The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-10
Supervisors Assert That They
Acted From Conscientious
Motives.
GARBAGE FRANCHISE SCANDAL.
Serious Testimony Given by John
Curtin-To Whom Did Gallagher
Pay the Langdon Money?

The Grand Jury at its session yesterday
afternoon listened to the testimony OF
Charles Whitehead, Henry Schwartz,
George Rose, John Curtin, Martin Gal
Iagher and J. Emanuel.
Thomas r. Ashworth, Superintendent
of Streets, accompanied by his attorney
Charles Alderman, waited for some time,
expecting to be called. 1t seems that the
Grand Jury has decided to hear what
statement in his own behalf Mr.. Ashworth
can offer. The time of yesterdays session
was so fully taken up in hearing witnesses
on the alleged crookedness in the Board of
Supervisors that the hearing of Mr.. Ash
worth's case was postponed.
The Grand Jury yesterday came into the
possession of some important facts touch
ing franchise transactions and will make
them the subject OF special inquiry at a
session to be held tomorrow evening.
Supervisors will be called as witnesses,
and there is assurance that the identity OF
the Solid Fights agent or broker will
be clearly established before the new phase
of the investigation is complete.
Some of the evidence elected yesterday
in the ngdon-Gallagh transaction was
so direct in its character that the member
OF the Jury were profoundly i'm pressed.
John Curtin, the well-known detective,
was one OF the first men in San Francisco
to receive a hint that some influence in the
Fire Department or in the Board of Super
visors was being exerted to prevent the
grant OF q permit for Robert Langdon to
make an alteration in the building at
: Stockton street He was informed that
Langdon had to put up $125 to get the
privilege. His testimony before the Grand
Jury Yesterday was straightforward and
important. Before going into the jury
room he said his recollection of what he
heard was perfectly clear, and that he
would tell the story as he heard It, Sew
eral grand jurors remarked after hearing
Mr. Curtin that his statements were ex
pliclt and to the point
1t transpired that Mr.. Curtin testified
that he was told by Langdon that he
Uangdon) paid to Gallagher SIPS, and
that Gallagher paid the money to Super
visor bunker. Furthermore Langdon said
to the witness that he followed Gallagher
10 a point near the New City Hall and saw
Gallagher pay the money to a man whose
name Gallagher said was Bunker.
Martin Gallagher testified that he re-
ceived $125 from Langdon, the agreement
being that he would spend the money for
drinks to promote friendship and smooth
getting the permit. Subsequently he re-
turned the money to Langdon.
AS a witness Gallagher did not leave so
favorable an impression on the minds OF
the Grand Jury as Curtin and Langdon
produced. 1t was said that Gallagher
seemed to be withholding information that
ought TO come out. Shortly before O'clock
he was excused, with the understanding
that he would be again called to give fur
ther testimony.
The Grand Jury yesterday secured state
ments corroborating previous testimony
that John w. BouTdette, attorney for
Langdon, told Supervisor bunker that his
client Langdon) had paid SIPS and that the
money should be returned.
Langdon and Gallagher are from Chi
cago, and it is understood were very
friendly to each other until this recent
transaction. In his business Langdon has
the reputation of being an able and square
man. He kept a well-known restaurant or
resort in Chicago. 1t was in his place, so
it is reported, that Jerry Dunn killed
Jenny Elliott of Chicago.
Mr.. Bourdette is, or was, connected with
the claim adjusting department of the
Southern Pacific.
Joseph Emanuel of the West Coast Fur
niture Company put the fixtures in Lang
don's place at Stockton street. 1t was
expected that the saloon would open July
4, but a delay of two weeks occurred in
getting permit, during which time work
was suspended. He testified at some
length before the Grand Jury. He saw
Supervisors around Langdon's place. At
that time it was supposed that the infu-
ence of Dunn d Co. with the Fire Depart
ment and the Supervisors was being ex-
erted to hold back the permit.
The Grand Jury subpenaed Supervisor
Morganstern to be present at O'Clock.
He responded to the summons. but after
waiting for more than an hour was ex-
cused with the understanding that he
would be sent for when needed.
George Ross, bookmaker, BOOKSELLER and
nephew of Supervisor Dunker's wife, did
not in his testimony connect the Super
visor with any transactions relating to the
pending pool ordinances. In his state
ments to the Grand Jury he advocated the
plan of regulating the sale of pools on
events by the license system. He thought
license of $500 month, payable in adj
vance, should be imposed.
Charles Whitehead testified regarding a
conversation that he had two or three
weeks ago with G. G. Bemis. They talked
about rumor that eight of the booksellers
were contributing to a common fund and
IL was con lecture at the time that some
OF tue money was intended for the Super
visors. The gist of this conversation, as
Mr.. BemlS recollected 1t, was given by him
to the Grand Jury last Friday MrWhite-
head, speaking for himself, said he was not
now in the business Of selling pools He
had sublet his premises to Jerry Driscoll.
The house is contributing to the "pool' of
$500 a month for General Dickinson He
did not know of money being paid to the
Supervisors.
Henry Schwartz was a witness yester-
day. The establishments which he con-
trois are contributors to the Dickinson
pool of $500 ii month. He does not know
that any OF the money given each month
went to Supervisors. He said the pool
men had been annoyed by frequent arrests,
and every time he put his nose in a law
yer's office 4 fee of 500 was charged.
Therefore, he agreed with others in the
business that it would be better for several
to combine and engage one lawyer to look
after all the cases in court. He believed
that Dickinson was familiar with the law
and the court proceedings in such cases
and that attorney was retained. The ar
rangement, Mr.. Schwartz said, was made
Jour or five months ago.
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