The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-16

CHARGES ARE DENIED.
Charges made in an afternoon paper to the
effect that the police are anxious about the
handling of the trial jury-box are denied by
Captain Lees and utterly repudiated by County
Clerk Curry. The reflection is cast upon his
chief deputy, Harry Piper, and rumors of many
days concerning the Howell, Curtis and Nc
Donald cases are raked up. ~.
The trial will be resumed this morning with
Judge Murphy on the bench, his Honor having
recovered sufficiently from q severe asthmatic
attack to proceed with safety.
1t is an off day, even during the recess
OF the court, that the ever-fitful rumor
does not crop up in the Durrant case. 1t
is also very frigid evening of that cold off
day when the same ever fitful rumor is not
run to earth. Y sterday was no exception
to the rule, and the embryo sensation
which has been lingering in the lap of
opportunity was sprung on nauseated
public. 1t was just as promptly exploded
ere the night fell and now the decks are
cleared for the next.
In an article in the Report yesterday
afternoon the statement Is made that:
The selection of a jury for the trial of Durrant
is causing the Police Department great deal of
worry, Notwithstanding that Juror Brown has
been retired. Captain Lees is very outspoken re-
garding the situation, and says Federal officials
have assured him they have positive evidence.
that certain well-known Deputy County Clerk
tried manipulations with the Howell Jury, and
even went so far as to attempt to influence the
attaches of the court. Notwithstanding the
notoriety the deputy received in connection
with this matter he has the entire control of
the tin box in which the names of the venre-
men for the Superior Court are kept; and has
drawn from it the name OF every man SO far
summoned venireman. -: j..
The police have hesitation in stating
what their information against the deputy is,
and that it is convincing TO them. They also
say this deputy was very active in assisting in
the defense of NJ. B. Curtis, who was tried for
the murder of Patrolman Grant ): but though.
they say County Clerk Curry himself ought to
take charge of the venire box they have, so far
as known, done nothing to remove it from its
present obnoxious custody. They say the dep
uty is paying great deal OF attention to the
Durrant case, and frequently visits the court
room to watch the. drawing OF names. He is
paying altogether too much attention to it to
suit Captain Lees. .':.'...-
The name of the Deputy Clerk is not
given in the article, but SO meager an at
tempt was made to cover up his identity
that County Clerk Curry Immediately,
upon reading it, came to the conclusion
that his chief deputy, Harry Piper, was
meant. HI Immediately called upon Cap
tain Lees and asked him if he was the
authority for the statement and the chief
of detectives put in an emphatic denial at
once. Mr.. Curry then told Captain Lees
+ that if he had the least suspicion the trial
jury box was being manipulated he was at
perfect liberty to send two of his best men
to investigate the matter. They could
readily ascertain by comparing the original
trial jury list with the names drawn in
all the courts and those still remaining
in the box whether or not the names had
not been properly drawn.
To this Captain Lees replied that he was
perfectly satisfied that the names had been
properly drawn in the Durrant case; that
the list was correct and that the names IN
the box were all right
81 have heard some of these rumors for
several days." said County Clerk Curry to
CALL reporter last evening, 'but l would
not care to make any statement had not
this publication appeared. 1 will say now,
in justice to the public, Mr.. Piper and my
self, that if there is any ground for these
charges, if they are presented in proper
form and the parties who have made them
will authenticate what they are alleged to
have said, Mr.. Piper would not remain in
my office five minutes. | have had a great
deal of experience with Mr.. Piper, and |
consider him square, upright and attentive
to his duties. He has the interests of the
public at heart. | think | ought to be
better able to Judge of him than people
who have not been brought into as close
contact with him as | have.
81 want to say, further that if these
Federal officials they speak of will name
the Deputy County Clerk they are said to
allege manipulated the Howell jury and
to have influenced the attaches of the
Federal court in that direction his position
will be vacant in FIVE minutes. | want the
names of the people who make the charges,
and if what they are alleged to have said
is true / would only care to point out that
they are as culpable as the one they charge
is, in not having brought this matter to the
attention of Me proper authorities"
Meanwhile, with all these charges and
denials in the air, 125 veniremen will wake
up this morning to prepare for their APP
pearance in Judge Murphy's court to
answer as to their qualifications to act as
jurors in the Durrant case. His Honor has
been suffering acutely since adjournment,
having been visited by particularly Sc
we're asthmatic attack. He stated last
evening, however, that he thought he
would be able to go on with the case with
ont further interruptiOn