The morning call., 1891-07-23
Taylor IN A BAD BOX.
His Damaging Admissions About
Sacramento Legislation.
Very Little Likelihood of his Getting the
$4,000 for Which He Sues, But Some
One viii Get Hurt

The second day Of the Taylor Doodle suit
in Judge Wallace's court opened yesterday
with the examination of Colonel Croker.
There was a considerable gathering of poll
ticians and legislators. the majority of
whom watched the developments OF the case
with ill-coneealed anxiety.
The reputation of eight State Senators
was known TO be seriously compromised by
the revelations which Taylor had firmly ex-
pressed his determination to make if the
5000, for which he sued no less than tWen-
ty-four members of the Legislature, was
not Forthcoming.
1t was also well-known that the Southern
Pacific Railroad. the Electric Railroad and
the Glenn County delegation would be pill
lOried before Mr.. Faylor's tale Of woe was
all told, but as there was no disposition to
accommodate that gentleman with the coin
he modestly claimed 10 have earned by three
months services" thu trial went on.
CRoCKER's CONVERSATIONS.
Colonel Croker was called by Mr.. Clunie
on the plaintiffs behalf oStenSibly to show
that $4,000 was paid by the Southern
Pacific Company to Richard Chute to
influence legislation; that Chute paid the
money 10 Dan Burns, who paid it TO the de-
PENDANTS in the present suit. leaving Taylor
out in the cold.
Colonel Crocker said that no money was
paid for any such purpose to his knowl-
edge. He admitted, however, that he had
had numerous conversations with Phil
CrimmiHS about transactions likely to take
place at the Legislature; also about the in
terests of the Republican party and the cleo
ton OF officers.
Stephen Gage was then called, but
there was response and an attachment
was issued for him. Later in the day Mr..
Clunie said that there were several o her
witnesses of Importance to his ease, who
were seeking In every way to avoid service
OF summOnses, and some were III hiding.
He minated that other attachments might
have 10 be asked for.
ALL NEGATIYED.
Gustaye Sutro, President of the Omnibus
Railroad Company, was called and asked if
he knew of Burns, Crimmins and Chute
also whether he was interested in the defeat
Of the electric road bills in the last Legis-
lature and had contributed money for the
purpose. Mr.. Sutro replied to all the ques-
tons IN the negative.
Senator William o. Banks was the next
witness. lie represented the Twenty first
City District in the late Legislature, and is
one OF the defendants in the suit. His ues-
timOny was chiefly interesting as showing
how many things it Is possible for a sue
cessful politician To forget OF not to know.
Mr.. Banks had never known of Com
blne" among State Senators; had never met
any of the other defendants in 4 saloon and
helped 10 appoint a Finance Committee"
for their mutual benefit; had not been told
10y Taylor that he owed part of the $1,000
aud would have to pay. About the only
things Mr. Banks did remember were that
he had incidentally discussed a Fire De-
partment bill with Dan Burns, and had had
few words with Taylor during a drink on
the suggestion that he was indebted to Fay
lUr.
LIGHT ON BooDLFIsM
Thus far the progress Of the trial had been
heN llderlng blank for the sensation mon
gers, but when Taylor himself took the
stand buzz of excitement went round the
courtroom, and tile politicians assumed an
aspect Of grave perturbation. Mr. Clunie
was about the only person who seemed to
enjoy the fun.
1t did not seem to distress the youthful
counsel greatly that the revelations of Mr.
Taylor might blacken a Republican Legis-
lature. hephiStOpheles himself could not
have smiled more frequently or sUggestiyely
tnan did Mr.. Clunie every tins a new ray
Of light was let into the unwhoeSome cave
Of Sacramento boodledom.
BURNS MESsENGER-BoY.
Mr.. Taylor began by describing himself as
a contractor and examiner from Idaho. He
had resided in this State since 1858. With
perfect GOODNESS the witness went on to state
how lie entered into negotiations with Dan
Burns at Sacramento last January, with a
view TO carrying out certain arrangements
between Burns and 4 number of State Sena-
tors WHO had formed a combine" to in
fiuepce legislation.
He considered himself as the agent or
messenger OF Burns in the matter, and in
tr0duced Senator W. Il. Williams 10 Burns
al the formers request. This meeting took
place in saloon, and Williams told Burns
OF the combine, which included Senators
Banks, Everett Weleh, Hamill, Maher and
himself. Burns said he did not want to
make money, but was interested in legisla-
ton.
TO MAKE MONEY.
Witness well understood that the Senators
were in the combine to make money and
Williams plainly told Burns that it was So
The conversation turned on visit which
PHI Crimmins was then making to the
Southern Pacific people at Fourth and
Townsend streets. A few days afterward
Williams reported that CTimmius had failed
TO obtain definite terms from Colonel Crock
eF, who had contented himself with gen.
cral Injunction that all negative legislation
should be voted down and he would fix it
right with the boys at the end of the session.
This did not suit the boys aud Crimmius
was superseded by Burns. The latter SUBJ
sequently told the combine that matters had
been satisfactorily arranged. A financial
committee" was formed and the witness
was kept very busy, sometimes until 3
O'Clock IN the morning, carrying messages be-
tween Burns and the Senators. They told the
latter that they had agreed to vote against
the Electric Road Bill for $50 apiece, and
words ensued, Burns complaining that they
had let him down and were not gentlemen
He required pledge from them to do all
their financial business after this with Dick
Chute.
THE SACKS TAPPED,
just at this time Mr.. Clunie's countenance
was wreathed in smiles, and Reddy Campbell.
the opposing counsel, looked equally happy.
Taylor gathered assurance and went on to
tell how much money the boys had made
% out of the business. Naming Senator W. H
Williams as his authority, he said the men,
bers OF the combine had each received $1,000
from the railroad, $1,000 from insurance
people, $3.50 from the Glenn County separa-
fists, $500 from the pnol-room people, $500
from Riverside and $3.50 from the pilots.
Williams suggested that he (Faylor) should
repay himself for his services by preparing
written form of obligation for $3.50, which
the Senators were to sign. Taylor thought
this a good idea. but declined TO mark
paid" against Williams name without the
consideration. Burns told him that the
combine certainly owed him $1,000, but he
had not received it.
CRoss-EXAMINED.
Attorney Campbell now took hold of Mr.
Taylor and croSS-eXamined him with Great
persistence and severity. Taylor began to
wear as anxious a look as some Of his Sem
atorlal friends in The body of the court
room, but he was not materially shaken in
his testimony, so faS as il related to the dis
graceful traffic in votes.
He caused ripple Of laughter by inno-
Gently asserting that he did not know where
the SoC00 was to come from; whether the
Senators were to pay it out of their So per
diem or whether 1t was out of the proceeds
OF corrupt legislation. He had faint suspi-
clons that it might be the latter
Asked why he had sued number of the
twenty fonr defendants under fictitious
names, as John Doe, Richard Roe, James
Black, William White, etc, he said he had
not been able 10 think of their names. 1t
was not because he had hopes of inducing
them to settle privately. On one OCCASION
Burns paid him $50 for services rendered.
and he also received $50 from Captain Bar.
Der. who had brought sack to Sacramento.
AS A REFoRMER.
just before recess the witness caused a
ripple OF laughter IN court by intimating