The San Francisco call., 1895-12-29
Councilmen Said to Have Par.
taken Literally of a Cor.
ruption Fund.
AIDING BABCoCKs SCHEME
Gold Spent With a Lavish Hand to
Secure the Support of City
Officials.

Los ANGELES, CAL, Dec. 2s.-The
taking of Clifton e. Mayne's deposition
before United States Commissioner Van
Dyke in the San Diego water companies
imbroglio was resumed this morning in
Sheriff Burrs private Office. e. s. Bah
cock, against whom Mayne's allegations
were directed, was an interested spectator
during the proceedings. Oscar A. "Trip
petit, the solicitor for the Flume Company
OF San Diego, conducted Mayne's exam
ination in chief, and questioned him with
copy of Mayne's affidavit in his hand.
The questions related to the charges of
wholesale bribery by Mayne of the City
Councilmen of San Diego and other people
having influence, in the interests of E. S.
Babcock and his associat s in the South
ern California Mountain Water Company.
Mayne has allowed his beard 30 grow
recently and does not look like a man
with lone foot in the grave" He related
additional details of how he worked" the
Coun cilmen in san Diego for Babcock' S
water scheme, giving the different amounts
paid to individuals and the circumstances
under which they were paid in as matter
of fact a manner as if the extraordinary
corruption of the city officials OF San
Diego were matter of ordinary detail. If
his story is true, San Diego's officials dur
ing the time specified were a most cheerful
body of bribe-takers.
In the course of his examination Mayne
gave description OF now he formed a
combination OF the alleged corrupted Off
cials after they had been "seen" to keep
them in line for Babcock and see that they
did not play any tricks and go back on
their bargain. In carrying out this deli
cate scheme, he said, he employed George
H. Corey as a spy TO see that Ibis men"
did not talk with the opposition forces,
and reported his proceedings to Babcock
from time to time.
When Mayne was turned over for cross
examination by Mr.. Hunsacker he was
questioned about his health and all about
his hemorrhages. Finally he was asked
when he first told the story of bribery and
corruption and to whom. He replied that
it was about two months ago. He then
gave his attorney, Colonel Copeland, some
memoranda about it. He said he had
made up his mind that he would give the
facts to the public of San Diego, because
T. S. Babcock did not keep his agreement
with him.
Mayne became very energetic in his
statements about Babcock. He stated
that he ascertained that the latter had
tried to shift the odidm and share of the
bribery onto his shoulders, and had been
prosecuting him in the Shipton case when
he knew he was not guilty. When
asked how Babcock knew he was not
guilty of wronging Elsie Shipton, Mayne
replied that Babcock was well acquainted
with him and any one who was, knew he
was innocent OF that charge.
The climax of the morning came when
Mayne was asked who told him that Bah
cock had been prosecuting him. He de-
cIined to answer the question, saying that
it had nothing 10 do with the case. Mr..
Hunsaker appealed to the Commissioner,
who ordered Mayne to answer, and be per-
sisted in his refusal. Mr.. Hunsaker then
asked that the matter be certified to Cir
cult judge Ross, and that the taking OF
the deposition be continued until his &C
ton. The opposing counsel streuuously
objected 10 the postponement, but it was
finally granted. an adjournment beng
taken until Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock.