The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05
BOOKSELLERS and Supervisors to
Go Before the Grand
Jury.
LINE OF DIRECT QUESTIONS
The Jury Will Exercise All the Power
It Can Command to Discover
the Truth.


visors who constitute the Solid Eight
that Is beng made by the Grand Jury
promises some sensational developments
when that body meets again tomorrow,
unless majority of the members OF the
jury are disappointed in their expectations
or unless great number of men are will
ing to go before the Grand Jury and per-
jure themselves.
AT last Mondays meeting complaint was
made to the Grand Jury, upon information
and belief, that the downtown poolrooms
are contributing to a subsidy OF $1,000 a
month, to be used to defeat legislation by
the Board of Supervisors unfavoraDle to
the interests of pool lers-
Since that time agents of the Grand Jury
have been devoting themselves assidu-
ously to the task of securing evidence
upon which the Grand Jury will be JUS
titled in bringing indictments for bribery
against any of those mem ers OF the
Solid Eight who 1t can be shown have
been guilty Of corrupt practices. The
names Of several persons have been
secured who, it is believed, can
give damaging testimony if they will.
Besides these persons, all the mem bers of
the Solid Eight and all those engaged
in downtown pool-selling will be sum-
moned to appear before the Grand Jury to
tell what they know of the alleged subsidy.
The Grand Jury is doing its duty, said
Grand Juror George III. Sanders yesterday,
'and II corrupt means are being used to
defeat the passage of the ordinance recon-
mended by the Grand Jury we shall find
whole would like to see all pool-selling
prohibit ed in the City, but an ordinance to
that effect would avail nothing, for it
would quickly be declared in conflict with
the State laws. Wagners ordinance is
such one. That is the reason we recon-
mended the ordinance abolishing pool
selling except within the Enclosure of a
racetrack;; Of course, If the ordinance is
defeated by proper means we cannot help
it; but the Grand Jury will do its duty,
and try to punish the offenders if corrup-
ton is used"
]. J. Groom, secretary of the Grand
Jury, said:
1t will be difficult matter for us to prove
the allegations OF corruption, but 1t was
brought to o. our aoce that subs subsidy is being
we Will try to slit the matter TO the bot
TOM. We decided to call the Solid Eight,
together with all the managers OF pool
rooms and see If some one of them won't tell
the truth if there has been any bribing done.
OF course, if they all perjure themselves we
will be unable to prove anything, but perjury
is serious matter, and 1t is difficult to believe
that out of all the number not one will be
found who will respect his oath enough to tell
the truth about the subsidy proposition; that
is, as l said, provided there has been or is any
corruption.
Supervisor Peter A. Scully, who has
figured as one of the Solid Eight, scouts
the idea that money has been distributed
among any of the Supervisors. He said:
never heard of it If there has, and 1 think
l would be pretty likely TO know it If any
such thing transpired. never heard OF 1t till
i in hn .nrC and dom In
heve any member OF the board has accepted a
bride.
Mr. Scully would not admit that there
is or has been any such thing as a Solid
Eight in the board. "a number of us
have voted together when we thought
measure was right, but to my knowledge
there has never been any preconceived
action taken on any measure by those
members that have been designated as the
Solid Eight
Concerning the downtown poolroom
matter, 1t has been represented to
me that a number of men of small
means are interested in the pool
rooms and l don't see why they
should be deprived of their means of
ayers OF the racetracks all the business,
for am of the opinion that those people
who play the races at the poolrooms
would 60 out to the tracks If they couldn't
gamble downtown"
Mr.. Scully declined to put himself on
record concerning either of the proposed
poolroom ordinances. "They have both
been referred to committees" said he,
land l usually vote as a majority of the
committee or committees recommend to
whom measure has been referred. When
the committees report and | have listened
to debate for further enlightenment L will
make up my mind how l will vote"
When the Grand Jury adjourned last
Monday night the question as to whether
the Solid Eight Supervisors should be
called tomorrow or at some later time
after the testimony of booksellers had
been heard was unsettled, but since that
time the jurors have decided to request
their attendance Friday.
Leading booksellers connected with the
commission" establishments will also
receive subpenas to attend the session.
The difficulty of obtaining direct proof is
recognized, although the Grand Jury IS
convinced from the evidence presented
last Monday night that money has been
raised to defeat the pending ordinance.
1t is not expected that the Solid Eight
will admit the existence of combine in
the board or admit that any member has
been unduly influenced, yet the scope OF
the inquiry will be so broad as to call for
statements as to conversations had with
persons other than mem bers of the board
on the subject of pool legislation.
Corbett. Kingsley Rose and others in
terested in pool commissions will probably
be requested to relate all interviews had
with lawyers and Supervisors on the SUBJ
Iect OF regulating pool-selling.
There is an impression among members
OF the jury that an assurance will be given
tomorrow that the pending order will be
passed mex. Monday