The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-30
FREY IN CONTEMPT
The Finance Committee
Order His Arrest.
Detective Hogan Tells How He lnves-
tigated the Charges Against Police
Court Clerk Stevens.

The Finance Committee of the Board OF
Supervisors were considerably stirred up
yesterday afternoon. and did something
which has not been done for years.
The committee ordered the arrest of de-
faulting witness for contempt. and placed
his bonds at $1,000 The man in question
was Attorney Frey, who has been gaining
such unenviable nOtoTieiy of late in con-
nection with the straw bond cases.
The committee resumed its investigation
Of the case against James Stevens, clerk OF
Police Court ?. Stevens is accused with
going to a saloon at 10 Third street in the
nighttime aud acce ping a straw pond in the
case of Clinton r. Smith. The bond was
offered by Attorney Frey and accepted by
Stevens.
Detective II gan, who was not present at
the last meeting Of the committee. was on
hand and gave graphic account of how lie
had investigated the case. He said when
he first saw Stevens IN regard to the matter
be asked him If he was not aware of q rule
in Judge Cnnlan'S court prohibiting a clerk
in any other court from accepting a bond
in case in his court Stevens replied that
lie was but said be thought the case was
in Judge CampbeiPs court, because there
were two charges against Smith in that
court.
Stevens further told him the bond had
already been made out when Frey gave it
10 him. The signatures were already on IT,
and the transaction took place at l6 Third
street. Detective Hogan said he afterward
saw Frey, who promised TO Identity the two
straw bOndSmen. Lewis and Morrison alias
Jordan, but when the latter was arrested
Frey failed TO 20 down to the City Prison
and had not been seen there since. Frey
positively denied that he had signed the
Morrison signature.
The witness exhibited the straw bond,
and 10 the committee the body of the in
strument and the Signature OF Morrison
appeared TO b. In the same handwriting.
Frey acknowledged writing the body Of the
instrument.
The committee then asked that Frey be
placed on the stand as lie had been fegu-
larry summoned by the board. The baiiI
called the name Of Attorney Frey at the
door but he did not answer.
This is contempt of the Supervisors"
said Kennedy. ii move that warrant be
issued for his arrest, and his bonds fixed at
$1,000"
You are q judicial body under the con-
solidation act. and have the power 20 issue
bench warrant" said Clerk Russell. "If a
witness does not appear and answer when
summoned, You can punish him for con-
tempt. on can not only compel him to ap-
pear, but yen can punish him for contempt
IN not answ erlng. The Supreme Court de-
cIded this in the case of Oswald about !ght
years ago."
The motion of Supervisor Kennedy was
carried and Clerk.Russell duly made out the
warrant and handed it to Detective Hogan
for service
The hearing was postponed till Monday
at 10 o'clock, when Judgment Will be pro-
nounced on Clerk Stevens.
supervisor Kennedy stated that he did
not object to bonds being taken in the right
time, but he did seriously object TO a gin
mill so notorious as IS Third street being
transformed Into court.
He did not think, after he Mahoney case,
that clerk was the light man in the right
place If be allowed himself to be run by
straw bOndsmen and Police Court practi-