The morning call., 1895-01-24
BARRY'S REVELATION.
How GnnSt Became Police
Commissioner.
GENERAL BARNES STATEMENT.
Burns, Rainey and Gunst, the Three
CO.LabGerS.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAED JURY.
The Wonderful Tale of the Voluntary
Return Of a Portion of the
Bribe Money.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE GRAED JURY.

At the great mass-meeting held by the
citizens of San Francisco in Metropolitan
Temple on the evening of the 18th inst. in
protest against the appointment of Moses
Gunst as Police Commissio ner, and Incl
dentally against the general municipal
rottenness that has obtained in this city,
James II. Barry, editor of the Star, in his
address made statement that he had re-
ceived communication from gentleman
whom everybody knew to be reliable in
his utterances, but whose name would not
be given. The speaker then read the COM
munication, which purports to be the
secret cause of Gunsts appointment, and
which was as follows:
Soon after the nomination of Estee and Budd
Dan Burns went to Nose Gunst and ordered
him to bet $4,000 on the result of the general
election in the State. Thereafter he made q
compact with the political bosses, Christopher
Buckley and Samuel Rainey, TO count votes for
Estee by which the city to give plurality
for Estee by al least 5000. After that he again
600 upon the election. Gunst thereupon went
to Buckley and Rainey and informed them of
what Burns had done. The trio Immediately
put up $50 900 to cover Burns money. After
the election Burns went on a spree, from which
he has not yet recovered. He was threatening
to resign as Police Commissioner through fear
complaining OF the perfidy OF his associates.
The loss OF such large amount of money made
him feel very sore. Buckley and Rainey, know
ing the importance OF controlling the Police
Department, made a proposition to Burns to
return him $4,000 if he would resign and Sc
cure Gunsts appointment as Police Commits
sioner; Gunst,, though Republican, was al
ways the friend of Buckley and Rainey. Burns
got his $40 900 and Gunst got his appointment
through the deal made with Markham.
Naturally this startling assertion, so
pertinent to the all-absorbing topic of pub
lie interest, was not permitted to go unin
vestigated, and James II. Barry imme-
diately received Wis it from w. II. 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, holding
that it was a private communication and
he was not at liberty to reveal the writer's
name.
''Mr. Barry" asked Foreman Gagan,
when !! called upon you soon after you
made this statement were you not expect
ing visit from General W. II. l.. Barnes
to consult with yourself confidentially
touching the mass-meeting to be held at
Metropolitan Temple?''
eyes, 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 I will not
swear that he did not do So"
Mr.. Gagan was satisfied with the answers,
and General Barnes identity as the writer
was fully established in his mind. An
order was made citing that gentleman to
appear before the Grand Jury.
Mr.. Barry was then questioned as to the
Whitman investigation. The witness testi-
fed as to his further knowledge of police
corruption, mentioning the case of young
Douglass, who was accused of shooting
and stabbing his victims, drunkenness and
smuggling, and had been upheld by the
infamous influence of the San Francisco
Police Department. He held that the APP
pointment of Gunst was in the eternal
fitness of things at present.