Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-13
Proceedings at the Gambling
Investigation Yesterday.
Newspaper Men Did Most of the
Talking as Witnesses.
Some Parts of ex- Chief Burns Testimo'
ny Contradicted-Final Action
Deferre Until Next
Meeting.

bling.
Three witnesses were examined yes
terday-Col H. G. Otis, editor OF. the
Times; W. G. Taylor, city editor OF the
same paper, and r. j. Colver, OF the
HERALD. A brief resume of their testi-
mony is given below:
WHAT WAS SWORN TO.
Col. H. G. Otis, editor OF the Times,
was sworn. The testimony of J. Frank
Burns was read as to what he claimed he
told Colonel Otis respecting the Commits
sioners and the police reporters of the
daily newspapers receiving money to
protect and suppress reports OF gambling
games going on.
After listening to the reading of the
testimony Colonel Otis stated that Mr..
Burns had conversed with him about
gambling games going on in the city,
but he had no recollection of any names
having been mentioned in that connec-
tion in so far as the receipt OF bribes
was concerned. He said that Mr.. Burns'
conversation with him did not impress
him as being specific, and he did not
consider it as being worthy OF consld-
Grafton.
The colonel added that if Mr.. Burns
had been specific in his tatements, and
mentioned names, he would have been
sufficiently impressed to have made an
investigation. The general charge was
that gambling was going ON and that the
police were participating in the pro-
ceeds.
MR.. TAYLoR's TALK.
VIC. Taylor, city editor of the Times,
was sworn. He said that he had heard
the testimony of Mr.. Burns. AS far as
he knew of his own knowledge, neither
police officers nor reporters were receiv-
ing money to permit gambling to go on.
For five years he had heard rumors to
this effect, but he had never heard the
direct charge made against anyone, nor
had he ever seen proof OF the charge
submitted. He had never succeeded,
though he had endeavored to do go. in
prevailing upon anyone to make an affi-
6avit charging either an official or le-
porter with receiving bribes to permit
gambling to go on. He had investi-
gated numerous rumors, but had never
succeeded in running anything down to
earth which would prove conclusively
and beyond question that there was
crooked work in the police department.
NEVER SAW ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.
Mr.. Taylor swore that in his opinion
he did not think that Officers Rohn and
Bevan ever had been bribed by China
men. At least, in his Judgment and
from his experience in the discharge OF
his duty, he had never noted any sus-
picious circumstances connected with
them.
Mr.. TAYLOR stated that never in his
life had he received 81 for any purpose
through dishonest channels, and be
thought that j. Frank Burns had gone
out OF his way to insult him.
THINKS CoLvER WROTE IT.
Mr.. Taylor also stated that in his
opinion the resolution which had
started all this investigation, was writ
ten by Richard Colver, newspaper re-
porter. Colver had not told him SO, but
John G. Wray had.
Mr.. Taylor then gave his opinion upon
gambling in this city. He thought that
open gambling in this city did not exist
at present, and had not for some years
past. He went into detail and ex-
planned his reasons therefor.
READY TO EXPOSE BRIBERY.
Colonel Otis added a few statements
to the testimony he had already given.
He said that he had informed Mr.. Burns,
at the time he had his conversation with
him, that he was at all times prepared
to expose public corruption or bribery,
and that if he (Burns) had proof of any
corruption in police circles he Colonel
Otis) stood willing and prepared to ex-
pose it..
COMMISSIONER SNYDER SWORN.
NJ. P. Snyder was then sworn. He
told how he came to prepare the resolu-
ton which brought about the investiga-
ton. He said that he was conversing
with number of people in front of the
Nadeau about Chinese gambling, The
witness stated that. during the conver-
sation, reporter of the HERALD came
up and stated that, under instructions
from the city editor of his paper, he had
been investigating the subject of
Chinese gambling, and that he was
convinced that ian games were rum
ming in Chinatown; furthermore,
that he had seen some 20 lottery games
in operation in Chinatown. Commits
sioner Snyder then stated that he drew
up his resolution That resolution he
presented. 1t was based upon reports
that he had seen in the papers, upon
what people had told him, and upon
what he had eeen.
The mayor and Commissioner Snyder
had quite discussion, but it was upon
irrelevant matters, and developed moth
ing new
MR. CoLvER's TESTIMONY.
R. j. Colver, of the HERALD. was then
sworn. He said that under instructions
he had investigated the subject of Chi
nese gambling. He found that there
were 20 lottery games running in China
town, and secured the names of the COM
panies conducting the drawings, where
thev were drawn, and when. This in
formation had been printed in his pa
per. The games were conducted openly
and VIGOROUSLY. Chief Glass had in
formed him that owing to the evidence
required by the courts, it was impossible
to convict the lottery people AS to
fan tan games, Colver said that he
had In the course OF his investigation
found ample evidence that they were
running, but he had never seen one in
operation. The Chinsmen were not in
the habit OF letting the white people
witness this pleasant, as we'll as illegal.
pastime of theirs.
DARCY'S PROPOSITION.
He had had conversation with ex-