The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-11
ALL ABOUT THE SACK.
Corporal Nelson Reaches fer a
Shadow and Loses All.
Wild and Unsubstantiated Charges Against
the Police-Dismissal of the
Accuser.

Corporal 81. Nelson was dismissed last
night from the police force by the Commits
sioners for conduct unbecoming an officer.
The unbecoming conduct in the language
Of the complaint consisted in that Nelson,
pretending to have Information of cor
rupt practices in the department, proposed
TO William Z. Hall. clerk of the Chief of
Police, to conceal such information for a
consideration" The story starts on the
afternoon of Saturday. when Nelson called
Hall into the back office of the Chief.
Cleseted there Nelson started with q
declaration that he was ION to the whole
business" This leading to natural ir-
Quiry from Hall as to what he meant Mel
son proceeded &c say that he knew call about
the sack" that came into the Office every
week. and that he wanted q share in the
plumber or he would raise scandal in the
department. DenialS on Halls part and
questions as to what he knew and what he
meant only led to Nelson reiterating that he
had evidence for what he said and further
threats of the consequences TO Hall if he
held out.
PULLING DOWN OTHERS WITH HIM.
II shall drop myself" said Nelson, but
l will pull you down. pull down Sergeant
Spillane, the poor fellow, andIpull down Ser
geant Price and Others"
Are .you crazy?" asked Hall, who then
proceeded to press Nelson for details as TO
the size Of the sack.
Nelson's only reply was: 81 give yOufve
minutes and in gees my resignation" He
volunteered the further information that he
was $500 and more III debt and was deS per-
ate. and Hall again telling him that he
could not tell him about something which
did not exist he sat down and commenced
to write out his resignation.
Chief Crowley entered the Office while
Nelson was writing. and Hall Immediately
acquainted him with what had occurreds
Nelson appeared at the station as usual
the following day for duty, but Hall took
no notice of him. On the evening of the
same day Nelson called at the Russ House,
where Hall lives, and after waiting some
time to see him left the following note:
My address for the ensuing tweOty-four
hours will be 2671 Howard street, corner
Twenty-third, and at expiration of this time
something will fall"
a CONFERENCE WITH THE POWERS
President Hammond of the b ard
was told the facts by Chief Crowley
on Sunday, and requested that Mel
son be summoned to attend In the
otnce at noon on the next day. At the APP
pointed time Nelson came into the room
where Mr.. Hammond, Chief Crowley and
Hall were present. and depOsitiug Il paper
AZ 1lCub Ol CuleI SEONltN, turned ana
walked toward the door. The paper proved
TO be his resignation.
Chief Crowley asked him to stop, saying
lie wished to speak with him. Nelson turned
TO nam flercely and replying, mo, sir you
can't speak with me" left the room. In
lew minutes he returned and apologiZed
Tor his abruptneSs.
Asked for the facts, and promised that,
whoever it might strike, the matter should
he pushed to the bitter end, Nelson would
only reply that it would all come out at the
proper time, that ne had evidence and could
prove all lie had said.
MIR. Hammond then interposed, and told
Nelson that he would not accept his resig-
nation, and that he could not retire until lie
mad made good his charges of corruption.
MATTERS BROUGHT TO AN ISSUE.
TO bring the matter to an issue" the
President went on, Il viii charge you with
making corrupt proposition to Sergeant
HAL, ana Will summon you before the con-
mission at its next meeting
Before Nelson left the building Sergeant
Thomas w. Bethel attempted to- serve a
copy OF the charges, but Nelson refused to
accept II. Another attempt to serve the
charges was made later ut Nelson's home by
Ohicer Hoffman Nelson was at first said
not to be at home, but appeared as the
officer was leaving. Informed of Hoffman's
business, Nelson told hlm to make a return
on the document that he didn't give a -
for the Chief" and used other strong Ian
guage to express his contempt for the au-
thorIties and the proceedings.
This was the story as told by the sworn
dispositions of the witnesses last night, aud
the board by unanimous vote, took the
action already related. Nelson is said TO
have been very bright fellow and the best
clerk in the department..