The record-union., 1891-03-21

friend of Reeds, Bruner said that when
the proper time came, if he had any in
fiuence with the Police Commissioners.
he would assist Barnes to get the place.
Y ct there is no evidence that Bruner ever
really endeavored to get position for
Barnes, or any other friend of Reeds. at
about the same time that Bruner had the
interview with Belau at the Grand Hotel,
Daniel Jones and Louis Jones, brothers,
OF San francisco, were attempting to in
duce certain car-drivers on the Mission
street line to purchase positions on the
police force of San Francisco for the sum
of Si00 each. In considering the testi-
mony of the Jones brothers, and of Be-
lau, it cannot be denied that they are
men of the most depraved and worthless
character. Their demeanor on the wit
| ness-stand, their personal appearance,
the manner in which they testified and
the numerous contradictions in their
testimony, all indicate that they are con-
temptible and dishonorable wretches,
who would sell themselves for song
Louis Jones testified that the first adj
vances in the matter were not made by
him, but were made to him by a car
driver named Moran, and that he in
formed Moran that he would write to
friend at Sacramento about the matter
Belau's testimony with regard to the
sum Of 800, and with regard to the Jones
brothers connection with the case, was
! evidently mixture of falsehood and
truth. Belau was afraid to tell more
than half the truth, and was
manifestly acting under powerful con-
straint of some kind. 1t is evident from
the testimony of the Jones brothers and
Belau, however, taken in connection with
other testimony, that the scheme for the
sale of position on the police force of
San Francisco originated with these three
individuals. They had learned that
Bruner had introduced the police bill in
the Assembly; Belau had met Bruner
frequently at the State Capitol, and the
three selected Bruner as the instrument
by which they would effect such SALE
Belau operated at Sacramento, and
worked upon Bruner; the Jones brothers
operated in San Francisco, and worked
upon the Mission-street car-drivers.
James Comisky. who keeps a saloon on
the corner of Thirty-first and Mission
streets, San Francisco, testified that he
heard one of the Jones brothers offer to
get positions on the police force for 500
each. Edward Moran testified that one
of the Jones brothers offered to get him
position on the police force for the sum Of
5i00. and that Jones said that the position
would be secured through a friend at Sac
ramento. w. @. Cox testified that Jones
offered him position on the police force
for the sum of S400, and assured him that
Bruner would give him a letter that
would make his appointment sure. And
on February 24th Belau sent the follow
ing telegram to Louis Jones:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, Feb. 24, 1891.
TO Louis Jones, 2525 Mission Street, San
stuff tomorrow. Answer if you come.
DICK.
And on March I'd, Belau sent the fol-
lowing telegram:
SACRAMENTO, March 2, 1891.
Louis Jones: VIII call San Francisco. VIII
wire answer tomorrow. DICK.
And on March Sd, Belau sent the fol-
lowing telegram:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, March 8, 1891.
Louis Jones: Win call San Francisco. Yes,
| it goes; but bring doe. DICK.
If Bruner's testimony be true, that the
first time it was intimated to him that
there would be money i'll the transaction
was on Monday, March I'd, what are we
to understand by the above kilograms
And how are we to reconcile with
Bruner's testimony the four hundred
dollar offers made by Jones to Comisky,
Moran, and Cox? 1t is true that
the telegram of February 24th,
uses tn the la language, Party says it
IDENTIFY refers to the sum of money to be
paid for the position, and Belau may
| have raised the figures from four to five
with some selfish motive of appropriat-
ing the extra amount to himself. What
| party was II to whom it referred? Could
| it have been anyone else than Brlmer?
He had had an interview with Bruner at
| the Grand Hotel, San Francisco, on the
23d of February, the day before. Bruner
| went back to Sacramento on the night
| before this telegram was sent.
1t is plain to us that the party referred
to in the telegram was Bruner; that the
word five" referred to the amount to be
| paid for the position, and that Belau had
found another opportunity of conferring
with Bruner between the time of the
| Grand Hotel interview and the sending
of the telegram. We conclude that the
| question, WAS Bruner offering such po-
sition or positions for sale through the
medium of brokers or otherwise ?'5 must
be answered by saying that the Jones
brothers and Belau originated the scheme
for the sale of positions on the police
force of San Francisco that Belau Sc
lected Bruner as the instrument to be
used for the purpose of effecting such
sale. and that the offers which were made
! by the Jones brothers to the car-driyers
on the Mission-street Railroad line were
made in furtherance of this design.
Fourth-Did he give the recommenda-
| ton of Stoley, and receive the 500 there
for, as part of plan to entrap and ex-
pose bad men, or did he do it with the
intention OF selling position on the
police force Of San Francisco?
! We shall refer to the facts as proved, in
dicating wherever necessary the import
ant points made in Bruner's defense On
! the 18th of February the San Francisco
Examiner received the following letter:
| ErG8,iner: One Jones, 1923 Mission street.
! is soliciting the drivers on the Mission-street
/ cars, particularly the blue line TO apply for
appointment on the police force. Jones agrees
their appointment for S400. He claims to
represent Assemblyman Bruner, of Sacra-
mento, TO whom he refers, and says that
Bruner has six (6) places in the new appoint
ments Respectfully, J.JAsPER.
Jones is trying to get a little advance money.
The above letter, the author of which
neither the committee nor the Examiner
was able to find, induced the Examiner to
begin an investigation of the matter re-
ferred to in 1t, and to this end reporter
named Stillwell was authorized to inter
view the car drivers on the Mission street
railroad, and was furnished with four
hundred dollars for the purpose of pur-
chasing position from Bruner. The En-
anli5aey employed Stillwell to act as de-
tective. The representatives, of the paper
at Sacramento were also instructed TO in
vestigate the matter, but were left in
ignorance of Stllwell's employment and
movements. Stillwell secured the conf
dence of the Jones brothers, accepted the
offer of a police position for a friend of
his alta price of four hundred dollars, and
was sent to Sacramento TO see Belau.
In the meantime, on Saturday, Febru-
ary 2Sth, in pursuance of Geographic in
structions from the Examiner, a. NJ.
Lawrence and I. Alexander, Examiner
! reporters, interviewed Bruner and in
formed him that rumor was connecting
| his name with sales of police force posi-
tions. And here it is proper to notice
one feature OF Burners defense. He
| claims in his own defense that he be-
| lieyed there was a conspiracy on foot,
| headed by Lawrence. against himself and
4 H. l.
into ill-repute the actions of the Califor
] nia Assembly, There is absolutely no