Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-07
SACRAMENTO GOSSIP.
Mr.. Bruner Explains Those
Charges of Bribery.
He Was Playing a Little Game
Himself.
An Examiner Reporter Placed in all
Awkward Position.
A Committee Of Seven Appointed to
Investigate the Case-Legisla-
tive Notes.
Associated Press Dispatches

made against him by San Francisco
morning paper, of yesterday. The SEN
ate adjourned till II O'Clock, and all the
senators were present. The house was
called to order at 10 O'Clock.
Mr.. Bruner arose and referred to the
article in question, and said "It is
not the first time l have been falsely
sccused. I see men here in the lobby
who have accused me OF nearly every
crime known, but, Notwithstanding, |
have been returned here by my friends"
Mr.. Bruner then referred to the
charge made against him in Sacramento
at the time he was threatened with an
indictment by the grand jury; then
went on to deal with the bill which was
to increase the police forces of various
cities. He said II did not solicit one
vote for the bill. My only object
in passing it, was that Sacramento
might have an increased number.
of policemen. tits charged that ! was
to have certain positions on the force in
San Francisco for my interest in the
bill. 1t is absolutely false. 1 do not
KNOW Any VI Iuc pOilCO SolnLuAeciOiO1S, y,
and no such promise has ever been
made. Andrew Lawrence, a reporter Of
the Examiner, has undertaken to black
mail me on the floor OF this house in the
interest of certain measures. Lawrence
came to me on Saturday last, and asked
me if had agreed to use my influence to
get men on the police force in San Fran
cisco. told him had promised to ex-
ha iv,{o nf n fr1and
On Monday Belan met me in the ser-
geant-at-arms' room, and wanted my in
fuence to get men on the police force,
stating that there was money in IT. 1
declined to have anything to do with it,
and walked into the assembly cham
ber."
Bruner then described the scene in
the library. He declared !, that State
Printer johnson and other witnesses
were present with him for the purpose
of exposing the plot that had been
formed against him. The money that
he took he received for the very purpose
of exposing the plot. He went straight
to the state printer, gave the money to
him, and told him to keep it for evi-
dence.
Bruner then said he had witnesses
whom he wished to bring before the as
sembly. One of them was Francis P.
Bull, a San Francisco attorney. Mr..
Bull was then sworn.
Bull said he was here advocating the
Justice of the claim of Peter Connolly.
II have talked with nearly all the mem
bers," he said, "about the Justice of this
claim, and they have nearly all expressed
themselves in favor of it. / have not Of
fered one cent, contingent or otherwise,
to any one. Mrs. Himmelman and
Peter Connolly are the only ones that
are interested in the claim. When [
went to Mrs. Himmelman, she said An
drew Lawrence, of the Examiner, had
been to her and solicited her to let him
take charge of the claim in legislation.
She said she told LawI ence that she did
not want to do that. Lawrence still
persisted in handling the claim, but she
said she preferred that l should take
charge of it,"
Mr.. Bull then introduced telegram
as evidence, from Lawrence to Mrs.
Himmelman. Mr.. Bull said: "Mr.
Lawrence came to my Office and asked
me what was going to do. said
Mr.. Lawrence, you will have to deal
with Mrs. Himmelman. After came
| to Sacramento he made several appoint
ments with me, but l only kept one of
them; that was at the Cafe Royal. We
met in room there. Lawrence said
he must have $4,000 or he would defer
the claim and burn me up. said that
was large sum of money. He said he
must have it. Later Lawrence met
Mrs. Himmelman, and rather than
stand the chances OF defeat, she offered
him $4,000. He said he would not take
it from her; hewould get it from Bull.
Later met Lawrence and he demanded
that he be fixed. He said: you must
fix the newspaper boys, and l am just
the boy for that do not think the
proprietors of the Examiner knew of
this"
At the conclusion OF Bulls testimony,
Bruner continued his speech, stating
that he was wholly innocent.
Bledsoe moved that special COM
mittee of seven be appointed to
thoroughly investigate the matter. The
motion was carried, and the matter
ended.
During the progress OF Burners re.
marks, there were frequent bursts OF
applause. After the matter ended.
Bruner explained clearly how the affair
occurred in the library. He said he was
with his brother, A. j. Johnson, state
printer, and another gentleman, when
Belau and Jones presented check to
him. He took it, gave them $3.50, and
holding up the check to his friends, ex-
claimed: 4 have got them!" He then
cashed the check and took the remain
ing $3.50 to his friend johnson, and de-
posted it with him to be kept as
evidence.
The engrossing topic tonight is the
Bruner investigation, which will begin
at z o'clock tomorrow evening. "A number
of witnesses were subpenaed tonight,
including State Printer Johnson, w. H..
Govan, city trustee of Sacramento, and
Assistant State Librarian Sam Leake,
who cashed the certificate Of deposit.
All these were present in the state h
brary when Bruner presented the certi-
.fcate to Leake. The latter heard Bruner
make the remark on presenting the GER
tifate. that he alluded to in his state