The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-23
How the Jury Was Drawn to Try
the Superintendent of
Streets.
TIE REGULAR BOX IGNORED
Grand Jury May Lodge Another Accu-
sation of CrookedneSS in the
Street Department.
An animated session of the Grand Jury

An animated session OF the Grand Jury
was held yesterday. 1t was supposed that
the Board OF Education would receive the
greatest share of attention, but contrary to
expectation Street Department crookedness
was the absorbing topic Of the meeting.
1t is the impression on the outside that the
iury has recently obtained possession of
facts that will justify, if not demand, an
other accusation against the Superintend-
ent of Streets.
1t was significant that George W. Elder,
the expert of the Street Committee of the
Board OF Supervisors, and MIR. Gaden, the
MAYORS expert, were called as witnesses.
There has been for several days more or
less comment concerning the jury i'm
paneled to hear the Ashworth case in
Judge Murphys court. To elicit some in
formation as to the forms observed in sum-
moning Jurors for the special venire,
Sheriff Whelan was called as a witness by
the Grand Jury. He testified that he
obeyed the order OF Judge Murphy in sum-
monIng seventy jurors from the body of
citizens and directed his deputies to sum-
mon good men,
The next witness called was Under
Sheriff Clack, who replied to such Ques-
tons as the jury propounded.
subject, Harry Piper, chief deputy of the
County Clerk, was called. He was asked
if the regularly drawn list of jurors was
exhausted when the court ordered the
special venire for the Ashworth case. Ac-
cording TO Mr.. Piper's testimony the regu-
lar list was not exhausted, but on the con-
Irary some 500 names remained IN the box
st the time.
The members OF the Grand Jury, by
their manner of questioning, seemed 10
entertain the belief that the course pur-
sued in obtaining the Ashworth jury was
unusual. Only two weeks ago Judge
Murphy placed 1000 names in the box, and
why he did not draw on that list for
twelve men to try Ashworth instead of
commanding the Sheriff to go out and find
jurors is not quite understood.
1t is popularity supposed at the new City
Hall that a bond of political sympathy
exists between the Sheriff's office and the
Street Department, hence the belief that
jurors for the Ashworth case should not
have been called in by the deputies of the
Sheriff.
This incident, however, will not balk the
Grand Jury in its efforts to expose the
crookedness in the Street Department..
Every days investigation brings to light
more evidence of work performed without
regard to the requirements OF the specifi-
cations. The expert of the Board of Super
work to the value of 100000. This work
VIII not be accepted if the workmanship
and material fail to come up TO the specit-
cations of contracts.
Much OF the work uncovered shows that
the inspectors of the Street Department
were guilty of gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Grand Jury is convinced
that somebody is responsible for the ne
gleCt and Will not rest until the citizens OF
San Franclsco-the property-owners who
pay for Improvements are made &C
qudinted with the facts.
DR.. Warner was among The witnesses
yesterday. Some weeks ago he mplained
of defective work in the basalt paving of
the roadway of Franklin street, between
Vallejo and Broadway. The City Improve
ment Company has the contract for this
job. The work has not been accepted.
The plank sidewalk on Hayward street,
near Harrison, is unsightly, poorly con-
str1cted and altogether inferior, according
to the testimony of A. S. Lille of the Ex-
aminer and Fisher Ames. The attention
of the Grand Jury was specially called to
the poor and uneven quality oflum Der and
bad workmanship.
In the ante-room of the Grand Jury
many amusing comments were passed re-
gardlng the inspectors employed by the
Street Department. In the Ashworth trial
the fact was brought out that Harry Me
mann, 4 cnoruS-Slnger at the 1IVOll, was
the inspector over the work of putting in
an iron-stone pipe sewer in Frederick
street, between O'Farrell and Geary. At
every twenty-five feet, on each side of the
sewer, 7 must be put in for house con-
necton. The inspector at first had lin
gering notion that he could tell where
some OF the Us were, but had to give it up
when District Attorney Black wanted him
to point out any place where Y could be
found.
On Octavia street, between Pacific and
Broadway, work has not been done to the
satisfaction of the expert. The contractor
will be obliged to conform to the spectica-
tons before the work is accepted.
Police Judge Campbell and the clerk of
his court, Thomas O'Brien, were called as
witnesses to verify signatures to search
warrant issued some time ago for the pur-
pose of making a search OF the Baldwin
House. Some papers brought to the
Grand Jury a week ago have not been
found since, but the loss is said to be IN
important.
The Grand Jury will resume Street De-
partment investigation next Monday.
Held on Six Charges.
ID +l,a