The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-21
Ex-oFFIcER HOOKS STORY.
Chief Crowley Intimates That
More Heads Will Fall.
CAPTAIN LEES RETURNS HOME.
He Expected the Expose-lnveighs
Against the Dismissed Clerks
ingratitude.

The continued sickness of Chief Crow
ley leaves developments of the police
scandal at standstil. but the interest felt
by the members Of the department re-
mains at full tension.
1t is, perhaps, even intensified by the
suspense, and yesterday the exposure of
ex-Clerk Hall and its possible results were
discussed in all places where policemen
assemble or meet
The Chief remained in bed during the
day. but he did not decline to see news
paper men. To those who called at the
house he said that he had nothing to add
to the information already given out, ex-
cept that the investigation set ON foot by
the commission would proceed on the lines
heretofore indicated, that is to say, that
all available information would be col
lected and all officers found to have been
engaged in Matchmaking or the receiving
Of brides would be dropped from the force.
Captain Lees returned yesterday from
the south, where he has been on two
wee ks vacation. He declined to discuss
the exposure, as he said the Cbief had con-
Quoted the affair hmself and was the
proper source of information. Captain
Lees admitted that he knew of the affair
before he went away. He also referred to
the absolute con fdence which Chief Crow
ley had in Hall and said that the
man who would 'betray the Chief after
serving under him for so many years
would betray his own father" He treated
Hall with the greatest consideration and
was as kind TO him as a father could nave
been, the Captain said.
why" he continued, when Nelson
was dismissed the Chief would not believe
that Hall had been guilty of the things
with which he had been charged. | made
a personal Investigation of that affair, but
Nelson failed absolutely to produce any
proofs, and we had to conclude that he
was not telling the truth. Hall on that
occasion acted in way that was well cal
culated to carry conviction that he was in
nocent. When Nelson went into his Office
aud charged him with corruption, Hall
promptly brought him toto the Chiefs
office and said: i want you TO hear all
that this man says about me- Nelson
tailed 10 show that Hall had done any
thing out of the way. and aiterward. as hs
could not be induced to produce evidence
we concluded that he was lying"
Since Hall has been dismissed stories of
his conduct as clerk are 10 be heard on
was reduced to the ranks IN 1890 and re-
signed from the force. says that he now
attributes his fall to Hail.
II did not know at the time why had
been reduced, and it was two years before
my suspicion was aroused that Hall was
and / remember very distinctly a coDversa-
| tion had with him.
when l was made sergeant he sent for
me. and when / went to his office he said,
| Hook, you have good district up there in
| Chinatown, and l want you TO come to see
! me later on. You know / am not here for
my health l had been detailed to shut
up certain houses in Spofford alley and
| elsewhere in Chinatown, and | shut them
up. 100, tight.
II didn't go to see Hall again for some
| time, and be sent for me and said, Don't
| you remember the conversation had with
| you?' L said / did. but that didn't un-
derstand exactly what he meant. He then
said that plenty of money was to be made
| up in Chinatown, and that l could make it
| if l chose. | said: Hall. II / ever accept
bride or steal anything / shall put the
money down in Harry Hooks pocket
| and [ left him.
I'm a few weeks l was put up 10 the
new City Hall district. where man
couldn't get cigar a month, and then /
| was reduced to the ranks. When he Chief
| told me he had heard certain things about
me demanded an investigation. but was
not given one. So, rather than submit to
that kind of treatment, l resigned. I
know now that Hall caused me to be re-
duced by telling the Chief things that he
could not prove"
Tales of this sort are common now, and
many an ex.officer is laying his downfall
at Halls door.
Chief Crowley expects to be well
enough to attend the meeting of the Police
Commissioners on Monday night next.
The session will be big event in police
circles, and it is currently reported that
the boalA will "break" a number of Of
fcers.