The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-01
TIE PRISON CONSPIRACY.
Preliminary Examination Of S. ". Sllli-
van Postponed.

SAN RAFAEL. Sept. 3O.-The preliminary
examination Of S. w. Sullivan, charged
with carrying and sending revolvers and
cartridges into San Quentin with intent to
aid prisoners in conspiracy to escape, was
this morning postponed to next Monday
morning at o'clock. Immediately after
being lodged in Jail Sullivan wrote tc At
torney J. n. E. Wilson, asking him to take
his case. No answer was received until
this morning, when Wilson appeared in
person and stated that he had been re-
tanned by the Board Of Prison Directors for
the prosecution in the same case. On this
showing the case was laid over.
This afternoon a press correspondent
went to the Sheriff's Office to endeavor to
obtain an interview with Sullivan. Sheriff
Healy was in the Office and to him was
stated the object OF the visit The Sheriff
said that it would be impossible to obtain
an interview with Sullivan. as he had re-
Ieatedly refused to see any person connect
ed with the newspapers. After persistent
efforts and persuasive language the Sheriff
took the keys to the Jail, and, with the re-
marks, don't suppose 1t will do you any
good" led the way to the cell in which Sui
ivan is confined. Sullivan was introduced
to the reporter and several interrogations
were made to him in regard TO the charge
against him and the defense he would make,
but, as Sheriff Healy had stated, 1t was
without avail.
sullivan, 1 understood YOU had made
oVertures to Attorney Wilson to conduct
your case, and now understand that he has
been retained to prosecute you. Can you
give any reason for such action?" queried
the reporter,
" l cannot. / made application to him be-
fore he was retained by the Board of Di-
rectOrS, and this morning he called upon me
and told me that he could not take my case,
as the prison Directors had retained him to
prosecute my case and all cases of like
nature"
1T has been reported that he once con-
Quoted case in which you were interested.
and it proved unsatisfactory to him. Do
you think that may have had anything to
do with his not defending your"
At this iuncture Sullivan grew more COM
nun icative aud gave the following account:
"When / was arrested and first thought of
having to employ an attorney. Mr.. Wilson
first came to my mind. L considered that he
owed me favor, and in fact money. /
sent for him and received no reply until he
called on me this morning, and said he had
been retained for the prosecution. In
regard to his having done any work for me
that was improbable to him | cannot see
it in that light. In 1886 or thereabouts |
wanted to make application for pardon
for my brother l consulted Mr.. Wilson
duu pdlU nun RSVO III Cdoll W tdhb Lu6 Ildt-
ter in hand, and agreed to pay him $500
more in case he was successful. He was TO
refund me all the money paid il he was not
successful Shortly after l met him re-
ceiVed letter from him asking me to get
the services Of District Attorney Terry of
Fresno to assist me in getting petition for
pardon on account of Terry being
District Attorney he would take
no part in the matter 4esI procured
the services of Attorney Edwards
and secured petition signed by nine of the
iurymen, Judges Campbell and Harris of
The Superior Court and Prosecuting At
torneys Terry, Grady and Campbell and
many other prominent men in Fresno Coun-
ty. sent the petition to Wilson who took 1t
to Sacramento. Wilson wrote me that sue
cess was assured. After the petition had
been on file several months protest was
filed against it, Wilson notified me Of the
protest, saying that it was seventeen or
eighteen feet long, and that it would be ut
terly useless to press matters further These
were my only relations with Mr. Wilson,
and fail to see where they have proven
improbable to him." Further questioning
would not elicit anything further.