Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], October 01, 1910, Page 3, Image 3

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

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Woolwine in Startling Speech Arraigns Fredericks
NOMINEE DECLARES CHARGES
REST ON FACTS IN DOCUMENTS
Hadley of Long Beach, Friend of LaFollette in Wisconsin Contest,
Tells of Struggle for Good Government in East and Points
Way for Complete Victory in the Cities of California
(Continued from Faca One)
who was prominent in assisting LaFollette's fight in Wisconsin, told
of the good government struggle in that state and the reasons for its
success. He paid an eloquent tribute to Senator LaFollette and
showed how parallel victories may be won in California
Mr. Helm made a strong appeal for an appreciation of the re
sponsibility of citizens in selecting representatives in government.
"There is now passing over the country a great movement," he
said, "in which the people are wonderfully interested in seeing the
establishment of good government. The line of direction of this
movement is toward the people taking part in the government that
is their own. When such a movement takes hold of the country
nothing can stop it."
Corporations and Violation of the Laws
Mr. Helm gave a lucid explanation of the problem of handling
law-breaking corporations, which met with vigorous applause.
"You cannot make corporations any better," he said, "by haras
sing them or by wiping them out. But individualize the corpora
tions, punish the individuals in the corporation and the law-break
ing will cease. They may put up dummies, but punish the dummies
and there won't be any more dummies."
Brands Fredericks Unfit for Office
Mr. Woolwlne's speech In full was as follows:
Just on the threshold of what will be said, let me assure you that my
remarks will not be prompted by any spirit of rancor or vlndlctlvenoss.
It Is certainly not my purpose to mako a personal attack upon any one.
To say harsh things of another Is anything: but pleasant. "With Mr. Fred
ericks as an individual I am not concerned, and would have no right to
come upon this platform in a spirit of anger to injure the standing or rep
utation of any man simply as an Individual. It is with the district at
torney that we ha»e a right to deal, for It is not only the privilege or
every citizen to criticise the official conduct of those whom they have hon
ored with public office, but it is the duty of evory patriotic citizen to bare
to thp public gaze any violation of duty or faithlessness upon the part of
any public servant, so that the people may see wherein such officer has
broken faith with those who have honored him.
There are so many matters in connection with the district attorneys
office that I wish to treat of, and the details are so numerous, that I will
be compelled to adopt the method of discussing only two or three mat
ters In each speech. To cover th,e entire field in one evening would be im
possible, so I have decided to discuss tonight two propositions:
First, I propose to show that my opponent. District Attorney Fied
erlcks, has for many years been under the absolute domination of the
Southern Pacific political machine and its agent, Walter Parker; and that
in many Instances, too numerous to mention, Walter Parker has been the
master of the district attorney's office, and that Fredericks, under his or
ders, has not only failed to prosecute persons of influence and politicians
guilty of crimes, but has used his office to suppress prosecutions, and has
stood guard between such favored lawbreakers and the prison doors. This
Is the subject that will be treated first, and to which I will return In a
moment.
The second matter that will be discussed is a story of one of the most
shameful abuses of official power of which I have any knowledge. Mr.
Fredericks has in this instance been guilty of the very gravest malfeasance
In office. In other words, he has suppressed a felony that it was his duty
to prosecute, knowing it to be a felony, and by means of such suppression
was rewarded in the sum of eleven or twelve thousand dollars. This as
sertion Is not a matter of conjecture or hearsay, but a fact that can be
proved by documentary evidence.
But before discussing this matter further we will return to the nrst
proposition—that of the control of the district attorney's office by Walter
Parker and other influential forces, and the Immunity of criminals and
politicians of influence from prosecution.
Gives History of Kiver Bed Steal
To make myself plain. It will become necessary to go back some years
in the history of the politics of this city. I take It you are all more or less
familiar with the Infamous river bed steal. At that time Indignation
against the corrupt officials who voted for the giving away of this prop
erty ran so high that the Examiner of March 30, 1906, declared: ."It
seems to be conceded that all those who have been parties to the steal
have about ended their political careers. Not one of them ought to stand
a chance of succeeding even in a candidacy for keeper of a dog pound,
and probably not one of them ever will. Not one of them will be able to
overcome the general belief that he voted because he was bribed to vote."
Now before commenting further on this river bed steal, I wish to read
from the Lelande affidavit a portion of the offer of Walter Parker to briba
Lelande to sign the ordinance and take part in the steal. "How much will
you take to sign that ordinance right away? I can get you $1000 if you
sign that ordinance today and take It to Summerland." (Summerlana
was acting mayor at the time.) "He also made the statement that money
was being spent, and I might as well get some of it. ... That I might
as well get the money and sign It and get it out of my hands as quickly
This is mentioned at this time for this reason: In spite of all tne
newspaper publicity at that time and the public indignation over this mat
ter Mr Fredericks did not lift his hand to investigate one of the worst
crimes in the history of official life In this city; he never attempted the
prosecution of any one; he never made any effort to find out who the
guilty parties were or to fix their guilt upon them; he took no steps to
have the matter sifted by a grand Jury and the criminals prosecuted; but,
on the other hand, Percy Hammon, one of the councilmen who voted lor
this franchise, and who thus betrayed the people who elected him, was
taken shortly thereafter into Fredericks' office to be a deputy district at
torney, and to assist in the enforcement of the laws of the state. The In
fluence that saved these traitors from prosecution is no doubt the same
influence that was back of the reward given to Percy Hammon in elevat
ing him to a deputy district attorneyshlp.
We will next discuss the Harper and Kern whitewash, and to make
this matter plain it will be necessary to call your attention to the fact that
Walter Parker and the Southern Pacific political machine were responsible
for the electlok of Harper. During the Harper regime Parker was not
only in controlVf the district attorney, but was Harper's master as well.
During the session of the Jones grand Jury Fredericks did everything In
his power to suppress a full, fair and impartial investigation of the charges
that had been made against Harper, Kern and others. During this ses
sion, and after my connection with the matter had been severed, the grand
jurors, upon two occasions, requested him to retire entirely from the case,
and requested him further to keep out of the grand Jury room and to not
allow any of his deputies to come into the grand jury room. This request
was by no means unanimous, but was done by a majority of one. Such
pressure from many sources was brought to bear upon the grand Jurors to
save Harper and Kern that this majority soon became a minority, and
dwindled to the famous six who signed the minority report.
Charges He Stiflel Investigation
A further fact showing Fredericks" stifling of this Investigation Is found
In his promise to a committee of the grand jury when they requested the
speaker to take charge ofethe Investigation, that he positively would not
enter the grand Jury room, and would leave me unhampered and with a
free rein. How he violated this promise la too well known to warrant
further comment.
Another fact is that all other matters coming before the grrancfjury
were left to be handled by his deputies without his presence; and to show
absolutely the malign Influences that guided the whitewashing of these
officials, let me say to you, and impress upon you, this fact—Walter Par
ker was In constant dally consultation with John D. Fredericks in the dis
trict attorney's office during this abortive grand Jury Investigation, ana
that it became necessary to secrete Parker In one of the private offices so
that the public might not be aware of his presence there. This is a fact
that I do not believe the district attorney will dare deny; If he does, the
proof of this will be forthcoming.
Two of the grand Jurors who signed the minority report have stated
time and again that Fredericks' conduct was such before tho grand Jury
that if he had been attoi^ey for the accused his diligence In protecting
them could not have been greater.
I wish to further Impress you with the fact that the same Walter Par
ker who haunted the office of the district attorney during this time Is the
Identical Walter Parker who put through the river bed steal, and who at
tempted to bribe Harry Lelande In the Alexandria hotel; and that Percy
Hammon, who is now in the district attorney's office. Is the same Percy
Hammon who joined by his vote In that disgraceful proceeding.
Tou are all familiar with the forced resignation of Kern trom the
board of public works, to which he had been elevated from the office ot
chief of police, and the resignation of Mayor Harper. These resignations
were forced through the activities of Mr. B. T. Karl, a private citizen,
who was compelled to expend his own means In ferreting out the crimes
that Fredericks was paid to prosecute.
After Harper's resignation he fled to Bakersfleld, and In the now fa
mous interview that he granted the Examiner of March 15, 1909, among
other things, said: "I would have resisted Mr. Earl's demand had it not
been for Walter Parker. He and Mr. Clotworthy were among my chief
supporters in the recall flght. He came to me on Thursday, I do not cara
to say what hour, and advised me to drop out of the flght. ... I felt
that the loss of the support of Mr. Parker would leave me, without a leg
to stand upon. . . . Mr. Parker did not tell me the name of the man
he had picked out as my successor. Probably the man was Mr. Smith.
... As to Walter Parker, who advised me to resign, I looked upon him
as my friend and most important political adviser and supporter."
Now, can any reasonable human being who hears this whole story, ana
sees the relation* that existed between Fredericks, and Parker, and Kern,
s LOS ANGET.ES HERALD: SATURDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 1, 1910.
and Harper, doubt the fact that Mr. Fredericks suppressed and covered
up the prosecution of Harper and Kern?
Whitewash Applied Generously
There is a further fact that goes to show that this Is true. You -will
remember that after the resignations of Harper and Kern public '""'k
nation at the grand Jury whitewash ran so high that the waves that naa
been beating about the accused persons now were reaching for tn<*lr res
cuers; and this public clamor became so Insistent that it forced the can
ing of a second grand jury. This grand jury was short lived. It selects
a scapegoat in the person of Tom Broadhead, and said a few nice tnings
about the district attorney in the following language:
"Finally, It is the opinion of this grand jury that investigations into
official misconduct can best be carried on secretly by the district attorney
without the aid of a grand Jury until some legal and substantial «vl°ence
Is secured; for early publicity Is not only apt to defeat the ends . sou*n*'
but places obstacles in the way of Investigations wellnlgh °unta°.,:
And we further feel It Is the duty which this grand jury owes to the public
to state to the court that we find the conduct of the district attorney In
this entire matter entitles him to the full confidence of the people.
Now I only mention this for the purpose of further impressing upon
you the purpose for which this jury was called. That grand Jury coma
not possibly have known what took place before the other grand jury, it
would have been an impossibility for them to have known whether the
adverse criticisms of the district attorney in relation to the grand jury
whitewash were true or not. The second grand Jury in ita final report
USe"From'the Uevi e dence adduced during this Investigation It is the unan
imous belief of this grand jury that large amounts of money _were paw
for the 'protection of prostitution in the so-called red light district to cer
tain public and ex-public officials of this city under Investigation other
than those indicted." :■'><-■
As a further proof of what I am endeavoring to show you—that is,
that Fredericks suppressed these prosecutions all the way througn—it is
common knowledge that he has never done anything to carry out the sug
gestion of the grand Jury that he continue this Investigation and the fact
remains that of all the city officials who were accused of graft—and, by tne
way, it is the worst form of graft of which I have any knowledge, that or
extorting money from helpless and defenseless women—l say that not one
of these has ever been punished, and only one, the scapegoat that I have
mentioned, has been brought to trial, and I will leave yoU to Judge whether
he was prosecuted with any purpose of ever convicting him.
It might be remarked In passing that the same- firm of attorneys wno
defended Harper and Kern, and brought the libel suits, were associated
with Mr. Fredericks In the forged will case which has been referred to.
Accused of Suppressing Felony
Now as to the second charge, that of the suppression by District At
torney Fredericks of a felony and his reward therefor
This is a long story of official corruption, but I will make It as brier
"to'Sr^abSit'tS^teonth of July, Michael H. King died at «
in this county, and left an estate valued at about $12^000. Shortly there
after a will was filed, purporting to be his last will. Material portions of
this will were palpable forgeries. But a few days after the filing of this
forged will another supposed, will was filed, which was entl?e^ *°,Jff£
Although Fredericks suppressed the prosecution of the forgers of Dotn wins,
I will In the main deal only with the last one mentioned
John Gales, son-in-law of Michael H. King, and husband of Elizabeth
King Gales, one of the heirs, had known John D. Fredericks for a number of
years, and at that time had implicit confidence in him; so, shortly after
the ■first will was filed, suspecting the same was forged he Bought out
Fredericks and went, in company with his wife and Sarah King Vokmor,
another heir and Mr. Volkmor, her husband, to Fredericks' office 'In the
courthouse and laid the matter before him. Nothing that I need relate
at this time occurred until some days after, when Mr. Gales received - a
letter from John D. Fredericks Informing him that a second will had been
flTed and requesting Gales to call at his office. Gales then, In company
With his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Volkmor, again called at Mr. Fredericks
office, and Mr. Gales and Mr. Volkmor, In company with Fredericks, went
to the clerk's office and inspected the second will. „_,«_ „,„„.
At this point I will quote from an affidavit made by Mr. Gales, setting
forth the whole miserable business of his betrayal by Fredericks:
Q.—Who was with you on this second visit to Fredericks?
A —My wife, Mr. Volkmor and his wife.
Q.—State what conversation. If any, you had upon this occasion with
A.—Fred. 6 says, "It looks very much like a forgery."
—When did you first see this second will, and who was present?
A.-Mr Volkmor and myself and Capt. Fredericks, John D. Fredericks,
A.— jar. VUIB.IHUI a «
district attorney. _■__«
Q._What, if anything, was said upon that occasion?
A.—We all three of us thought it was a forgery; It looked that way.
A^saV^f l^TtorjT^t whoever did it, send the son-a
guntto the pen." Fred says, "No, It Is the 'mon' we wanf-he sot It, too.
—How did you conclude It was a forgery? . ■ •■
A.-It was so much different from the writing of the King will, the
flrßtQ^You mean the portion of the first will that was not forged?
A Yes
i~ttn^\ct rmr B onwrXg SSSL. the writing of »■»**
H' Q^Whose handwriting was It, If you know?
fl"wtn CexpVa ninihat Lucy King was a daughter of Michael H. King.
and one of his heirs.) King now? ' •
Q.—How ofd is Lucy King now?
A.—About 32 years old. at the time In your presence, and In the pres-
Q—Did Fredericks state at the time In your presenoe, ana In tne pret
ence of Volkmor, that It was a forgery?
A —He said It looked very much like It.
" Q-Dld Mr. Volkmor say anything with reference to whether the win
was forged or not on this occasion?
_ A. —Yes. r
Al-ThouVhVlt 1 wasforged. he said it was forged, in the presence or
d l B r^^^^^ relation to the forgery
A.-He said to get an expert, and the best was the cheapest, and he
WINSLOW HOMER, NOTED
ARTIST, DIES, AGED 74
Painted Pictures of Lincoln's In
augural and Soldier
Life in 1861
PORTLAND, Mo., Sept. 30.—Wlnslow
Homer, the famous artist, died at his
home in Scarborough yesterday, aged
74. He had been ill for four weeks.
Homer had practically lived the lire
of a hermit in his Scarborough studio
for several years past. His long Ufa
work many years ago won for him a
conceded place as one of the ablest an<*
most original of American artt' is.
In the later years of hia vile he
worked largely in water colors, winning
a place of prominence in this depart
ment of his art. His workß are all
notable for their fine sense of color,
great truth to nature and virile senti
ment.
Born in Boston in 1836, Homer came
of stout New England stock. Both his
grandfathers and grandmothers had
lived in Massachusetts about the mid
dle of the sevenUfenth century. He
showed his talent when less than 6
years old, and at the age of 20 had
opened a studio in Boston and begun
his independent career.
In 1859 he settled in New York. Two
years later he was commissioned by a
firm of Dublishers to make sketches of
scenes at the inaugural of Lincoln and
at the front, and he crossed'the Poto
mac with the first volunteers. During
the next three years he saw much of
army life and painted a series of popu
lar army pictures from his observations.
"Prisoners at the Front" was with
others of a like nature exhibited at the
Paris salon in 1867.
Homer took up his residence at the
Scarborough studio in 1882. It was
about this time that he turned to water
colors. He was elected an associate
of the Academy of Design In 1864 and
an Academician in 1865. Ho received
gold medals at Chicago in 1893 and at
Paris in 1900.
Homer's more notable works include:
"Life Line," 1884; "Eight Bells," 1885;
"Fog Off the Banks," 1886; "Under
tow," 1887, and "High Seas," ISD4.
OVERESTIMA-WE FIRE LOSB
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. SO.—Damage
caused by the fire which swept the
Times-Democrat building here early
today, was not as large as at first be*
lleved. It Is said that the loss will
not exceed {&0 ( 004
Declare Looked Like Forgery
To Be Given Away At
Desmond's
========== This New ===========
1911 Packard Limousine
Now on Exhibition in Store, Cor. Third & Spring Sts.
Call and Tell Us Where You Wish It Sent
thought he would g#t Ames if we could get him, and then he also naa
several others on there.
(At this point I will explain that the Ames mentioned was a handwrit
ing oxport of national reputation.)
Q.—When did you next see John D. Fredericks in relation to this second
forged will?
A.—l received a letter from Fredericks' office that Ames pronounced
the will a forgery.
Q.—Did he say anything to you In relation to the opinion of other ex
perts he had employed?
A.—Yes, he said they had pronounced It a forrery.
Q. —How many experts did he say he employed?
A. —Several.
q.—When did you next see John D. Fredericks In relation to thsi »econa
will a forgery?
A Yes
Q.'—What was next done between you and Fredericks In relation to the
matter?
Conference to Settle Fees
A.^l received a letter to have myself and Mrs. Gales, Mr. Volkmor
and Mrs. Volkmor come in to settle on the fees, that is the way he put
it in his letter.
Q.—Did you all go?
Q.—State what happened between Capt. Fredericks and the persons
you have mentioned, Including yourself.
A.—He said that it waa a pretty hard case to fight, and that he Better
employ the best, the beat is the cheape st, that we employ Gage & Fo'.ey
to assist him.
Q.—Then what was done?
A.—Then we all went down to Gage & Foley's office.
Q.—ln company with Fredericks?
A.—Yes, sir.
Q.—Then what happened? *
A.—l will tell you the exa,ct words as near as I can get them. Mr.
Gage said, "Now, If we do not have to fight this case we'll take It on a
third, and if we do fight It, on a half"; Capt. Fredericks spoke up, and nft
said, "Well, I don't think that would bo best for you", that 50 per cent
would be the best way, the lawyers would take more Interest in settling
the case without a fight If they knew they would get 60 per cent anyway.
Q.—Did you agree to the terms of 50 per cent?
A.—Yes.
Q.—At that time?
A.—At that time, yes.
Q.—Who agreed to the terms of BO per cent?
A.—Mrs. Gales, Mr. Volkmor, Mrs. Volkmor and myself.
q._When you say BO per cent, to what do you refer?
A.—Of all they would get for us.
Q.—From the estate of Michael H. King?
A.—From the estate, yes. It waa put in the paper.
(By paper Is meant the contract they signed.)
Q_Were Mrs. Volkmor and Mrs. Gales disinherited in this second al
leged forged will?
•^ Sign the Agreement
,7,0 A.— with the exception of one dollar. After lunch we went to the
district attorney's office and signed that agreement, 60 per cent.
Who signed that agreement? '*;
Mrs. Gales and myself and Mr. and Mrs. Volkmor,...
Q.—Did Fredericks sign it? ' ■: ■
A.—That I don't know. ' m ■'.
'• Q.—Was Fredericks present when the others signed?
A -"Yes -
' Q.'—What, if anything, happened In relation to the two forged wills
after this contract for fees was entered into?
-Nothing. ::.;■•'
Q.—Were they probated? -■ , . „„__
A—No. A long time after this agreement they called us in to Gage
& Foley's office and said that they thought they had a victory won.
q —Who was present when this conversation occurred? __„„„.,„
Mrs. Gales and myself and Mr. and Mrs. Volkmor and Fredericks.
Where did this conversation occur? s ;;'-
A—At Gage & Foley's office; Fredericks took us into the office ana
told us that they had a settlement, that the property was to be distributed
according to the laws of this state. And that the. two forged wills be with
drawn and not probated. i" ' . . _„, * »»., ♦,—«.,
Q.— he say anyhing in reference to the two forged wills at this time.'
That the wills be pulled down. .. . _„„„
Q.—Was any attorney present besides Fredericks when this conver
sation occurred? .'
A.—Not this particular conversation. _„_„„,
Q.—What next was said? Who did he say had agreed to this proposi
tion that you have just stated?
A.—Mrs. King and Lucy King.
q —What was the value of the entire estate of Michael H. King?
.About $125,000.
Q-rtHd you all agree, that Is, you and Mrs. Gales and Mr. and Mrs.
Volkmlr, with Fredericks at this time, that this course might be taken,
that is, that the wills might be pulled down, as you call it?
A.—Yes. ■ >
What was next done about this matter? VL. '. ' . .
Mrs. Gales and myself and Mr. and Mrs. Volkmor then went into
Gage's office with Mr. Fredericks, and we signed first a contract to this
effect. Mrs. King and Lucy were in another room, and they also came in
and signed the contract. .. ■ _
Terms of Agreement
Q —The contract that you have said was signed by yourself and Mrs.
Gales and Mr. and Mrs. Volkmor and Lucy King and Mrs. King was a
contract, to use your own language, to pull down the forged wills, and
that the property might be distributed aa If no will had ever been made?
A.—Yes.
Q.—Was the estate afterward settled and distributed by the court?
A.—Yes, It was.
Q._Were the wills ever probated, or were they pulled down, as you
A.—They were not probated; they were pulled down.
Q.—Did Mrs. Volkmor and Mrs. Gales, or either of them, ever express
(Continued on Pace Five)
BEGS PRESIDENT FOR
RELEASE OF HUSBAND
Penniless Woman Reaches Wl
House and Reveals Pathetic
Story of 'Injustice'
WASHINGTON, Sept. 31.—At
White House, where pat'netlc s>
are not infrequent, on© was witn* 1
yesterday which appealed to the b
policeman, hardened With < xperie
and to all visitors waiting to sco
president.
Coming all the way from Roche
N. V., without a cent for meal;
lodging, having her transportation
nlshed by sympathizers, Mrs. I)
Melnick reached the White Hous
an exhausted condition. With ;i
child In her arms, she asked the
vor of an opportunity to appeal t
the president to release her husl. 1
from the military prison at Fort
agara, where he Is serving a yeai
desertion from the army.
According to Mrs. Melnick, her
band reached America when he
19 years old. Ha enlisted In the I
and after serving nine months he de
serted. Locating at Rochester, he
up his trade as carpenter and
years ago married. Being subjf •
to blackmailing by former cour -
men, Melnick went to Fort Po >
Buffalo, where he stated his case, v
promptly arrested and after being
ratgned, was convicted.
In view of Melnlck'3 excellent rec
as a citizen. It is said his sentor.ro
will be commuted.
SUBMARINES STAY DOWN
SIX HOURS AT SAN DIEGO
Crews Break Record at Target
Practice on Sea Floor
BAN DIEGO, Sept. 30.—One of tM
severest tests to which submarines < C
the United States navy have been sub
jected was made yesterday by the
Grampus and Pike, now in the harbor
The submarines were submerged yes
terday morning until they rested on
the bottom of the bay and remalnel
there for six hours. During that time
torpedoes were fired at targets an'
the results were carefully watohed *
the officers and crew of the tor
fleet. The feat performed by the
marines did not become known
this morning, and it is said to emu
tute a record for continuous submer
gence.
The officers and members of
crews of the submarines said but
of their experience and declared
felt no Inconvenience from their
stay under water. Further tests i
being made today, including the f
of torpedoes at a net stretched unit.
■water.
TORPEDO FLEET TO BEGIN
FALL TARGET PRACTICE
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30.—Promptl"
8 o'clock this morning the Pacific
pedo flotilla steamed out of the ha
bound to San Pedro and to Beecln-
Bay, Santa Rosa lßland, for stand
lzatlon trials and regular fall ta
practice.
The standardization trials wll! be>
completed by October 8, and the
Is expected to return to its home por'
by November 1. Later the fleet is to
go to Mare island for docking and a
thorough overhauling.
TRAIN HITB AUTO; 2 K'LLED
PIQUA, Ohio, Sept. 80.—Two per
eons were killed and three Injured, on a
of them probably fatally, • when an
automobile in .which they were rirlin
was struck by a Cincinnati, Hamllto:i
& Dayton railroad train here la«t
"J&bM? ANDERSON. 23 y»a .
° EDWARD PIPER, 28 yean tin,
Sydney. Ohio. ____^
3