The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-18
1" SEEING" PEOPLE.
Inquiry Into an Alleged
Bribery Scandal.
Witnesses Testify Before the Police
Commission as to Buying Ire
fluence for Liquor Licenses.

In recent letter to the Board of Police
Commissioners Carroll Cook, as at
tOTney for one j. F. Brendell, cted certain
instances where it was alleged Police
| Sergeant McKenna had accepted certain
moneys, running into hundreds in each
instance, for securing liquor licenses for
| individuals who had been unable to secure
| ITEM without making such payments
| There has been some talk about the matter
and last evening the board began an
official inquiry directed at Sergeant Nc
Kenna and his liquor license Influence
ln opening the proceedings President
Tobn of the board took occasion to say
to Mr.. Cook, who was present, that they
had denied his client license on the in
formation brought to them by the police,
and that they had taken no testimony in
the materials 10 explain alton Of why
Mr.. Cook, who was waiting outside at
their previous meeting, had not been called
in.
He said that the evidence was sufficient
to influence any board acting in their ca
pacity, and especially as a part of it
showed an engraving entitled "rhe Sui
cide." which he held to be very impr oper,
but which. he said, was placed IN the
hands of every frequenter Of BrendePs
saloon.
Mr.. Tobin then said the board was ready
TO examine any witnesses who might pre-
sent themselves, touching any acceptance
of brbes for liquor licenses. aud asked
Mr.. Cook If he would question the wit
nesses He consented, and then Mr. AL
word felt called upon 10 make statement.
"As mention has been made that one
of the members of this commission IRE
fear ing to me)," he said, sis interested in
the San Francisco Brewing Association.
| limited, | desire to state that q o not own
a share of stock nor a bond of the corpor-
| alton, and never did. | was not a buyer
or seller of shares CT its stock or properties,
| nor promoter of the enterprise. After the
properties changed hands l was called
upon 10 be one of the members of the
| cal board of directors. They were to
look after the financial interests OF the
home aud foreign corporation that had
made advances to the new organization. |
| was chosen chairman of The local board of
directors aud was sometimes enormously
called president.
TIE president Of the company is Mr..
| Robert Milburn and its head Office is in
London. Mr.. q. B. St ne is the manager OF
the San Francisco Brewing Company, linn
iteu, In this city and knows its customers, |
do not and therefore I could not and did
not discriminate in their favor.
Eve have never Disseminated against
legally qualified applicants for licenses.
provision of the ordinance in question car
lied out legally and faithfully.
This Investigation is { find out whether
or no we have been thwarted or deceived
and no one can he more anxious than we
are to ascertain the truth and we invite all
to aid US in this inquiry. Every body who
knows anything about the matter at issue
may now step forward and be heard"
Colonel Thomas Barry asked leave 10
ask as counsel in behalf of Sergeant Nc
Kenna, who was present in citizens
clothes, and then long affidavit of John
O'Hanlon was read as the basis OF the
charge, and O'Hanlon was called and
went all over the same ground in detail
and under oath.
His story was in brief that in 1887 he
owned a saloon at 433 Bush street, for
which he had n o trouble to secure a license
After about year a postal card from the
void. He called upon McKenna TO know
why, and was told that it was his side
entrance. He got twelve property
owners to recommend him and secured
a renewal for three months; he could not
get twelve names to another patition.
| Then a friend rose up and advised him
to see Nobby Clarke, the clerk for the
Board OF Police Commissioners and he
called upon Mr.. Clarke aud gave him $3.50
which Clarke said he would divide with
Sergeant McKeana. He got the license
that same day. OHanlon sold out and
went to France and returned In 1891
and went 10 see Sergeant MeKenna
about getting a license and was told by
that of1cer that It could not be issued in
| his name. So he submitted another name
and cot the license. Then he became &C.
quainted with Mr.. Levy. a court int r
prefer, who told him that for $3.50 he