The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-28
CLERK MAXWELL.
Evidence Tending to Show a Con.
spiracy Against Him.
The Charge That He Received Brides Is Not
sustained-A Request That the Corpora
tion-Yard Books Be Exported.

At a special meeting of the Board of
Fire Commissioners yesterday afternoon the
trial Of Clerk George Maxwell, charged with
having received brides while clerk in the
corporation yard, was concluded.
All the evidence for the department hav-
ing been submitted, Maxwell, who con-
Quoted his own case, called in his defense
A. j. Clunie, attorney for Charles Z. Broad,
clerk OF the corporation yard. whose trial
on charge Of neglect of duty is pending.
Ciune was asked for any document in his
possession to show that Maxwell had ever
received a percentage on the purchase of
department supplies. He failed to produce
any papers and was asked, did you ever
have any such document?"
II decline 10 answer on the ground that l
am an attorney, and such Information as l
possess is privileged After Breads case is
over l will give any information l may
have. l believe that Maxwell never received
any commissions on purchases, but it is my
opinion that there are others in the depart
ment who have"
Broad was also called as a witness, but
refused to answer questions in reference to
any document tending TO show that Max
well had received a percentage.
BROAD DECLINES TO ANSWER.
| possession was asked by Maxwell
Decline TO answer"
Did you ever see such a document2"
Decline to answer"
ibid you ever induce any one to sign such
document?"
decline to answer"
AT the corporation yard last Thursday,
! did you induce r. s. SimpeOn 10 sign doc
ument TO show that had received a per-
| Centage%
decline to answer"
ibid you not state to me last Friday that
there was document against me?"
! decline 10 answer"
ibid you not get this document mp for the
purpose Of influencing. your case?'
decline TO answer"
James NJ. Mcdonald who was Chairman
Of the Supervsorial Fire Depart neut Com
mlttee during the time that Maxwell was
clerk OF the corporation yard, told how he
had purchased supplies at houses where he
could secure the best terms. He had never
heard rumOTs that any one received a COM
mission on these purchases.
Eleven merchants who supplied materials
to the departments testified that they had
never paid Maxwell or any one else con-
nected with the Fire Department any COM
MISSION on sales. These witnesses were
/ W. r. Bowers, w. T. 7. SchenCk, j. w.
/ GirvIn, Jacob Levi, James GifOy, L. Jolly,
/ [. 1. Hamilton. NJ. 5. Norton, j. NJ. Wool
sen and (. j. \. Featherstone
SIMPSON FURNISHES A CLEw.
r. W. Simpson, who furnished broOms,
brushes and willOw-ware to the department
from April to December, 1888. during the
time Maxwell was clerk at the corporation
yard, depOsed that he had never paid any
commissions. No member OF the depart
ment had ever intimated that percen lage
was desired, and he had never signed con-
tract agreeing to pay percentage.
DO yOu know OF the existence of such q
{ Er0 SSI
Il have heard that my son was induced to
! sign an agreement while under the inhu-
ence Of liquor. l understand that this con-
tract was made out and signed last Thurs
day night"
Attorney Clunie demanded that Simpson
be compelled to produce his books for
period of three years back.
There was mild sensation when r. S.
Simpson, SOD OF the previous witness, was
called.
Did you ever sign paper or an agree
ment 10 pay me 10 per cent commissions on
purchases from your firm" asked Max
well.
Yes; Broad wrote out something with
pencil and asked nae to copy II. Broad
came to tie store at 319 Sacramento street
last Thursday, about 1880 o'clock. and told
me TO come TO the corporation yard at
O'Clock he insisted that | should 90 to the
yard and look at supplies. When / went TO
tie yard at ESQ O'clock ne showed me
paper written in pencil that was To copy.
He told me that / was tn sign the paper IN
order TO get contract.
WHAT BROAD THEN SAID.
"BrOad told me thatin order to get the con-
tract was to sign paper agreeing 10 give
Maxwell 10 per cent Of the amount of the
purchases. had been drinking consider
ably and so | COPIED tho paper in ink. l
don't remember the contents Of the paper
because / was all mixed up. II did state
in the document that l had paid a COM
mission to Maxwell il was an untTutn."
simpson Sr. was recalled and said that
since his son had the measles the young
man has been "a little off. q"
Samuel Bainey, Superintendent of En-
gines, was recalled and said that Clunie
told him on Wednesday about the existence
( OF document to show that Maxwell had
! received commissions.
Maxwell said it was time that Clune and
/ Broad were compelled TO produce any dOcu-
ments they might have in their possession.
| Iney had trumped up A document for the
| purpose of blackmailing him.
well, interrupted Clunie, with warmth,
| i have documents IN my possession which
| were signed over month ago. We propose
! to bring young Simpson into the Police
! Court to test the accuracy of his assertions
| There are two papers and they we're signed
/ month apart. Let's go to the bottom of
| this affair. ] don't think Maxwell ever re-
| celyed any percentages, but | don't propose
| to be bulldoZed by any forced marches"
BROAD SUSPENDED.
At the suggestion OF Schmitt Broad was
| suspended until his trial has been con-
| cuded. Assistant Superintendent Riley was
| instructed to take charge Of the corporation
yard during BrOad's suspension, and it was
| agreed to resume the Broad trial on Monday
| afternoon.
Upon motion Of Schmtt, it was further
| decided TO request the Finance Committee
| of the Board of Supervisors to have the
books at the corporation yard examined by
| an expert.