The morning call., 1893-07-22
The Chief Hotly Returns
Gavigan's Fire.
A NEW ORDINANCE FRAMED.
The Health and Police Cornmittee
He,r Arguments on the question
of Side EntrancesN

60, If the Health and Police Committee OF
the Board of Supervisors yesterday. A
new ordinance, framed in the Interests OF
nrohibiting some of the more flagrhnt sa
loon vices, was presented by II. L., Gear
attorney for the Citizens Anti-Diye Asso-
citation. Both the reform and the sa0gu in
terests were represented before the CON-
mittee, although the louor-dealers h id the
larger innings. A marked sensatioB was
oecasioned by the reading of a drastic lel-
ter from Chief Crowley. and in whieh 10
handled Attorney Gavigan without gloves.
The members of the committee pFt7Sen'
were: Chairman Kennedy and oIpei-
visors Refs, Stanton and Denman. PIC,
petition had been read cOmplalnlhls Vi
smoke from the California Hotel anY al
adjacent dyehouse, the Ch,st of the FlTfe De-
partment was instructed tosee that sfhoke-
consumers were used by the paflef ooin-
planned of. ..o
Then at the orders of the chalrn1ah .ns
bailIff announced: "Al people interested
in the question of sided0or ENTRANCES may
come in.
He threw open door and Supervisor
remarked sOtt0 v0ce:
''These good people don't hesltat9 10 ell
ter our side entrance.
Representatives we're present f1om the
Citizens Anti-Dive Association iti(e West
eru Addition Anti Ladies' EntranEe Asso-
citation, the San Francisco Council of
Women, the Woman'S Christina Temper
ance Union. the Daughters Of 3he Good
Shepherd and the Woman's lAlliance.
Delegates were also present from Fhe Retail
Liou0r-dealers' Association and the Ger
man Lquor-dealers' L Assocation.t Both of
these organizations were represented by
their attorneys.
Before the committee hears ANY state
ment from parties" began ChairIhan Ken
nedy, Il desire to say that at thb meeting
Of the committee week ago Rtn unwar-
TaDted attack was made upOn-t4e Chief of
Police. Chief Crowley has resided here
for over thlrty-fve years apG has the re-
spect of all the better class of taxpayers.
l have known him for generation and
have confidence in bis integrity. He has
been made the target for terminal classes
on more than one occasion, but l do not
propose to countenanc9 an attack upon
him under cover OF this committee. | have
received on from him, " hch
shall ask the clerk to read
Clerk Russell then read the following
letter. with several impressive pauses and
with pronounced accen tuation:
OFFICE CHIEF O. POLICE
July l5, ] 93.
p J. Kennedy, Chairman c 9aanaittee on
Health and Potice-DEAR Sir: IN reply to
Inc dtlafk Hauc III on lie u iOAe NOmr commit
tee by Attorney Gavlgan l WHY siate hat did
-5.Jl m2s lhfs- statement 10 a BuNei.n repor er
as charged by thas attorney, nor dld | make
such statement To any person. but the con-
trary IS The fact. In an interview had at my
Office with Bulletin reporter in the presence
OF Supei visor Denman, and in which he took
part, staIed that there was some doubt as 10
the power OF the Board OF Supervisors 10 regu-
late the ladies' sdedOor entrances 10 saloons"
II was Mir. DeDman's opinion that there
might be some constitutional objection TO the
li0iN<N ftnFa I.G haa
serious one. | have no recollection of reading
the account et tie inteTTiesFs,D the Bulletin.
nevertheless l do not believe trat they quoted
me as stated by MIR. Gavlgan. II they did. and
had known ii, certainly would have denied
1t at tie lime.
You wiz find herewith copy of the com.
plalnC upon which a warrant wa, ,%Sued for the
arrest of GavigaD. When he was arrested he
begged OF me 10 let him 90 on his own recognl-
zanee. which refused 10 DO because had no
legal right 10 do The criminal records
show that the case against Gayigan was dis
missed Oh February 6, 1889.
The next | heard Of Dim was on the report OF
detectives that he was engaged In a lottery
scheme, which was frustrated by the police
Gayigan IS the lover of Tillle Belmont who
kept house of prostitution on Ellis street a
number Of years, but recently she kept the
me Kind OF house on Grant avenue. Mrs.
OVeHon. who keeps roomine-h0uSe next
door, complained TO me hat number of gen.
temen who had roomed with her for the past
DIteen years mad no!lhtd her that they would
be compeied 10 leave her house by reason Of
p0ises caused by the nightly carousaIs carried
on at the Belmont Woman's house.
l notlfied Belmont of the complaint and ad-
Vised her 10 keep her house more orderly; that
II she cid not. | would be compelled to lake
action in TIE matter, and tnat so long as she
Kept her house within the bounds OF decency
that was all the police could expect by reason
OF her peculiar calling. She promised me that
her house would be kept orderly, but she dld
not keen her word.
Mis-. Overton complained again. then sent
captain douglass TO warn her. She paid no
heed Mrs. Overton complained again. then
ordered CAPTAIN Douglass TO put on the block
ade This had the effect of making her vacate
the house.
herein caused Gavigan TO attack me as he did
If thai be the cause, denounce him as
coward.
win you please submit this letter to DR.. Stan.
ton? Yours truly,
P. CROWLEY. Chief of Police.
The epistle was accompanied by com.
plant filed November IA. 1858, charging
Gavigan with felony embezzement and
alleging that he. while engaged in collect
ing delinquent taxes in tina: year. had en-
bezzied $1,000. The complaint was sworn
10 by E. b Pond. as Mayor Of the city.
During The reading of the communication
from the Chief Attorney Gavigan's tace
became liVd. He twitched nervously in
his seat ard once or twice stared up, but
he did not interrupt the reading of the
document When it was finished he arose
W sptdh, DuI MIS-. OIepoEE, Fice-pItsIueuI
OF the San Francisco Council of Women,
was on her feet first.
Il hope the committee understands"
she said. quickly. that Mr.. Gavigan is not
attorney Tor our organization. l believe
be represents Only the Western Addition
Anti Ladies Entrance Association"
Attorney GayIgan demanded of Mrs.
Gregory If be had ever represented himself
as attorney for any other society, but the
lady made no reply.
May l make few remarks ?" asked
Gavlgan OF the chairman.
"Chief Crowley is not here" replied
Kennedy, and we 90 not care 10 have
him discussed in his = bsence."
well, all 1 can say about his CHARGES. !"
pursued Gavlgan. 'i5 that l was charged
with felony, but the case was dismissed.
AS TO the Belmont woman, l DENY in toto
the assertion that ever had ANYTHING fo
do with her. As for Chief Crowley"
That's all. Mr. Gavigan," interposed the
chairman.
1T was extreme cowardice on his part to
attack me-"
we do not care to have you discuss the
Chlef in his absence"
Then am not allowed to reply to these
coarse accusations 9"
Take your seat, sir!" said the chair
man nrmly I'VE will hear any statements