SHERIFF
II have been told that the
names Of those indicted were In
the hands of attorneys several
hours before the grand jury re-
turned Its report. the sheriff
said There apparently has
been n leak i'm the grand jury
somewhere, and II hasn't been
from this office. The result
has hindered my work. as, no
doubt, many of those indicted
have fled the country
Mayor Brown declared that the
entire work Of the grand jury Is
desperate political move to defeat
his candidacy at the spring cleo.
lions.
These cardrooms have been run.
ming for the past 20 years. the NAV.
or said. Everyone knows that.
They have been licensed for 10
years.
The higher-ups In the political
world have given out the order that
my administration must be discred.
tied. II they don't defeat me NEXT
spring. then Senator Jones' political
will be defeated in 1924
and they know IL.
II discredit the whole thing as
political move. It's all politi.
cal bunk. The grand jury didn't
need 10 investigate these card
rooms. Mai. Douglas knew about
1t. IL he didn't, he could have
learned all about them by call.
ing in the proprietors OF the
firms operating so-called social
card rooms"
But IL there has been gambling
going on in these places. l hope the
gamblers are indicted, prosecuted
md convicted, and l have SOS police.
men who will help do the Job"
The whole thing Is political
fakery." the mayor declared.
Just before the grand jury re-
sumed its deliberations Monday,
Foreman James McCabe said that
he expected additional indictments
would be returned sometime Mon.
day. Witnesses who had been call
cd TO testify. were dismissed and
ordered 60 report at later hour.
Deputy Prosecutor L. ID. Colvin and
the court reporter were dismissed
from the grand jury room and con-