The morning call., 1891-11-01
HE DECLINED
! TO TESTIFY.
Senator w. H. Williams in the
Grand Jury's Clutch.
The Alleged Organizer Of the Combine"
Naturally Enough Refused to Be Made
a Witness Against Himself

There was another somewhat sensational leak
age from the Grand Jury room yesterday m Orn-
Ing, and the result Is Likely TO be State Senator.
locked UP in the County Jail
II was known that. Senator W. II. Williams
was before the jury OH Friday. but just what
particular parcel of corruption he was questioned
about was not definitely known. lie did not re-
main long IN the iury-room, and the Inference
was that either the matt'r about which he was
questioned was not OF much importance or else
want OF lime to do 1t full justice suggested a
posiponement OF the investigation TILL a later
dale.
Now the truth. comes our. Early yesterday
forenoon Grand Juror jeremiah Lynch was
noticed bobbing around the City Hail as If very
much in earnest about something. lie WAS first
In The Distinct Attorneys office, then In Judge
Wailace's court-fO ON; out and IN Two or three
times. and a part OF the lime accompanied by
District Attorney Barnes. IL was evident that
something Important was ON foot, and few
minutes latter there was no doubt about 1t.
JUROR LYNCH's AFFIDAVIT.
Mr.. Lynch, as Chairman OF tle Committee on
Legislative Abuses had made the following aff-
davl t. which District Attorney Barnes read to
Judge Wallace:
am n citizen OF the United States and of the
State OF California, above the age of twenty-one
years, aud am member OF the Grand Jury OF this
city aud county. William II. Williams is a witness
Ia and found in this State The Grand Jury being
In session and holding an Investigation OF certaln
matters then before It for investigation did direct
that a subpoena issue comm ndnG hun, the said
Williams to attend as Witness before them at
their Grand jury room In the new City Hall, In said
city and county, On the Both OF October, A. D. 1891
at the hour of 3 O'Clock p. NJ, and thereupon the
District Attorney OF this city aud county did sign
and issue asubpena In due form Of law subscribed
by said District Attorney ana sealed with the seal
of the Superior Court o; the City and County of
San Francisco, commanding him, the said Williams
TO be and appear before the said Grand Jury at
their Grand Jury rooms- on the 3Oth day OF octo:
DER. A. 1891. At tho h0ur OF 5 NJ, witness
in an investigation there pending. :.
That SAID subpoena was dervered to Robert
Hogan, then and there a peace officer of the said
city and county OF san Francisco, who served the
said Williams by showing him, the said illiams
Jams copy thereof. That said Williams did APP
pear before said Grand Jury upon said Both day Of
october lS9l. at the hour or 3 O'Clock r. M as
commanded 3by said subpepa n witness In an IN
vestigatiom there pending That said Williams was
thereupon duly sworn as witness in said investI,
CATION then pending by barclay Henley, the Fore
minister oaths to witnesses appearing before the
said Grand Jury; that said Williams was then
asked the following questions:
Q-Did you receive any money for your vote on
the BILL known as Senate Bill No. 6?
A. decline TO answer on the ground that re-
thereiOre:ask that said William H. Williams be
Tor contempt OF court in refusing to answer said
question JEREMIAH LYNcH
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ) LIST day
WILLIAM I. WALLACE Judge Superior Court.
AN ATTACHMENT ISSUED.
On the District Attorneys motion the Judge
ordered that a writ OF attachment issue for the
arrest Of William II. Williams, returnabe to.
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock, aud the bail was
liked at S15o0
Accoi ding to the story told by George Taylor,
during the trial OF his suit against the booders
Williams wis the originator of the .combnep
composed OF tweniy-four. The matter was sug.
gested 10 Fayt0r, and at Williams request he
FayloD took HIM to Dan Burns, and 1t was ar
ranged that the nine San Francisco Senator's
who had agreed TO vote together, should do so
whenever Burns told them the money for their
votes had been paid. These were the charter
members OF the original combine. Subsequently
seven Interior Senators joined Il nIne making
sixteen, aud after that the sixteen were joined
by the eight who had agreed TO permit Burns to
do business" for them. When The Grand Jury
undertook to question Williams about the mat
ter he caused a blockade at once by rausng to
answer questions.
Senate bill No. @. referred to by Mr.. Lynch,
was ibe BILL 10 reassess The railroads OF the State
Tor delinquent taxes. According 10 the last no.
port OF the State Controller, the Southern Pa
cine and Its leased lines w,re delinquent :ar
State aud county taxes to the amount OF 81. 7OO.-
o00 The bill authorized tho State Board OF
Equalization to reassess the corporations aud