The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-04
DECKER SDEFENS Sc
No Importance Attached
to His Charges.
President Hyde Explains the SewelI
Affidavit and the Purpose it
Was Secured For.

When the Grand Jury on Tuesday next
takes up the investigation of the Board of
OF Education contract deal made by
DR.. c. L. Decker and his company,
aspirants for office just prior to the 1890
election, with a. f. Johns and "the party
of the third part" they will have pre-
sented to them by Decker a long ac-
count of other alleged deals duplicating
many prominent persons who are now or
have been connected with the Board Of
Education.
Although advised By his attorneys not
to talk about the defense he would present
before the Grand Jury Dr.. Decker has
made public all be has to say. He charges
President Hyde with securing the nom
prosecution of Sewell for an offense by the
Society for the Suppression of Vice in
consideration of the transfer of bis vote
TO him hyde for president of the board
instead of John /. Sabin. Also Martin
Stevens, as the agent of Kelly and
Crlmmins, with promising to FIX the
case" for Sewell when it came up for trial
before Hale RiX. then Police Judge, il he
would vote for Sabn.
By all the parties interested in the case
Decker's defense is viewed as extremely
weak. John |. Sabn who was the oppos-
dencv of the board, says that while he was
on the board on almost every question that
came mp bis vote was cast with Mr.. Hyde'S,
as he was always working to rectify
wrong and keep out corruption. Mr. Hyde
explains Sewelps affidavit and his work
ingS to secure the presidency OF the board
as follows:
Soon after | was nominated l saw that
the Republican bosses expected to control
the organization of the board and its pa
tronage. L announced myself as candI-
date for the position of president, and
also announced that if elected | should
name such committees that it would he
impossible for the patronage to be given
TO the bosses. OF course Crimmins and
Kelly soon heard what | was doing, and a
very vigorous fight ensued. On nv return
from the East | found that the politicians
had taken advantage of the fact that Mr..
Sewell. one of my supporters, had been
arrested, and had made him believe that no
one could secure his release except Grim
Minis aud Kelly. Under these circumstances
he had been induced TO rescind his promise
TO support me. | was satisfied that if the
Society for the Suppression of Vice
knew that it was being used by the
politicians for the purpose of cuercing Mr..
Sewell II would not take an interest in the
prosecution. My principal argument was
that, whatever might have been Mr.
SewelPs conduct in the matter at hand. he
could not be convicted. The affidavit of
MIR. Sewell was Intended merely 10 show
that this prosecution, which had been
started in good faith by Mr.. Bennett, was
being used against Mr.. Sewell by the
bosses III order to coerce him into voting as
they should dictate. The affidavit showed
cOncluSively that Mr.. Crimmins assumed
to control the administration of Justice in
the Police court. in which did not believe,
and l knew no way TO meet this issue eX-
cept TO have the society discontinue the
prosecution.
The Grand Jury Committee Of the Board
OF Education is now engaged in its inyes-
tigati0n of the Johns contracts. 1t will
make its report to the body on Tuesday
afternoon next. 1t is not likely that thew
will take any action on the Sewell aft
davit, as the whole matter Is viewed as
nothing more or less than legitimate polit-
lcal operations to secure the presidency Of
the board.
Ii. l.. SaDborn. while not denying that
he signed paper which may have been
that Obligating himself in case of his cleo
ton to the School Board as Ii. +. Johns
might dictate, declares that he was trcked
into 90 doing. As to The publish ed charge
That ne gave his note for $500 TO the Pa
cltic Bank in return for his signature, and
that such note was found among the assets
of the bank, fe has in his possession let
ter from Bank Commissioner Gerberding.
which reads as follows and is to the point :
II. II. S0nborR present-DEAR SIR: In COM
you aresnOt indebted to the Pacific Bank in anv
form whatever, and that the books do not show
that you were ever indebted 10 the said bank.
Yours respectfully,
Board of Bank Commissioners.
A. GERBERDING, Pre- sident
January 2, 1894