Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-16
HARRIS and CUNNINGHAM.
THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM THOR
QUICKLY INVESTIGATED.
Of1cer Harris Tells His Own story-The
Men Follow the Chiefs In
structiOns.

Police Court yesterday morning the Police
Commissioners resumed the investigation
into the alleged misconduct of officers Har-
ris and Cunningham.
The defense continued their testimony
by calling to the stand Marie Morette, the
woman called "Blondinette" She testi-
fed that she never had intimate relations
with either Harris or Cunningham, or that
she had ever given them money at any
time or under any circumstances. She
was treated in the same strict manner as
the other women had been. She had testi-
fed against Langlois, and on the night of
the day of his conviction her sister, "Bru-
nette," and another girl went to Franks
saloon and had several drinks. She as
serted positively that neither of the accused
officers were present in the saloon. The
wife of Langlois swore that day that she
would get even on witness and her sister.
Mr.. Jones questioned the witness in re-
gard to the visit of officers Harris and Har-
vev to her sisters house, ard she said the
officers had called on her for the purpose
of investigating the attempt of a man to
pass bogus $50 piece on her. While in
the house she asked the officers to have q
drink. Harvey remarked that he would
have whisky in his. Witness suggested
that they drink a bottle of wine, to which
there was no objection. Harris picked up
her purse, which she swore positively con-
tanned but So 80. Harris slso handled a
purse belonging to her sister, which con-
tanned 500. When she returned with the
wine her purse, with all the money in it.
was IN the same position as when she left
1t. Officer Harris counted out the money
in her sisters purse, to show the latter that
it was all there. After the wine was dis.
posed of the officers left. The witness
swore that neither at that time nor at any
other did she offer to give Harris any
money whatsoever.
She was not questioned by the prosecu-
ton.
The Eext witness was officer Harris. He
testified that previous to joining the police
force he was spike-maker in the railroad
shops. He had been patroling the uptown
beats for the past two months. He had
never asked anyone on his beat for money,
and had never received dollar, but had
been offered money, which he refused. He
denied stoutly having been intimate with
"Blondinette." He had endeavored to
strictly enforce the ordinance governing
this class of women. With officer Crump
e.
where he found Bailey smoking opium,
and ordered him to leave town. The next
time he saw Bailey was one night when an
Italian was stabbed in an alley, and he had
volunteered to accompany the officer in the
search for the knife-wielder. Harris ad-
mired Bailey's courage on this occasion,
and for the assistance he rendered he did not
insist on Bailey leaving town. He never
gave the officera cent nor promised that he
= 4.
son paid him money to allow Bailey to re-
main in the city. Lizzie Belmont entertained
ill-feeling against him because, at the d.
rection of Chief Lee he had forced her
lover, Jackson, to leave town. He had
sworn to the complaint charging Langlois
with vagrancy, and because he did so he
had heard that Langlois' wife and other
women made threats that they would get
even. At the direction of the Chief, officer
Cunningham and himself ordered Madame
CASTOR to leave town. When Harris saw
her again she had taken legal advice, and
would not leave. The officer reported this
to the Chief, and the latter directed that
notes be made of this house, so that when
her arrest followed a good case could be
made. The officer said he had never made
any overtures fo- money to this woman.
Harris next related what took place at
Brunette's" house when officer Harvey
was with him. While they were walking
away from the house Harvey said to Har-
ris that he had to stand his landlady off for
room rent. He also said that he had not
money enough to get a shave. Harris
then gave him 81 80. The latter denied
having remarked to Harvey at the time
that it was an easy way to make s. 80 and
a bottle Iof wine. The officer next told
the Commissioners that in last August he
sold his time for five months. During the
fair he won $500 on the races. Since that
time he has always had money. He had
never said to his wife that be would rather
be on the down town beat because of the
money that could be made. The officer
said that James Barron was one of the par
ties who instigsted these charges against
him. The first that the officer had heard
that Harvey would testify as be did was in
the room adjoining the Courtroom last
Wednesday. Harvey was then told by the
women "Blondette" and Brunette that
he would be testifying to a lie. Harris
then reminded Harvey of the fact that the
latter had often said to him that there was
nothing in the charges, and also that he
would not believe an L-street woman on
oath.
City Attorney Church had but few ques-
tons to ask, which did not shake the
officers testimony.
a
o'clock.
at the afternoon session the defense
called Madame CASTOR. Witness, in reply
to question, said she had money depos-
tied in d. o. Mills bank in her real name,
as Lizzie Baudin.
Officer Crump testified that one after
noon officer Harris told him he wanted to
see Frank Bailey, as he believed there was
opium smoking going on there. Harris
told Bailey to come down stairs, where he
told him the Chief had ordered that all of
his kind must be driven out of town.
Bailey said he was sick and couldn't live
in San Francisco, and wanted to see the
Chief Harris then told him ne might see
the Chief about it. There was no arrest
made, and nothing was said of money, one
way or another.
To Mayor Gregory witness said that
neither Harris nor himself was on duty at
that time, and the place where Bailey
lived was not on the beat of either.
The Mayor said he would endeavor to
have an explanation of such an act as
officers going of their beats for such pur
poses, and especially when not on duty.
To Mr.. Jones witness said he considered
il his duty as an officer to investigate any
alleged infraction of the law at all times
and in all places, regardless of the limits OF
his beat or whether or not he was on duty
at the time.
The Mayor called officer Agner and
asked him If he had been consulted al any
time by other officers relative to Bailey or
other persons on his beat. Agner replied
that Harris had spoken to him about some
opium fiends in the Donovan building, but
was not informed by Harris or other officers
of the intended visit to Bailey. He generally
confined himself TO his own beat, unless
specially directed to do otherwise.
Chief Lee remarked that he had in
structed all officers to familiarize themselves
with the hRunts of Migrants, thieves and
opium fiends at any and all times. As a
matter of fact, the officers are on duty, in
one sense, at all times.
The Mayor severely criticised the acts of