The San Francisco call., 1895-05-18
AN AMUSED GRAND JURY,
Morgenstern Talks of the
"Solid Eight" and Raises
a Laugh.
MR.. HENLEY HAD NO PROOF.
Judge Joachimsen Made a Blunder
Which Nearly Frees John w.
Flood.

The Grand Jury held session yesterday
which partook of melo-drama, farce COM
edy and common everyday farce. The
jurors became dramatic and almost re-
sorted to tragedy when Barclay Henley
appeared before them and said he had
nothing whatever in the way of evidence
to substantiate the strong charges he had
made against several members of the
Board of Supervisors in letter which he
recently sent to the Grand Jury.
The jurors plainly intimated to Mr. Hen
ley that they were disappointed in him.
They had expected some substantial facts.
They did not like the ending of his loud
boasts in this dismal manner.
When closely questioned Mr.. Henley
declared that he could find nothing to
back up the charges made by the Civic
Federation. He said that certain things
had been misrepresented to him by men,
bers of the Civic Federation and he had
supposed the members could bring him
proof to substantiate the charges they
made against the Supervisors, but that
they had been unable to do so. Henley
could give no more information against
the Supervisors accused of boodling than
that which has been in the hands of Fore
uldu 0dSdn ana Otl6r members OF GQe
Grand Jury for some time.
1t was decided that George T. Gaden of
the Civic Federation should be brought be-
fore the Grand Jury so that that body
could ascertain whether he really has in
formation against boodlers.
The anger of the grand jurors was turned
to merriment when Supervisor Morgen-
stern, the second witness, appeared before
them.
Morgenstern was asked how the Solid
Eight was formed. He said, in way that
| made his hearers roar with laughter that
could be heard out in the corridors, that
when it was learned large Republican
majority had been elected in the board
each man decided to demand six ap-
pointments for friends.
He said that his friends and some of the
Republican leaders outside the board could
not agree in regard to the patronage of the
board and that he and his friends were
greatly insulted by the failure on the part
of the aforesaid leaders to grant to them
the social recognition to which they be-
lieved they were entitled. Morgenstern
bewailed the fact that sometimes he would
meet one of the big men of the party on
the street and that he would be ''passed by
in contempt" as he expressed it.
Morgenstern said: 81 consider myself
butcher, but do not know much about
the Rather test of rock or much about
Committee. / asked some of my political
friends to take care of my son and get him
Job in the water works office or the gas
Office, but they were so unfriendly as to
say it would be very improper to ask
| for a position for my son in either
Of those corporations. My son was
driving log team in lumber
| camp up in the country, and he wrote me:
Father, you are a Supervisor now. You
must do something for me- / told him to
come down. / have been trying and try
ing, but l could not get anything for my
son to do. He would starve for all these
other fellows would do for him.
at was for this reason that the Solid
! Eight was formed. The five Republicans
comb bined with the three Democrats with
the understanding that as far as patron
age went the Democrats should have two
appointments each.
"By this arrangement got my son in as
clerk of the Police Court"
On cross-examination Morgenstern was
very slow to reely. He said that General
Dickinson had been his attorney for ten
months When asked what service Dick
inson had rendered, Morgenstern said that
the first case he had had was that of his
son, who was appointed police clerk few
| weeks ago.
Morgenstern said that when Joost came
to him about the franchise for the streetcar
line to the new raeetrack he did not under
stand him at first He said he thought
Joost was in trouble, so he referred him to
Dickinson as a good attorney. After hav-
ing a cigar and a drink Morgenstern
learned what Joost wanted, but he thought
it was just as well that Joost should have
good legal advice.
Morgenstern said he did not know
whether Dickinson is attorney for any
other members of the Board of Supervisors
or not.
Morgenstern became very much excited,
and it was with difficulty that Foreman
Gagan could keep him in his seat, as he
like Colonel Sellers, attempted to give side
oratlons to different members of the jury.
He finally said that the Solid Eight was
formed for the purpose of taking care of
the patronage of the board.
Notwithstanding yesterdays proceed
ings, Foreman Gagan has determined that
he will not be balked in his plan of inyesti-
CATION of the Supervisors The Grand
Jury has gathered lot of evidence and it
| will Immediately be got legally before the
body.
District Attorney Barnes appeared before
the Grand Jury and asked that new indict-
ments be found against John w. Flood,
ex-cashier of the Donohoe-Kelly Bank, as
the officials of that corporation were not
satisfied with the case as it stands at
| present. Flood had refused to plead in
recent case in which he was accused of
making false entries in the books of the
bank. His refusal to plead was equivalent
under the law to plea of guilty, and he
was recently sentenced by Judge Wallace
to seven years imprisonment in San
| Quentin.
District Attorney Barnes soon after
learned that all the proceedings in the
case were inyalidated by an omission in
the Police Court proceedings. 1t was
stated that Judge Joachimsen had made
blunder in omitting to sign the commit
ments, which were the legal documents
holding Flood to answer before the Su-
perior Court. This mistake invalidated
all the subsequent proceedings.
The formalities of indicting were quickly
completed by the Grand Jury.
Summer Clothing.
Mems busters, SOC; fancy French flannel