The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-08
MR.. KNAPP'S BID.
1t Surprised the Harbor
Commissioners.
AN ATTEMPT AT BRIBERY.
Great Interest Manifested in Water.
Front Lawsuit Involving
Change of Berths.

"Do you know Mr.. Knapp" asked Attor-
ney Campbell.
eyes; know him also as Mr.. Howard"
returned witness Remission.
'What did he say to you in regard to the
change of berths?"
HE said he knew more about the matter
than any one else and that he thought it
could be arranged with the Harbor Commits
sioners that we should remain at the Clay
street wharf. he said it would take money
to do it,"
"Did he mention any amountP"
Yes; he said $1,000. Ii would take that
amount to compromise the matter as there
were factions to satisfy"
This statement created a sensation late
yesterday afternoon in Judge Wallace's
| court.
1t was made bysa witness for the plaintiff
| in the trial of the case of the Union Trans
| portation Company of Stockton against the
| Board OF HaTbor Commissioners, which was
begun yesterday.
The Union Transportation Company has
hitherto locked Its vessels at Clay-street
| wharf, but has been ordered by the Har-
! Dor Commissioners 10 dock instead at Mis-
sion-street pier. The company brings suit
| to restrain the Commissioners from the en-
| forcement of the order.
1t was contended by the plaintiffs through
their attorneys. j. c. Campbell and 4. S.
| PIllsbury, that the proposed change would
| ruin their business, as the new location
| was incnnvenient for the commission men.
j. j. keegan. secretary OF the Board of
Harbor Commissioners, testified to having
received protest from large number OF
| produce men against the change. Traffic
Manager Leeds was also opposed 10 the
| change.
The agent OF the steamer Humboldt and
w. f. Russell of the North Pacific Coast
Railway had favored the change.
William Martin, director OF the Trans
p0rtation Company, testified that the COM
pany chiefly transported perishable pro-
duce and that the commission men lived
chiefly north Of Market and east of San
some streets. An opposition line which
started from Mission-street wharf had
failed, and passengers. who constituted an
important factor Of business, would not go
70 Misslou-street wharf.
j. T. Keen of Stockton excited some
amusement when asked his opinion as 20
what effect docking at Mssion-street pier
would have by by replying that he thought
the company would soon have no business
at ALL
Other witnesses testified to the same pur-
pose. perhaps the most interesting being
c. NJ. Remission. manager of the company,
who gave the testimony quoted in the open
ing paragraph.
He was also asked what effect docking at
Mission-street Wharf would have. and re-
piled that the directors had given instruc-
tions in case the order Of the Harbor Com
missioDers was enforced to take the Stock
ton boats off altogether.
They said" explained the witness.
they would rather die at once than by
inches"
He detailed at length how he had met
Knapp on the Stockton boat on one oeca-
sion and on hearing this offer to compro-
mise foI $1,000 accompanied Knapp out to
see President ellis of the company at his
ranch near Stockton. ellis would not
accept the proposition and another meeting
was arranged 10 take place on California
street in this city, but Knapp did not ma
terialiZe. Witness afterward met him and
ne seid he thought ellis was suspicious
and 1t would not do TO push this matter of
a compromise.
In letter book produced by the secretary
OF the Board of Harbor Commissioners,
Attorney j. c. Campbell found two letters
dated the same day and typewriter APP
parently on the same machine.
They were from the North Pacific Rail-
road and agent for the Humboldt steamer,
respectively, and both urged on the Com
misSioners the change of berths afterward
ordered.
A blaze of light was thrown on this coin
cidence by the testimony of W. +. Russell
and NJ. Kalish.
Russell, who is with the North Pacific
Railroad. testified that he knew H. r.
Knapp. Had met him twice before August
last, when he employed him to draw up
petition TO the Board OF Harbor Commits
sioners asking them TO change the berths.
Witness said that he agreed to pay Knapp
$3.50 If the order was made; that the order
was made by the board The same day and
that lie paid the money to Knapp.
Russell had been working for some time
to get the boats out of the Clay-sireet wharf
Nj. kalish. agent for the steamer Hum
boldt, who had also been making Intellectual
efforts 10 have the boats removed so that
his boat could get in, testified that be too
had employed Knapp TO draw petition of
the same KIND on the same day, agreeing to
pay him for his trouble. Had not yet paid
him.
Further developments of an interesting
nature touching uponmysterous Mr. Knapp
and his actions as an authorized or unauthor-
lied agent are promised in subsequent pro-
ceedings.
great deal OF testimony was objected to
by Attorney L. 5. Stratton, and was intro
duced with the reservation that ON subse-
anent showing OF irrelevancy IL will be
stricken out.
The case will proceed this morning.