The record-union., 1891-03-11
THE POLICE SCANDAL.
Some More Testimony Heard by the
Assembly Committee.

HSSeiiiDly OOnlmitIee,
Deputy Librarian Leake's Statement
Two Indignant Car-Drivers-
DIlatory Witnesses.
The morning session of the Committee
of Investigation on the Eranafaer charges
against Assemblyman Bruner, which
was TO be held at 8 o'clock A. NJ, did not
amount to much. Chairman Bledsoe was
in his seat with commendable punctu-
ality, but it was not until half-past be-
fore quorum Of four was obtained.
Fremont Older, the Sacramento CORE
spondent of the San Francisco Post, was
sworn.
To the question, 'Did you have an in
terview with Mr.. Bruner last Thursday"
he replied, "Yes. / received a telegram
about 10 o'clock that morning from the
editor of the Post that there was an eX-
pose in the Examiner of that morning ac-
cusing Bruner of selling position. on the
San Francisco police force, and with or
Mr. Bruner and soon saw him coming up
TO the Capitol with his brother. [ went
to meet them, Mr.. Melvin of the Oakland
Tribune being with me. / showed Mr..
Bruner the dispatch and asked him if it
was true. He hesitated and then said
1t is absolutely false | asked him If
he had written any letter recommending
any one to such position? Yes, did,
at the instance of city oflicial.' ] asked
him how about that certified check for
$500? That is false. / never received
nor handled a check for $780, | asked
him who the man was to whom he had
given the letter, and he said he would
tell me later'
On motion of Mr.. Gould, and on ac-
count of the continued absence OF several
members of the committee, tie commit
Tee adjourned till 7:30 p. NJ.
Evening session.
When the committee met again in the
evening the first witness called was J. X.
Beede, manager OF the Postal Telegraph
Company, who testified concerning GER
tain kilograms passing between Dick
Belau and either Daniel or Louis Jones.
He said he could find no record of any
such dispatches.
REPORTER SrOWELL.
f. w. Stowell, correspondent of the
Altd was called, and testified that on last
Thursday he spoke to Mr.. Bruner con-
cerning the Examiner charges, and he
said he did not wish to make any state
ment until he made it to the Assembly.
Witness spoke to him again in the after
noon, and he made a similar reply, add
ing that he could fully vindicate himself.
CONCERNING TELEGRAMs.
Joseph Sempf, manager for the West
ern Union Telegraph Company in Sacra-
mento, was asked by Chairman Bledsoe
if any kilograms had passed over his
lines between the 2Sth OF February and
last Thursday, signed by either Dick
Belau or Daniel or Louis Jones.
Senator Carpenter here, appeared and
stated that he was attorney for the West
ern Union Company, and by instructions
received frem New York, he (Carpenter)
was there to instruct the witness not to
answer drag-net questions, but only those
which might designate particular dis
patches, giving the dates and character
thereof. The courts had decided how en-
ployes of the Western Union Company
should testify concerning its bushes, and
they should rely upon their rights.
Witness Sempf was then excused until
the next meeting of the committee.
ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.
NJ. McMullen, correspondent of the
CttIi, testified that he called upon Mr..
Bruner on last Thursday evening and
asked him concerning the charges against
him. Mr.. Bruner replied that he should
make his statement to the Assembly, and
did not think it proper to say anything
then. He said he would fully vindicate
himself.
TESTIMONY OF ]. A. SHEEHAN.
J. A. 'Sheehan, reporter on the Sacra-
mento Bee, testified that he interviewed
Mr.. Bruner on Thursday afternoon last.
He said the charges against him were
false, but further than that he believed it
proper to first make his statement to the
l.. 4. I
cerned him as member OF that body.
CAR-DRIvER BARBEE.
3. w. Barbee, of San Francisco, a car
driver, testified that men on the Mission
street road had been joking one another
about getting on the police force ever
since the bill to increase the number of
officers was introduced. A Call reporter
was on his car one day and told him his
name was mentioned in connection with
efforts to secure places on the force, but
that he understood it was all Joke. Wit
ness saw friend named Franklin and
asked him what he thought of it, and he
replied that it was dirty trick. They
went down to the Examiner office that
evening, and, after waiting long time,
Mr.. Mackey presented himself and prom
ised that the publication should be cor
rected. No such retraction was published,
however, and witness wrote to Mr.. Bru-
ner-whOm he had never before heard of
informing him of what had occurred.
Witness said he had joked with Moran
three or four days ago about getting on
the force.
Chairman Bledsoe asked him how his
attention became attracted to the police
bill, and he said he had read of it in
the reports Of the proceedings of the
Legislature.
Mr.. Bruner here produced the letter he
received from Barbee, and the witness
, identified it. The latter stated that the
report in the Examiner that the writer
had been approached with proposition
to buy place on the police force, was
f.lsehood-that nothing of the kind had
ever occurred, and he thought it only
Justice to Mr.. Bruner that he should
know it.
CAR-DRIvER FRANKLIN.
Joseph Franklin, another driver on the
same road. testified that he had never
been approached to purchase place on
the police force, as stated in the Examiner
Mr.. Barbee had spoken to him about the
publication, and they agreed that it was
not right that their names should have
been used; so they went to the Examiner
office and demanded retraction. None
being made he Joined Mr.. Barbee in
writing 20 Mr.. Bruner.
Witness said he never heard Mr..
Burners name mentioned in connection
with the matter until he saw the report
in the ECdHtiRef. Jones had never talked
with witness about getting on the police
force, but had heard incidentally that
aones and one Comisky claimed to have
some influence in that direction. Some
ten days ago driver Cox said jokingly
that II witness wanted TO get on the force
he had better go see Comisky.
Witness said he had never taken any
interest in the police matter, and was