The San Francisco call., 1895-12-22
ASHWORTH, THE ACCUSED,
District Attorney Barnes Will
Conduct the Next
Trial.
Special Effort viii Be Made Il
Secure an Impartial Jury in
the Regular Manner.

AS announced in yesterdays CALL, the
Grand Jury's accusation of Thomas r.
Ashworth, Superintendent of Streets, viii
be presented to Judge Sanderson by the
District Attorney tomorrow.
The indictment specifies FIVE distinct
instances OF official neglect, and asks for
the removal of the Superintendent from
Office on the grounds OF corrupt and wilful
misconduct. The Hayward street side
walk is not among the counts against Ash
worth, but the Laguna-street block and
several other paving contracts are enumer-
ated.
Assurance has been received by members
of the Grand Jury that W. S. Barnes, Dis
trict Attorney, will personally conduct the
case against Mr.. Ashworth, and special
care will be taken to secure an intelligent
and impartial jury. 1t is believed that the
jury will be selected in the regular man
ner In the first case against Mr.. Ash
worth Judge Murphy ignored the 1900
names in the regular box and directed the
Sheriff to issue a venire for. jurors TO try
that particular case.
Some members of the Grand Jury were
greatly disappointed when Judge Murphy
announced this departure from the usual
custom and did not hesitate to predict that
the jury so secured would deal gently with
the Superintendent.
OF the eighteen members present Friday
fternoon only three voted against the
accusation. These three were Messrs
Leaventritt, Groom and Kerr. NJ.
Leaventritt voted for the original aocusa-
ion, but was convinced by his attorney,
Charles Ack erman, who is also the attor-
ney of Mr.. Ashworth, that a conviction
could not be obtained.
o. F. Willey's position has been mis-
represented in certain quarters, and he is
convinced that the misrepresentation is
deliberate and studied. He voted the first
and second time in favor of finding the
accusation, and while he may have ex-
pressed belief in Mr. Ashworth's honesty
he has never doubt ed the Superintendent's
incompetency.
Mr.. Ashworth's own admissions to the
jury regarding the manner in which be
conducts the office placed him in an un-
favorable light. Many questions were
asked about his subordinates. the duties
which he required them to perform, and
the responsibilities which he placed on
them, and the replies impressed the men,
bers of the Grand Jury with the belief that
the Office was conducted about as subordi-
mates Keating, Raabe and others saw fit to
run it.
1t is possible that the Grand Jury may
not adjourn next Tuesday
Opinions are entertained by the District
Attorney and others qualified to- speak
that investigations may be continued as
long as a sense of pubic duty on the part
of the jury demands. Fac is OF special inn
portance have been disclos ed recently and
much more good might be accomplished
if the time for adiourning sine die were
postponed.
The Fire Department investigation will
begin tomorrow. 1t might have begun
last Friday if the Secretary had not ne
elected TO summon the Fire Commits
sioners as he was directed. This neglect
or inadyertence caused some pointed COM
ment among members of the Grand Jury