The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-21
THE GRAND JURY'S WORK
Allegations That Money Was
Used in Influencing
Elections.
ACTIVITY OF THE PROSECUTOR
The Biggy-Dunn Scandal Is Not
Likely to Receive Any
Great Attention.

SACRAMENTO, March 20.-It is more
than evident that the Grand Jury is en-
gagged in a searching investigation for the
purpose of determining the part taken by
the Southern Paci fic Railroad Company in
interfering in Sacramento County politics
during the late election.
The jury's operations have been con-
Quoted with the greatest secrecy, and as a
blind it has been intimated to representa-
tives of the press that they were investi-
eating the charges alleged to have been
preferred against local grocery firms who
held contracts with various county institu-
tions. But the facts as to the direction
their Investigations are tending have be-
come so evident that even the recognized
local organs of the corporation have be-
come alarmed and have simultaneously
raised the cry that the iury's work is an
'expense to the county"
Charges have been preferred before the
Grand Jury, it is said, against leading
representatives. and acknowledged agents
of the Southern Pacific corporation, that
they used money to influence the election
Of some of the county officials and the de-
feat of other aspirants, and it is claimed
that testimony has been procured which
will result in several indictments
W. 2. Harlow is the attorney who is
conducting the prosecution. 1t is said
that he carries a quantity of blank SUBJ
penas, and as soon as one witness has
been examined he fills out a summons for
another, and by this means prevents the
conveyance of the knowledge TO the person
wanted that he will be called upon to tes-
tify. 1t is also said that he possesses posi-
tive evidence that money was used; that
he knows who used it and the purpose
for which it was used.
In an interview with a CALL reporter
this morning, Mr. Harlow stated that
he had absolutely nothing to say on the
subject, nor would he give the slightest
information as to what subject was being
Investigated by the Grand Jury.
The summoning of George Lamprey,
captain of the night watch at the Folsom
State prison, gives color to the rumor
that the Zealousness alleged to have
been shown by Warden Aull in the pro-
motion of the railroad company's in
terest in the town of Folsom is also to be
investigated, and the charges made that
he has used the authority of the Office he
holds in influencing political matters in
that precinct will be thoroughly ventilated.
| Residents of that community claim that
Warden Aull has always taken promi-
nent position in political matters and that
| during the primary elections of the past
year he was cognizant of the fact that bod
les of guards were excused from their du-
| ties on the guard line and were furnished
vehicles to convey them to the town proper,
where they acted as boosters to forward
the polite aims of Warden Aull.
| A certain member of the Grand Jury this
morning positively stated that if sin
honor" the members of that body could
escape from investigating the Biggy-Dunn
scandal they would most assuredly do so.
He states that nearly every member of the
body is sacrificing his personal monetary
| interests by remaining IN session, and that
| the cry of needless expense to the county
| that had been raised by the local press was
entirely without foundation. why" he
| continued, ''do you suppose that such men
as Hon. II. NJ. La Rue, Railroad Commits
sioner, c. A. Luhrs of the firm of Hall,
Luhrs & Co., Fred Knox and others would
be influenced by the small sum per diem
| allowed each member? Why, it would
scarcely pay for a decent lunch. No, sir.
We are fully as anxious to adjourn and
return to the furtherance of our business
interests as the papers claim the people are
| fa hoya TIC ,,