The San Francisco call., 1896-10-31
SHADY NAMES ON
PRECINCT BOARDS
Integrity of Some Election
Officers Called Into
Question.
Conference of Commissioners,
Chief of Police and the
Grand Jury.
MEASURES OF VIGILANCE.
Members of the Jury Will Perform
Active Service in the Field
Next Tuesday.
=:
MEASURES OF VIGILANCE.

The Grand Jury, of which Frederick
Hobbs is foreman, is not blowing big
trumpet, but one branch of its investiga-
tion has rather surprised the Election
Commissioners. Perhaps the jury was
secretly advised that some of the election
officers recently appointed were not re-
sponsible and worthy, but whether so
advised or not committee of the jury,
assisted by the police, made inquiry con-
cerning many OF the 1000 officers constitut-
ing the various precinct boards
The investigation was quietly conducted.
For example, If the list of the appointed
officers gave the residence of John Blank,
inspector, at certain place designated by
street. and number the policeman went
there and reported if the person could be
found. The facts were then reported to
the Grand Jury. In one case it was found
that man who had been appointed was
dead. In several other cases it was ascer-
tanned that the election officers did not
live at the respective places of residence
given. In two or three instances it was
discovered that the men selected to Judge
and inspect the election were men Of shady
reputation.
Yesterday the Grand Jury and the As
sistant District Attorney, Mr.. Peixotto,
examined the election laws and discussed
the subject. Finally committee of six
Jurors went out to summon the Election
Com m issiners. Surveyor Tilton, Auditor
Broderick and City and County Attorney
Creswell were found In the hall and imme-
diately responded to the summons. The
Mayor and Tax Collector were not found.
Chief of Police Crowley was also invited
to attend the conference and accepted the
invitation.
The interchange of views in the jury
room brought out the fact that the Com
mlssioners found it exceedingly difficult to
obtain the services OF capable citizens to
perform election duties on the precinct
boards. In some cases the Commissioners
had been obliged to appoint men who did
not reside in the precincts to which they
had been assigned.
The Grand Jury decided to act them
selves as general inspectors OF election
next Tuesday. With their badges of
authority as mem bers of the Grand Jury
they will visit the voting places and OBJ
serve the manner of receiving and count
ing the ballots. If anything crooked or
suspicious comes under their observation
they will take steps according to their
powers.
!. Registrar Hinton was seen after the ad-
iournmept of the Grand Jury. 1t was his
year were above the average in point of
worth and intelligence. He knew that in
some precincts it was impossible to get
residents to serve. He acknowledged that
some of the good men selected to serve
had declined TO perform the duty and
ther it would be necessary to fill quite
a number of vacancies.
P. A. Dolan and his attorney, Mr.. Col
Inns, went before the Grand Jury and ex-
planned certain things connected with the
petition which Dolan circulated on behalf
of the "silver' and protection ticket"
John f. Sheehan presented to the Dis
trict Attorney request that the persons
who signed the election circular attacking
Judge HebDardIshould be indicted for'libel
in another case. In that circular General
Sheehan was mentioned as an ''1rresponsl-
BILE man and a political parasite" He
doubted whether the indictment for libel
on Hebbard included his own case. The
District Attorney held that the indict-
ment already found embraced everything
in the circular.