The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-26
TALE OF BRIBE MONEY.
HOW NOSE GUNST BECAME POLICE
COMMISSIONER.
Burns and Rainey Wsre in the Plsy-rhe
Statement OF Gen. w. H. l..
Barnes.

At the great mass meeting held by the
citizens Of San Francisco in Metropo
temple on the evening of the 18th inst.
in protest against the appointment OF
Moses Gunst as police commissioner,
and incidentally against the general
municipal rottenness that has obtained
in this city, says the San Francisco Call
OF January "a, James H. Barry, editor OF
the Star. in his address mads a state~
ment that he had received commune
cation from a gentleman whom every
body knew to he reliable in his utter
ancss, but whose name would not be
given. The speaker then read the COM
munication, which purports to be the
secret cause of Gunst'a appointment, and
which was as follows:
Soon after the nomination OF Estee
and Budd Dan Burma went to Nose
Gunst and ordered him to bet $40, 900 on
the result OF the generul election In the
state. Thereafter he made q compact
with the political bosaes, Christopher
Buckley and Samuel Rainey, to count
votes for Estee by which the city was to
give a plurality for Estee by at least
5000. After that he again went to Gnnst
and ordered him to wager $40, 900 upon
the election. Gunst thereupon went to
Buckley and Rainey and Informed them
of what Burma had done. The trio i'm
mediately put up $50, 900 to cover Burma
money. After the election Burns went
on O spree, from which he has not yet re.
covered. He was threatening to resign
az police commissioner through fear OF
proseou tion for election frauds, and was
also complaining OF the perfidy of his
associates. The lcas of euch q large
amount of money made him feel very
sore. Buckley and Rainey. knowing the
importance of controlling the police de-
partment, made a proposition to Burma
to return him $40, 900 il he would resign
and secure Gunst's appointment as po-
lice commissioner. Gunst, though q
Republican, was always the friend OF
Buckley and Rainey. Burma got his
SAC, 900 and Gunst got his appointment
through the deal made with Markham.
Naturally this startling assertion, SO
pertinent to the all-absorbing topic oil
public interest. was not permitted to 20
uninvesti2ated, and James III. Barry
Immediately received visit from w. Il.
Gagan. foreman OF the grand jury.
Mr.. Barry appeared before that body
Yesterday and repeated the statement he
made at the mass meeting. He refused
to give the name of his informant, hold
ing that 1t was q private communication
and he was not at liberty to reveal the
writer's name.
"Mr. Berry," asked Foreman Gagan.
when called upon you Goon after you
made this statement, were you not ex-
pscting visit from General W. H. L.
Barnes to consult with yourself confden-
TALLY touching the mass meeting to be
held at Metropolitan temple?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Will you swear that General Barnes
did not write that communication and
that he did not make those charges ?"
mo, sir. Being under oath will not
swear that he did not do so."
Mr.. Gagan was satisfied with the au-
swera, and General Barnes identity az
the writer was fully established In his
mind. An order was made citing that
gentleman to sppear before the grand
iurv.