The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-16
GAGAN INDIGNANT.
CHARGES A CLERGYMAN WITH
MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS.

W. II. Gagan, foreman of the Grand Jury,
spoke very emphatically in denouncing
those persons who have been bowling
corruption and furnishing no proof. He
said:
As at present constituted the Grand Jury is a
farce. 1t is combated by so many elements, such
as the District Attorneys office and the Police
Department, that its power is broken. So many
safeguards are thrown around crooked election
officers that we can't get proof OF their guilt.
Even if We do indict man what is the out
come? By some trick or other he escapes
through the influence OF politicians. Take for
instance the case of Sutton who, though not
election officer, took the place of the regular
man and stole lightweight votes for County
Clerk. The Assistant District Attorney, who
was supposed to prosecute him, was not
familiar with the case and hardly knew what
evidence would be introduced. Sutton was
acquitted. You can realize the difficulty in
regard to dealing with election fraud
cases when the fact is presented that
there never has been a conviction in such cases
except when some outside institution like the
Citizens Defense Association has hired special
prosecution to aid the District Attorney. There
is an utter lack OF ability or something on the
part of the paid officials of the city to secure
convictions IN election fraud cases. The con-
Viction OF Cohen and Steinberg was due wholly
to the efforts of Nougues and Clunie, who were
employed by the Citizens Defense Association.
Another trouble the Grand Jury has to con
tend with is that when we are investigating
frauds committed in one precinct, and the in
vestigation lasts Sc yeral days, one day we have
Barnes before US, another day Hosmer is in
attendance, the third day. Peixotto and the
fourth probably Black is on duty We are also
hampered in our work by lot of petty cases
being thrown, at US in patches, for what pur-
pose do not know. These take a whole day
time, and work on the important cases has to
be postponed. There is something wrong about
this.
One case, serious charge against a man of
influence, was brought up in one of the Police
courts about nine months ago. 1t has been
kicked about from one court to the other ever
since. On account OF the mans influence
neither Joachimsen, Campbell, Low or Conlan
desired to try the case. So it has been brought
before US.
If there was good Police Department, espe-
cially in the detective line, all the cases OF
crooked work during election times would
have been worked up before this and we
would be able to go right on with the evidence
But the police authorities have neglected their
duty and have collected no evidence nor have
they tried TO bring any of the offenders to pun
man at every booth throughout the city. They
should have seen that none OF the fragrant acts
were committed.
The only aid / have received in making in
vestigations has been from Governor Budd
who became sufficiently interested to allow me
some money from his secret service fund.
1t is not the fellow that stole the votes we are
particularly looking after. 1t is the person or
persons who put him up to his raScality that
we want to catch. We viii indict the fellow
but II ne reveals the name of the person who
We have only started on our election fraud
investigation. We will examine into the do
lngs at every precinct where crooked work was
done. We have been in Office only two months
and still we have brought in from thirty to
forty indictments, OF which twelve are for cleo
ton frauds. We have accomplished q great
deal so far, and our committees are busy.
What corruption there may he in the Police
Department we do not know yet. We are try
ing to get evidence, but have got none yet ex-
cept some old cases which were fully exposed
several years ago. We can get no one to bring
us evidence on a specific charge. The preach
eTs who have been making all sorts of wild
statements about town do not make them be-
fore us.
Rev. J. Q. A. Henry was before US three
times, but he never gave US anything to work
on. Rev. f. R. Ollie made most lamentablo
failure to give evidence In substantiation Of
his charges When l first got on the Crane
Jury read the sermons published III the Mon
day morning papers thoroughly.
What kind of man Ollie is you may judg,.
by the following facts: One morning / OF
served he had made attack on the police
went TO him and asked him for proof of hi
charges as we wanted just such stuff. He re-