The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-13

Gence expressed by the president of the Civic
entertained generally by citizens of the County.
The recommendation is also made that
captains and sergeapts over 60 be retired
and that the detective force be reorgan-
lied.
Police Courts.
During the session of this body many COM
paints were made about the maladministra-
tlon OF Justice in the department of the Police
Court presided over by Judge Campbell.
Persons charged with crime who were also
possessed OF little political pull were able to
get continuance after continuance, until the
prosecution lost all patience and abandoned
their cases, or in their desperation appealed
complaints were made to the jury about the
actions In this department, and finally most
Migrant case caused Judge Campbell to be
summoned. 1t appeared that a woman known
as Katie Cooper or Fletcher, half-interest
swlndler, whose husband was released on a
straw bond by Judge Bahrs, appeared with
bondsmen before Judge Campbell.
An old man named Twiggs, who owned
piece OF property on Bernal Heights, qualified
as one of the suretieS In the sum OF ST 500; two
Others who are unknown to fame, or to the Po-
lice Judge and attorney who got them on the
bond, qualified in a like amount. Twiggs had
been released from the City Prison also on q
bond by Campbell to go on the Fletcher bond,
and after he had served his purpose was sent
back there, and few days later to the County
jail Tor SIX months on charge of battery.
The Fletcher woman Immediately left the City.
other than that he had been imposed upon
Having no proof to the contrary the Jury was
forced to accept the explanation Scarcely
week had passed when another notorious
swindler was permitted to leave the State by
Judge Campbell, under circumstances which
were thought to be suspicious
Some three months ago q gentleman from
Mexico came to this City in quest of medical
attention. At the train he was met by one
Frank Pierce, notorious bunko-steerer and
confidence man, who treated the sick man
very kindly and escorted him to his hotel Bv
the tricks which bunko-steerers employ
Pierce got $l1O0 of the visitors money and
signed to Judge Lows department. On an
effort being made to have Pierce released on
straw bonds, Judge Low had Detective Graham
notify the other judges of the police courts
OF the attempt made to release Pierce on straw
bonds. The detective also explained that Pierce
was notorious bunko-steerer, and detailed the
facts in connection with his crime. With the
others Judge Campbell was notified, and he
agreed to refer all parties coming to him to
Judge Low.
Despite the warning and his promise that
same evening, IN the saloon of his bailiff
Judge Campbell accepted worthless sureties
on bond, and Pierce made haste to leave the
State. When Judge Campbell appeared before
the jury to answer this charge he again pleaded
ignorance, and finally made the statement that
he could not see why such fuss was being
made over such little matter; that, If an
worse.
An accusation stating the facts, and asking
that Judge Campbell be removed from Office
was presented to Presiding Judge Sander
son of the Superior Court. A trial was had,
and, despite the facts as stated above, Judge
Campbell was exonerated and publicly com
mended for having taken so much trouble as
to go to his bailif' saloon at night to accept
worthless bond. Such action on the part of
good work of any body of citizens banded to-
gether to induce people of means to visit this
City either for pleasure or Investment. How
such actions can be commended is a mystery.
md
brought into contempt by the people.
We would recommend that the police author
ltles detail officers to examine into the qualif-
cations OF sureties on bonds, so that worthless
characters cannot ply their trade any longer
II Is pleasure to say that we found Judges
Conlan, Low and Joachtmsen attentive to duty,
ana that nota single appeal was taken from
their courts to the Grand Jury.
The Ferry Foundation.
The investigation of the charges preferred
regarding the work being performed by the
on the ferry foundations consumed
a great deal of our time, and revealed the fact
that the contractors have not lived up to the
conditions and specifications under which the
contracts were let; that the Board of Harbor
Commissioners-Messrs. Bassett. Cole and Al
exander-did not use judgment in the prepa-
ration of these plans, particularly in allowing
too much power in the hands of the chief en-
gineer, nor have the officials whose duty it was
to inspect this work attended properly to their
duties.
Undoubtedly, through the lack of observ-
ance of the specifications, the people of this
State have been put to great and unneces-
sary expense. While q scientific test shows
that the foundations were strong enough to
support the buildings as contemplated, there
is no reason for doubling what has been clearly
proven, viz: that the rock as used (gray rock
from Telegraph Hil), the manner Of its de-
livery mot washed or cleaned), and the way it
was mixed, have not been in accordance with
the specifications.
The fact that rock not coming up TO the speci-
fcations and accepted by the chief engineer
was obtained from quarry owned By him is
certainly worthy OF comment.
The investigation disclosed that when the
Harbor Commissioners, architect
or engineer were asked as to who should be
responsible for the work as performed, it in
was placed upon the engineer. We
think the Board OF Harbor Commissioners
should pass upon or reject any part OF this
work, and their official authority certainly
gives them this right.
We found that about the only work per-
formed by the architect, A. Page Brown, after
he turned the plans and specifications over to
the Board of Harbor Commissioners was to put
in bill, which was paid by the board. Accord
ing TO his sworn testimony he rarely visited
the work, and, like all the others, shifted all
the responsibility on to the chief engineer.
The fact that the material and mixing, to-
gether with the balance of the work as now be-
ing performed, has greatly improved since this
Grand Jury commenced to look into it has
shown the advantage of our investigations.
That such an investigation was needed, and
that it was distasteful to some of the parties in
terested, is shown by the bitter attacks through
the newspapers on some of the people who were
directly interested in getting facts for this in
vestigation. Perhaps the most bitter of these
attacks was directed against C. ]. Stilwell, who
faithfully performed his duties under instruc-
lions from this body, and who was in no way
connected with the investigation except as a
paid officer
We desire to thank the chief executive, Gov
ernor ]. ii. Budd, for his kind interest and as
sistance in this investigation, and will close
this report suggesting that particular attention
be given the ferry foundations and contem-
plated buildings by the officials in charge.
Fire Department..
It is q pleasure tor this body to be able to
state that, during the many meetings held to
investigate election frauds, not single men,
ton of the members of the Fire Department
meddling in politics has been heard. This
state OF affairs is highly creditable to Chief
Sullivan and his staff, and one which should
be very satisfactory to the citizens of this City
Under the efficient management of Chief Sui
livan the department has steadily improved
until now it will compare favorably with that
of any city in the Union.
Fire losses have been reduced steadily dur
ing the past three years, each year showing
decrease from the preceding one: 1,09S,-
1856 81 in 1892, 1867 1899 40 in 1898, and
$S49, 1873 "a in 1894.
We believe that it is owing in part to the eff
cheney of the department and the consequent
OF risks and losses that the people of
this City have been able to get such reduced
rtr foxv