The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
DR. LEVINGSTON'S ANSWER
He Defends Himself Against
Charges of Corruption
in Office.
He WANTS SPECIFIC PROOF.
Civic Federation Committee Think
Officers Should Be Above
Reproaoh.

The following special committee of the
Civic Federation, which has in hand the
work of gathering evidence concerning the
record of DR.. Marc Livingston and pre-
senting it to Governor Budd in support of
the denunciatory resolutions against DR..
Livingston, adopted by the federation, met
TO hear the doctors defense last evening:
I. ). Truman, Rev. E. R. Ollie, G. G. Ter
I'll and John NJ. Reynolds.
R. Porter Ashe appeared as the friend
and counsel of DR.. Livingston and read the
following statement from typewriter
manuscript, explaining that it constituted
DR.. Levingston's defense and answer to
the charges of corruption which were
made by different members of the fedora
ton at the time the resolutions were
passed:
In response to the accusations brought by
certain individuals regarding my administra-
tion as Coroner would state that these aecu-
satons were thoroughly investigated at that
Time by the Grand Jury and the following is
their complete report:
This report was published in all the daily
papers at the time, August 16, 1888, and the
CALL OF August IL, in speaking of the personnel
OF the jury editorialy states: cit may be OBJ
served that several OF the gentlemen comprfs-
ing the Grand jury have had personal experi-
ence in the workings of our municipal nachin-
cry, while all are more or less familiar with
Ihe abuses practced and the reforms needed.
ANY recommendation from so respectable q
source claims deliberate consideration"
REPORT OF Grand Jury, August 16, 1S83.-An
investigation was made of the Coroner's Office:
result nothing; no witnesses coming forward
70 TESTIFY under oath to any of the street ors
ana charges on which our examination was
pased. Inc entire matter appears to US TO COM
mence and END in business jealousies.
The Grand Jury's examination of the office
brought 1t TO the conclusion that it is as good
as: any in the United States and compares
IaVoraoly with some of the better ones in
Europe. This is from evidence of parties who
nave examined many of them.
In 1854 second Grand Jury examined las is
THEFT duty my office. This jury had no charges
TO investigate, as there were none However
in their published report, they adopted all the
recommendations made by me in my official
report to the Board of Supervisors dated July
10, 1854. These recommendations were a
PubIlc Morgue, phOtographing the unknown
DEAD. suggestions on the prevention OF as
phyxiation from gas, the closing of the OPEN
ings in wharves through which drunken
people would fall. There were other sugges-
uons that required legislative action, and all
these suggestions were carried out, the last one
being passed by the last Legislature.
While do not wish to make this reply
personal matter, as l am only answering the
attack on me simply to satisfy my friends, who
have repeat edly demanded that the public be
enlightened, I cannot refrain from calling at
tention to the fact that one of my detractors
Mr.. Max Pepper, was member of that Grand
Jury. From this you may draw your own con-
illusions
cannot refrain from going over that battle
heid in detail, more perhaps on the ground of
enllghtening the public, that they NAV do
little thinking for themselves, rather than
rom any feeang that any explanation Is due
them. do this in the hope that If l have in
huenced one single individual not to rely on
hesrsay evidence have been amply rewarded.
These charges are: First-Robbing the dead;
secoLd-Orgies held at the morgue; third
Irahicking in the dead; fourth-Buckleyism
hfth-As to the alleged slate.
''RObblng the Dead"-In reply to this charge,
l will state that during the fiscal year 1883
81 paid to the proper authorities Public Adj
m1n1stTatoT, sTreasureEs etc., $61, 913 rs, and
These figures represent an amount nearly five
times greater than that of any other Coroner;
not that wish to detract from any other gen
teman who may have held that position
Second-"Concerning the orgies said to have
been held at the MOrgue. This is lie, pure
and simple, instigated by rival and diseppoint-
ed business concerns. This was particularly
Investigated by the Grand Jury. To explain
the rivalry OF the various undertaking estab-
Hshments: san Francisco never at that time
had a public morgue. 1t was the custom to
hold such morgue at one of the undertaking
establishments. The undertaken at whose
place such morgue was held naturally had the
first chance at "getring the funeral as it is
called; result, a score of disappointed under
takers whose enmity resulted in abuse of the
office 1t was to avoid this very
thing that 1 so strongly advocated a
morgue built by me was copied
after the Paris morgue, and among other
things had. was a stream OF cold water flow
ing over the bodies. This was to keep them
from decomposition. l seriously doubt if any
one were willing TO engage in shower-bath
orgies, particularly as the Morgue was open to
the public alta hours OF the day and night;
There was, and think there still is, a class of
petsons whom, during my term of office,
designated as ffMorgue lollers," whose mania
consisted OF lolling around the Morgue; they
hCaT7 han hos
about them. These "1ollerS" certainly could
have furnished material enough for scandal,
hadsthere been any. don't use this as an argu-
ment, but simply call attention TO the fact.
Third-"TrafhCking in the dead.''-To show
the absurdity Of this charge, Iwould state that
the codes provide that the public institutions
eClty, and County, Hospital, Almshouse, etc.
should supply the scientific institutions with
olssecung material from the unclaimed indi-
gent dead. This demand, at that time, was
more than supplied by the City and County
Hospital alone, so that no necessity or occasion
ever arose TO 'ttraffic in the dead"
Fourth = Buckleyism.' - Those who are
familiar with municipal politics viii remem-
Der that the Democratic Convention held at
Union Hall in 1882 was free from ssboss' in
huence, Buckley, at that time having ONLY
an influence in his own district. This was the
convention that nominated Governor Bartlett
for Mayor. At this convention I received 141
votes out Of total of Isl votes. In the sue
ceeding convention, held in the Blaine cam
paign years, no one wanted the nomination on
the Democratic ticket, and being the ineum-
bent, and after earnest solicitation, accepted
the nomination. In evidence as TO my posi-
tion regarding Mr.. Buckley, will simply refer
TO my action in the municipal contest of three
years ago, held in the Forty-third Assembly
District, where | openly opposed such we'll
known supporters of Buckley as Matt Fallon.
Sam Newman, Ed Casserly, Dave Magner and
host of others.
Fifth-"As to the alleged slate published in
the CALI deny any acquaintance with
Senator Percy Henderson, Ed Reddy, Peter
McGlade, Senator Billy Dunn and Assembly
man Mccarthy. OF the other gentlemen men
toned would say that know DR.. S. S. Kahn.
] have never st any time spoken to him, or to
any friend of his, nor to any other person,
about any political matter concerning him.
To Doctors Gayigan and Miner have spoken
at various times of politics. DR.. Miner, with
whom l have had long friendship, is gen.
tleman who would dignity any position in the
gift of the people, being man ofhonor, whose
uprightness, honesty and character are beyond
question. Of~Dr. Gavigan I can say that If
there were more like him the world would be
better Off. Any young man who, after ter
rible effort, succeeds in overcoming an alco-
holic mania and devotes his life to the relief of
his poor unfortunate fellow dipsomaniacs de-
serves the highest encomiums.
Mr.. Ashe amplifed the argumentative
matter contained in the manuscript and
urged that his friend should be charged
with specific acts, and these acts proved
by witnesses who knew of them personally,
A. oh ,,la lr