Sacramento Daily Record Union

THE PLOT THICKENS.

W. P. Harlow Swears to a Complaint Against Grove L. Johnson.

Yesterday was the day set for the investigation, by the Police Commission, of the charges brought by Hon. Grove L. Johnson against officer Stafford, growing out of the former's arrest by the latter at the Third Precinct polls on the day of the Republican primary election for an alleged disturbance of the peace.

The Commission met in the morning. Policeman Stafford was present, and said he desired the hearing continued for a week, as his attorney was out of the city. Accordingly, the Board set the investigation for next Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock.

In the meantime W. P. Harlow—at whose instance Mr. Johnson was arrested on election day—had caused a complaint to be filed against Mr. Johnson, charging him with disturbing the peace on that occasion.

Learning that this had been done, Mr. Johnson presented himself in the Police Court, just after the Police Commission adjourned, to answer the charge. He was accompanied by his counsel, C. T. Jones, who said they had been informed that a warrant was out for Mr. Johnson's arrest.

Mr. Jones then reviewed the proceedings had at the time the former case was called, and which resulted in Mr. Johnson's discharge for want of prosecution. He said Mr. Johnson had lived here many years, where his character as a lawyer and citizen were well known, and that he was prepared to meet the charge which had now been made. Mr. Harlow also lived in this city, and if he had any ground for complaint against Mr. Johnson, there had been ample time and opportunity for him to have had the matter investigated. But he had brought this charge just at a time when the Police Commissioners were about to investigate the matter of Mr. Johnson's arrest and the conduct of officer Stafford in connection therewith. If the first arrest was an injustice to Mr. Johnson, this latter action was ten times more so—it was trifling with justice. The defendant had done nothing he was ashamed of, and desired a full investigation of the affair.

Mr. Johnson then entered a plea of not guilty, waived a jury, and the hearing was set for Saturday next.