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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1905)
THE SUXDXY OKBGOXIAN. 'MITLlin),- BOEMBER 31, 10. SLIPSHOD WHS OF DETECTIVES Hearing of Charges Against ; Kerrigan and Snow f Takes Place. ADMIT THEIR BLUNDER Examination Shows an Utter Iack of System In the Police Deparl incut and a AVoIul "Want or ' Common Sense. It detective methods have Improved -as a result of Mayor Lane's experimental man agement of the Portland Police Depart ment, that fact was not among the thou - sand and one Irrelevant and Immaterial matters and tilings brought out yesterday afternoon in course of the hearing of the charges of Insubordination, misfeasance and general incompetency brought against City Detectives Frank T. Snow and John F. Kerrigan by Police Commissioner Greene. As the chief inquisitor of the Police Commission, Mr. Greene plied the probe energetically for more than two hours, fcut without any very dellnlte result other tthan to prove that the two detectives had blundered ridiculously in attempting the arrest of Thomas Russell. Jr suspected of complicity in the sandbagging and 3-obbIng of Paul C. Aylesworth in the ter minal yards on the night of December 18, fact which both sleuths cheerfully ad mitted, and to reveal that plaln-clothe men are still following the time-honored custom of consulting nobody or nothing but their own sweet will In the handling -of crime and criminals. Do as They Please. This latter fact every detective called testified to with more or less particular ity, and Snow and Kerrigan pleaded it in excuse of their action in meddling with a case which had been assigned to another )air of plain-clothes men. Detectives Day and Vaughn. No less than six detectives, working in pairs, according to their old time custom, had begun an Investigation of the hold-up case before it was definitely assigned to two of the sextet by Chief of Poller GriUmacher. Even Captain Bruin, acting police in spector and chief of detectives, made the humiliating confession while on the stand that he was not certain as to the rule covering the assignment of detectives to duty. It was merely the practice, he said, for detectives to turn ovor any evidence they might obtain to the men assigned to that particular case, or lay it before the Chief of Police or chief of detectives. Grltzimichcr as a Witness. Chief Grltemacher made a better wit ness for the prosecution. He said that .there was r rule that no detective should work on a case without orders, but In the name breath admitted, under cross-exam ination by Snow and Kerrigan, that the rule had been violated on several occa sions. Tlie result of tli trial as affecting Snow and Kerrigan is still In doubt. The Com missioners did not take up the matter until nearly 5 o'clock, owing to the ab sence of Mayor Jjane, who was attending 'a meeting in another part of the City .Hall, and it was nearly o clock when .the hearing .was concluded and Commis-'-sloner Greene announced that the case would be taken under advisement for a jNw days in order to allow the Commls loners to "chew over the evidence and digest it thoroughly." Handle Their Own Casp. Utile interest appeared to be taken in the trial, outside of the Police Depart ment. Tbo few spectators present were nearly all members of the police force !?now and Kerrigan handled their own asr, both cross-examining such witnesses as they desired. They took the stand only to confess that they had bungled the Rup- spII case, but had not done so intention ally, and were willing to abide by the de cision or the Commissioners in the mat ter. The first witness called was Chief Gritzmacher. He explained the system of Assigning detectives at headquarters, cx telaining that a slip was made out cm tracing the first report on each case and signed to work on it. Carbon copies of "this slip were placed in lock boxes, of 'which there is one for each detective at "headquarters. Whenever a detective coms in he is supposed to go direct to his box and exam ine the slips. Asked whether the detect- livs generally did so. the Chief gravely ssrted that they nearly always "made bee line for their boxes" on reporting lor duty. Talks First With Day. Tbe first detective with whom he talked concerning the Aylesworth case was Day. lo whom it had been assigned. Day told jR-ithess that ho knew who the two guilty imcn were, but wanted to get Russell first, jjs he could lfcy hands on the other ir.nn, draiton, anas "Frenchy," at any time. Wtiness heard no more about the case until about 5:30 o'clock the same after noon, when Snow came to headquarters Rna.voiunteered the information that Rus ell and another man did the Aylwr.rh Job. and that he (Snow) and ICcrrlsnn had been up lo the RumcII keme waiting for RuseelL Saew IsUmated to wicw that he an4 Kerrigan bad feugld the case and had been cowpellcd te laforxs I Russell's folks that they wanted him at 1 police headquarters. The Russells hea promised to bring the boy down. Angry at Detectives. The boy was never brought down. Wit ness did not talk with Snow any more; was mad at him for meddliag with the case. Saw Mrs. Russell the nevt day. She stated that Snow and Kerrigan had given her to understand that her son was wanted fr a crime Witness wax an gry because the Information givea by Snow and Kerrigan had enabled young Russell to escape on the evening of De cember 19, and before he was captured Aylesworth, the prosecuting .vitns. had left the city. Grattoa also had escaped and had never been recaptured. Inspector Bruin was the next witness. He came loaded down with written state ments of witnesses and reports of de tectives, all of which were duly admitted in evidence, Witness said that on that fatal day. December 30, the first renert he had on the Aylesworth case was from Detective Day. who came to him at E P. M. and told him that Russell had esoped through the interference of Snow and Kerrigan. Their Verbal Keport. The sa'me evening Snow and Kerrigan made a verbal report to witness and said they had acted in good faith and would not have Interfered with the case had they known that Day and Vaughn were assigned to it. The next day he inter viewed Mrs. Russell, who told him that Snow and Kerrigan bad glen her the in formation that her boy was wanted for a crime. Snow cross-examined Bruin, asking him It it was not true that he (Snow) had talked with witness on the day of Rus sell's arrest. December 28, and told him that Russell had been in town three days: also it it was not a fact that Aylesworth had not left town when Russell returned to the city. Bruin answered affirmatively. Work at 'Cross Purposes. Kerrigan cross-examined witness as to occasions when witness had given detect Ives to understand that It was their duty to work on cases whether assigned to them or not. Bruin admitted that he had told officers they should not hang back and refuse to work merely because some other officer had the assignment, especial ly in hold-up cases. Mr. Greene questioned witness as to the rule as to assignments of detectives. Were detectives compelled to report to anybody In particular? Witness was not certain. It was merely a practice with them to turn over their evidence to the man as signed .or to some superior. "Then It has been the practice for all detectives to jump .in and work on every case, has It?" interjected Mayor Lane. who had been wriggling about in his seat. awaiting an opportunity to break into the colloquy. Bruin implied: "Well, In a way. But all the Information that lias been gathered is supposed to land in the hands of the man detailed." Blame Snow and Kerrigan. The Mayor then asked both Bruin and Chief Gritzmacher whether Snow and Kerrigan's action had contributed to the failure of the police to arrest Russell and "Frenchy" and the escape of the'prose' eutlng witness. Both ald "Yes" cmphat ically. Among the written statements handed in by Bruin was one signed by C. C. Copper, the man who first gave the police definite Information against RusselL Cooper asserted that he had talked with Russell in tlfe lewls and Clark saloon the morning after the hold-up, and Rus sell had attempted to sell him a railway ticket stolen from Aylesworth. Cooper told Russell to gt rid of the ticket, and Russell chewed It up. afterward confess ing that he and Frenchy" robbed Ayles worth and divided the money, $95. Another written statement was signed by Thomas Russell, of 434 Alder street. the father of the alleged highwayman. Russell was called to the stand and con firmed it. Tells of Detectives Visits. The upshot of his long, rambling and incoherent story was that Snow and Ker rigan came to his house at about Z o'clock on the evening of December 18. and asked for young Tom. Witness told them he was out. but would return for supper soon. About C:S0 o clock, the officers came again. In the meantime. Tom had come in, and. taking alarm at his father's re port of the visit of the two strange men, had fled. The first time the officers called they merely asked to see Tom, and did not state their business. The second time they said they wore detectives, but merely wanted to see Tom as a witness, and asked to have him brought to headquar ters. Witness made ome unintelligible stat inent to the effect that a woman who lived next door had "tipped off" to him the fact that the visitor were policemen. W itness said he was Instrumental In get ting Tom to return, his lawyer having In formed him that there was no case against the boy. "Witness went to Seattle and induced Tom to come home. Three days later. December 2S. three detectives guarded the house, while Detective Dav roughly pushed his way In through the front door and arrested the "boy," whom the father described as 22 years old weighing l"0 pounds and standing nearly six icet tail. Day Accuses Witness. Detective Day elbowed his way Into th circle at this point, and fiercely upbraid ed the witness, accusing him of garbling uie tacts as to the arrest, and adding to tne eaiety or the occasion. Mrs. Gertie McCuIly. of 433 Alder street was called at the request of Kerrigan, for the purpose of testifying that Kcrrhran t watched the Russell house from her front room from about 7 o'clock until about 9. MOYER Clearance Sale WILL BE RESUMED Tuesday Morning A Suit to Your Measure, $22.50 AND AN EXTRA PAIR OF TROUSERS FREE ' We have a number of expert tailors on a large salary that we must keep busy during the dull season. We will make it an object to you to buy your Spring or Summer suit NOW. For $22.50 we will make a suit to your measure and give you an extra pair of trou sers of the same or different material FREE. Your choice of three fabrics. A blue serge, a black Thibet or an all wool English overline cheviot These are brand new fabrics, fresh from the loom. They represent advance styles and will be soltl next season as the latest (by other tailors.) , r Come in now, and see these patterns. $22.50 0 If you wish to "buy a pair of trousers alone, HERE IS OUR PROPOSITION: "We have an elegant lino of the newest stripes and overline patterns. "Tor wear and ap pearance these trousers cannot he excelled at any price. Tailors everywhere are making up these goods for $10 and $12. . Come -in and make your choice. We will make you the hest pair of trousers you ever had for from ?5 to $7. She was corroborated by -a small boy named Christopher Dundee. Robert Russell, aged 14. corroborated the testimony of his father. Thomas Rus sell, regarding the visit of the officers to his home. Police Clerk 1-eonard gave testimony as to the manner of assigning detectives to cases, lie then added that before Snow and Kerrigan had received their slip? for the day they were called out of the sta tion by a telephone message from Detec tive FiUgerald. of the O. R. & X. Co. They talked with witness before going. but the Aylesworth case way not mentioned. More Sllphliod Methods. He did not know when they got their slips, ilayor Lane asked whether the slips were dated. They were, with the day of the month, but not with the hour of their issuance. Why don't you put on the hour? Don't it strike you that the hour might be Important?" asked llayor lane. 3Ir. Greene lou ought to have a datcr clock. "Do you cet a receint from the officer when you give him hii slip?" asked Mayor Lane. "Sol Just drop the slip Into the box and trust to God and good luck for the re.tr- The witness smiled uneasily and nodded. Detective Day was called. He testified to the work he did on the Russell case on December 19. Interviewed Cooper and worued all aitcrnoon on the case before getting his slip at 5 o'clock in the evening. Sorry They Interfered. About C o'clock Snow came In and in formed witness that be and Kerrigan had also been working on the case. Told witness that he was sorry they had "butted In." and that thfv trniilrfn'i Viv done it If they had known the case was assigned 10 witness ana vaughn; that they would drop the matter at once. Wit ness Old not feel aggrieved that Snow and Kerrigan had "butted In." Answering Mr. .Greene's nuici!nii lio .iM that Via and Vauchn would nnl lmv rnl nnnMI anyway. a they did hoi know his namn unui mey icarnea u irom snow and Kerrigan. Kerrigan took the stand to tell how he had got his tip on the hold-ups from Rail road Detective Fitzgerald after leaving police headqtarters on the afternoon of December 19. Fitzgerald had already told all he knew to City Detective Resing and Carpenter. Witness and Snow and Carpenter and Resing all agreed to work on tne case togetner. Admits the Klundcr. Kerrigan told how Russell had slipped through his hands sad remarked that it was a blunder, auch ae any detective might make; that he had made blunders before, and that he wa willing to abide by the consequences of this mistake. "That's all right." Interjected Mr. Greene, "but I would like to know why you didn't stay in the Rus.-ell house the first time you went there and wait for Tom?" Witness said he had Ufzd his best judg ment. He and Snow had made their sec ond descent on the house when they saw a younger brother of the suspect go In from the outside. As soon as they saw their mistake they had known "It was all off." "Whaf puzzles me." Interjected Mayor Lane, who had been wrestling with an idea for some minutes, "Is bow a big woman could have gone into the Russell house and a big boy gone in and come out again without you seeing cither of them, while Jurt a soon as the little boy went In you nailed onto him like a duck onto a June-bug." A few irreverent ones laughed and Ker rigan left the stand. "I think no fault lies with the detec tives for going to the scene of a crime where the entire force Is anxious- to catch every criminal" began Mr. Greene. Mayor Lane (interrupting) I think It ought to bo the duty of every" 'officer to telephone In first and-And out whose case it !. and what help he can give. There's where the whole matter, hinges. Seems that theS' all get busy, each man for him self. Well, let's get at the bottom of It. Call Detective Resing. Rcying's testimony was Important. He was followed by Snow, who made about the same statement and defense of his own actions as had Kerrigan. He was enm-questioned In like manner by Mr. Greene and the Mayor. "How long have you been on the forcer asked the Mayor wearily, looking at the clock. "On the force 17 years; detective about nine years." responded Snow. "Iff a case of too many cook? spoiling the broth." muttered Mr. Greene, as his court adjourned Itself and straggled home to a late dinner. The price will suit and The suit will fit. Fit, Finish and Fabric guaranteed. We handle no Ready-Made Clothing, hut make your Clothes to your order at from S20 to $45 the suit. Elks Building, Seventh and Stark. ACCEPTS M0NTAVILLA CALL Rev. Gil ma ti Parker Will Kctttrn to Oregon From Alamqda. Rev. Gilman Parker, of Alameda. Cat., has sent his acceptance to a call to be come pastor of Grace Baptist Church, of Montavilla. and writes' that he will re turn to Oregon and enter on his new work by the first of February. Dr. Gilman Parker is one of the foremost Baptist ministers on tlie Pacific Coast and is well known all over Oregon and Wash ington. For four years he waj pastor of the Oregon City Baptist Church, when he i Mr-it 8ELASGD WILL SI DARK MTTI.E LIKELIHOOD OK ITS HEIXt; LEASED. cost to us. We have already had offers above the price that we paid for it. but. none that met our Idea of Its value." Krr. Gllmaa Iarker. was elected general state missionary, which place he filled for four years. He then accepted a call to the Everett, Wash.. Church, then a small, struggling congre gation paying a year to its pastor. When he left It was paying Dr. Parker will receive a hearty welcome back to Oregon, and the people of Grace Baptist Church. Montavilla. arc looking forward to his return with much satisfac tion. Tlie Alameda. Cal.. Baptist Church, of which Dr. Parker has beep pastor for some time, is unwilling to lose him. and at first would not listen to his resigning, but was flmlly Induced to accept his resigna tion with much reluctance. 31. E. Mayr aj Firm Will Hold Property Until a Sale 1 Effected. When the Beiaseo Theater closes its doors January 7. ami the present stock company is dismissed, the playhouse will probably remain dark for some time. Such, at least. Is the announce ment of M. E. Mayer, of the firm of Beiaseo & Mayer, who arrived In Portland yesterday and spent the day comDletiPtr arrangements for the un timely end of the theatrical season at the Beiaseo. as previously announced. "The theater will in all probability remain unused until It is sold.' said Mr. Mayer last night. "You may say positively that Bclnsco & Mayer will never reopen it- Wc are conducting theaters on a paying basis In San Francisco and Los Angeles, but- we nave found that Portland refuses to support a high-class stock company, so we snail not make an attempt to do business here this season, or any other." It Is known that several tneatrlcal men are after the playhouse, but ac cording to Mr. Mayer no offers have yet been made which are acceptable to the owners. John F. Cordray and John W. Considine. representing the vaude ville firm. Sullivan & Considine. came down from Seattle yesterday for the sole purpose of leasing the Beiaseo. Yesterday afternoon they held a con ference with Mr. Mayer. It is under stood that an offer was made for the use of the property, but that no agree ment could be reached, and Mr. Coril ray returned to Seattle last night. "We would lease the theater If we could fget our price." said Mr. Mayer last night, "but although we have had several applicants, none of the offers have been satisfactory, and it Is alto gether likely that the theater will not be reopened until It has passed entirely out of our hands." It has also been reported that the Belnsc would he reopened as a stand for the Independents in Portland, but this was positively denied by Mr. Mayer last night. "There have been no negotiations to this effect and nothing is more unlikely." he said. "In fact w-e are not at all anxious to lease the property. "We realize that we have a valuable corner and we are perfect ly willing tu let It stand Idle for a while as we are satisfied that we can sell It at a handsome advance over the A CAUTION! "We wish to caution our patrons and the public in general against employing tun ers upon their mere representation that they are connected with EUers Piano House. Numerous complaints have been received by us during the past few weeks from customers in every part of the city, complaining that Individuals represent ing themselves as authorized expert tun ers In the employ of Eilers Piano House had been allowed to do worX on their pi anos, leaving their pianos in a number of Instances in a positively unplayable condition. We wish to once more .announce that we never solicit business by "canvass ing." and all individuals styling them selves as authorized tuners of Eilers Pi ano House and soliciting work in its name should be asked for their letters of authority. Our regularly authorized expert tuners arc supplied with proper credentials. Eilers Piano House has gained an en viable reputation for fine tuning and re pairing, and on this account it will be readily understood that our name Is fre quently used by Incompetent and irre sponsible parties to turn an odd dollar or two. To Insure securing the services of our men. call up Exchange 2J. Eilers Pi ano House. Tuning Department, or ad dress office 351 Washington st., from where all orders will be given consci entious and immediate attention. orrhage of the lungs, was taken from the City Jail . tor 9t. Vincent's Hospital Mast night in a critical condition. Williams, who has -.been ill from China gin icyer. sold his only pair of shoes Friday night to buy liquor. From .Tail to Hospital. Fred Williams, suffering from a hem- HUR-ON The Best Examination The Best Glasses The Best Results OREGON OPTICAL CO, ContHltiar Opticians fiZ Foarth Street. Y. 31. C. A. Balldiag. DELiaiimJI 'EWFOKT. Epleadld Weather at This Fopabtr F&eMfo Coast Resort. Delightful in every particular is tft weather at Newport, and the Southern Pacific and U.e Corvaills & -Eastern, rail roads have resumed their cheap rates to this place for the Winter. Particulars by asking at Third ai.d Washington streets. Portland. CREDIT FOR ALL IN OUR LOW-RENT, LOW-PRICE, STORE CLEARANCE SALES THIS MONTH, AND PRICES GO STILL LOWER All cars transfer to Morrison Bridge, Cars, and all Morrison Bridge Cars pas store. REMEMBER 364-6-8 East Morrison St WOODARD, CLARKE & CO.'S Annual January Clearance Sale . NOW IN PROGRESS ' With a far greater stock for your choosing than we have ever had before with added and enlarged facilities for the delivery of your orders every department is brimfull of good things, at little money. Enormous price cuts have been made on every article in the store. You won't find them all in this ad need the whole paper if we did; but come in, they're all here Drugs, Stationery, Soap, Perfumes, Cut Glass, Rubber Goods, Liquors, Pictures, Sundries, Leather Goods, Etc., Etc. FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE IN THE CITY CANADIAN MONEY TAKEN AT PAR Special Announcement lEGDfUIHGr SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, ISO. TJHI STOKE WILL IX OFXX SUNDAYS F10K 10 A. M. te 2 P. M. WOODARD, CLARKE & CO. FOURTH AND WASHINGTON STREETS Special Announcement BEGINNING SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 1906, .THIS STOKE WILL SI OPEKl SUNDAYS PKOK 10 A. X. to 2 P.M.