The License Collector Caught in His Own Trap

License Catcher E. W. Bates told the police commissioners last night all about his attempt to collect money from Joe Roadhouse, S. J. Parker and Mrs. Scullin. He tried to excuse himself by saying that he took the money for License Collector Taylor, but became so entangled in a net of his own creation that he could not get out. Immediately after the commissioners cut off his official head, Chief Rogers arrested him on the charge of obtaining money under false pretenses.

Bates did not want to proceed with the examination when the commissioners met, saying there was an absence of witnesses. After a few minutes' consideration, however, he withdrew his application.

Joe Roadhouse was the first witness, and in a few pointed words told how Bates came to him on July 16 and said that License Collector Taylor had decided that, as the resorts on the lake were not paying a license, they ought to put up a nominal sum for the privilege of running during the summer. Bates had been appointed to collect the money and represented that he was a deputy under Taylor. Roadhouse paid Bates $10 in cash, and on another day $10 more. Last Monday Bates came to him and said he was in trouble, and that if Roadhouse would deny having given him money he would pay it back. Roadhouse said he couldn't, as he had made a statement.

S. J. Parker said that on the morning of July 4 Bates told him he was deputy license collector, and on repeating the story about Roadhouse got $20 in gold. Again on July 8 Bates said that the Fourth must be a good day and wanted a little more for the campaign fund. Parker did not pay, pleading poor business. Last Monday Bates asked him to help him out of trouble. Parker refused, saying that Bates had got into it himself. On examination Bates tried to make it appear that he took the money for License Collector Taylor, and when Parker said Taylor had nothing to do with the matter, Bates asked whether Parker had not done business with Collector Ellicott and got along all right. Parker replied that no other man had ever approached him.

Mrs. Scullin testified that Bates came on Sunday evening, asked to see her privately, showed a star and said he was a deputy on the license question. Bates said the fee had to be settled before the season was settled, and that she would get credit. She said she had not the money, and though Bates insisted, he got none that day. He came next day, and after a long argument she gave him $5 in silver, believing that it was for the city. He said he would come again. After he had finished, Mrs. Scullin turned to Bates and said: "Now ain't that true?" Not a word of it, Bates let her go.

License Collector Taylor was asked whether he ever had any agreement with Bates about collecting money at Lake Washington for any purpose; whether he told Bates on the city hall steps: "My salary is low enough. I will accept it if the men are safe;" whether he was ever at the dog pound with Bates, but answered every question with an emphatic "No."

Bates then called Officer Brown, who said Bates introduced Capt. Taylor to him in Blackshaw's one day, but it was quite a distance from the pound. Officer F. E. Bryant said that he had seen Taylor at the corner of South Sixth and King streets in the latter part of June, but never at the dog pound.

Bates in his own behalf said that Roadhouse made the money proposition, and that he came back to the courthouse and told Capt. Taylor, who told him to take it if the men were all right. Capt. Taylor at that time said that his salary was low enough. He admitted taking the money from Roadhouse, Parker and Mrs. Scullin. He met Taylor at the pound and paid him. He paid Taylor $20 on a date he had forgotten and put $5 in Taylor's hand one day in shaking hands with him in front of the Tyee saloon.

On cross-examination Bates was in a troubled plight, owing to his own statements before Chief Rogers, the mayor and Mr. Parker. It came out that Bates first denied receiving any money from any one, then admitted taking something in an envelope from Roadhouse, but still insisted he did not take money from Parker, and Parker had. These admissions convinced the commissioners that Bates had lied, and they immediately removed him. Chief Rogers arrested Bates for obtaining money under false pretenses.

Yesterday afternoon Joe Roadhouse, Joseph Smith, William Lawrence, S. J. Parker, Mrs. Scullin, Mrs. Kate Tucker and Joseph Ruggles were arrested for selling liquor at the lake without licenses. The case against Mrs. Tucker was dismissed, and also that of Mrs. Scullin. Ruggles, who was arrested earlier in the day, pleaded guilty to selling liquor without a license. He was sentenced to pay a fine next Monday morning.