The morning call., 1890-09-05
BUCKLEY'S /" PETE"
The Corrupt and COrrupting
Pagan Escapes the Law.
Story Of the Boss Brigauds, in Which Muir
der, Perjury and Bribery Are Leading
Features - AL for Coin.

The third trial of the notorious Little
Pete" with whose name is so intimately as
sociated that of Christopher A. Buckley, was
completed yesterday afternoon and given TO
the jury about O'Clock.
His appearance before the public this time
has caused little interest or comment, and it
seems to have been partially forgotten that
when he first cropped up. about four years
ago, the developments in connection with his
case revealed one of the most corrupt admin
istrations ever known in municipal govern
ment
A few of the facts dragged from their OBJ
security and presented agaiu to the public
gaze may prove of service just now, when
Buckley is assuming to be so very active in
nominating State and municipal tickets for
his wing of the Democratic party.
MURDER MOST FOUL.
Little Pete" first came into public no
tice in connection with the celebrated Lee
Chuck murder case. Pete, or Fong Ching.
AS he is Familiarity known among China
men, represented certain faction OF the
Chinese element that was bitterly antason-
istic to another element represented by Vie
Yeun. Lee Chuck was Pete'S body-suaru.
One night in September, 1885, loud, ring,
ing shot was heard in the quiet OF Spoftord
alley. and in another instant the lifeless
body of Vie 1eun was found by Two ponce
men stretched out upon the cobble-stone
pavement Chuck was apprehended, ar
rested, tried, convicted and sentenced to be
hanged; his case appealed TO the supreme
Court, the Judgment sustained, and he was
finally executed in the summer OF 1855
When Lee Chuck was on trial every posi-
BILE effort was made by his principal, Lit
tie Pete" to secure his acquittal, and the
means employed was to bride the witnesses.
Pete by the way, had already acquired con-
siderable deXterity In this sort oil WORK In
deed he had become well-known among the
corrupt influences of the Police Courts as
successful Police Court manipulation. partle-
ularly in Chinese cases. and many were his
feilow-countrymen who escaped punish
ment through his influence. But he over
reached himself in the Lee Chuck case.
TRAP FOR THE BRIBER
The two policemen. Martin aud Love, who
were the only two dangerous witnesses
against Chuck, set a trap for him into
Which he fell ultimately, though not readily.
They suggested to him the adVlsabllty OF
paying well for their testimony, and alter
some persuasion he finally ofeTed them
small sum of money. The sum was not
large enough to suit them, and they offered
their testimony in Chuck S behalf for $1,000.
This sum was agreed npop, although never
paid. Pete says, however, that he did pay
both policemen some $500 or $500 altogether.
After Chucks conviction Pete was ar
rested, and then commenced the active
workings of the corrupt machine, as least SO
far as the public had knowledge, in which
Buckley and Pete had for a long time been
such active factors.
About this time the now famous Grand
Jury, of which Stuart MenZleS was foreman,
was in session. The circumstances sur
rounding Chuck's case had been brought to
its attention and we're being closely watched,
particularly as it was known that during
Chuck's trial every thing that money and IN
huence could do was being jointly brought
to bear by Buckley and Pete to secure his
acquittal.
HIS BOAST.
The next stage in the case was Little
Pete's" trial. While in prison he openly
Toasted that he would never be convicted.
He had too much pull" He was right, at
least so far as the first trial was concerned,
for the jury disagreed.
All this time the pull was at WORK.
The second trial resulted more disastrouSy
for Pete. The pull had become fright
ened, one of the gang Skipping" to
Chicago, and the jury came in with con-
yiction.
1t was terrible blow to the young GRIM
inal, and out of his dismay he hardly knew
which way to turn. Finally in fit Of des-
peration he revealed the secrets OF the
machine. He said that Buckley had thrown
him in hole and he was determined to get
fed that Pete would talk. Pete did talk:
He told where the records could be found
that would explain the whole situation.
They were at his headquarters on Clay
street just above keany. MIR. MenZles
went there with an officer and raided the
place. The records were found and seized and
then followed one of the most exciting
scenes ever known in that r0tt0n concern,
the Buckley ring. The alarm was instantly
sounded all along the Buckley line and CON
sternaiion prevailed In his camp. Ii those
records became public Buckley's stronghold
must crumble, aud prison cells would open
for the whole gang The records must be
secured at any cOst-and they were.
SECURED THEY WERE.
H. h Lowenthal was quickly summoned,
and by the aid of repleyin nearly all the
| documents were taken from MenZieS and
| put in the Sheriff's possession. The Sheriff
| then was William McMann. Some OF the
| more important documents Menzies had Sc
| GREETED and refused to surrender. He took
them straight to the Grand Jury room. and
there they became part OF the Grand Jury
| records.
| But the Grand Jury had still better
| clew, so it supposed, for Pete" himself had
made up his mind, as punishment to Buck
| ley for throwing off on him, to 90 before
that body and tell the truth.
| Buckley and his cohorts were informed of
| Pete's determination. Here was another
| fearful dilemma that must be met. That
| heather must never be allowed to go before
that body. What was to be done?
Pete was sentenced on Saturday. On
| Monday he was to tell his story to the
Grand Jury-but that Monday never came.
| On Sunday Buckley's Sheriff. McMann.
! shipped Pete to Folsom.
BUCKLEY'S GUARD.
Not to be defeated, Nj. MenZes got an
| order from Judge Coffey summoDing Pete
from Folsom to appear before the Grand
Jury. A Deputy Sheriff went after him,
and on the same train both ways was
Lyman |. Mowry, who had been Pete's
| friend throughout and who had advised
him to tell his story to the Grand Jury. Mr..
Muwry hoped to get chance to speak to
Little Pete" and urge him not TO change
his mind. He failed. No one was allowed
to go near Pete except the Deputy SheIiffs
and some of Buckley's gang. When he got
back 10 this city and was taken before the
| Grand Jury he was as dumb as a clam. Not
word could be squeezed out of him.
That was the end of the whole case, so far
as the Grand Jury was concerned. The eX-
posures and general cleaning out Of a gang
| of corrupt politicians and plunderers, that
| promised SO much and was so anxiousy
looked for by the public, was completely
| frustrated by Buckley and his associates.
This is in brief the written history of one
| of the most exciting events in the later an
nails of San Francisco. Now, the unwritten
| history.
| TWO TRIALS
| Lee Chuck was tried before Judge Toohy
and convicted. Robert Ferral conducted
the prosecution, and was paid by the friends
| of Vie Yeun. He then dropped out of the
case and the Vie Yeun faction has never
| since taken any interest in it,
Little Pete" was also tried before Judge
/ Toohy. After the conviction Pete said he
had paid Buckley $4,000 to get all the par
ties connected with the Vie Yeun murder
acquitted. Buckley, he said. undertook the
contract for that price, Forty-ive hundred
dollars of it was to pay for his own Pete's)
share in the case on the charge OF bribery.
Judge Toohy and Buckley had serious
| falling out about the time Little Pete" was
| convicted.
MORE BLOODY THREATS.
When Lyman Mowry went to Folsom to
accompany Little Pete" back to this city
and see that he went before the Grand Jury
with an unchanged determination to tell the
truth, the Deputy Sheriff detailed to bring
Pete back refused to let Mr.. Mowry speak
to HIM, and told him (Mowry) that If he
went near Pete or attempted to speak a