The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16
POLICE COURT CONTEMPT
The Opposition to Judge Wood
Is of Three Years
Standing.
COURTS LEGALITY DOUBTED.
Ex-Mayor Chapman Will Seek to
Have the Supreme Court
Upset Wood.
COURTS LEGALITY DOUBTED
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, J

py the proceedings Instituted by ex-Mayor
" - chapman, who is the attorney for
Snlhaman now In prison for violating the
lottery laws. Mr.. Chapman has prepared
d case that VIII be brought up on habeas
corpus proceedings. He contends that the
Whitney act, which created the present
oakland Police Court, is invalid, and
mat Judge Wood is not, therefore, the
-egal occupant of the bench On this
ground Attorney Chapman viii apply for
the Chlnaman's release, and ii the
superior Court denies the writ, he will at
once go before the Supreme Court.
Inc war against the police court and its
present occupant is of long standing. 1t
pegah when Attorney Chapman was
mayor. Police Judge Ogden was elevated
TO the Superior Court about three years
ago Mayor Chapman appointed John
8 sands to the Office and the Supervisors ap-
pointed Fred V. Wood, the incumbent,
who was reelected. There was fight for
the Office, and eventually the Supreme
Court seated Wood. Ever since that time
there has been a conflict. Attorney Chap
man handles the bulk of the Chinese
lottery cases, and in several instances jury
TRIALS have been denied and appeals have
been taken. Recently the Supreme Court
sustained Wood, and the movo to have the
police court declared illegal is the latest
effort of Attorney Chapman to undo the
work OF the Supreme Court of a year ago.
The many attempts TO destroy the
foundation of the courts dignity has had
marked effect on some OF the attorneys
practicing before Judge Wood. They have
concluded that he IS arbitrary, and do not
hesitate to show their fepliur
Two months ago Attorney Phil Walsh
was adludged to be in contempt by Judge
Wood, and Walsh claimed that IL was all
due 10 prejudice. because he had Issued a
circular denouncing Judge Wood as
member OF the a. 2. a. when he (Welsh)
was dismissed from his post as official
stenographic reporter OF the Police Court.
Walsh beat his contempt case on habeas
corpus proceedings, as Judge Wood pro-
nounced Judgment irregularly.
Yesterday Attorney Garrity, who
handles nearly all the hquor-license in
fringers, had tilt with Judge Wood
There have been several little spats be-
tween Wood and Garrity because of the
Judges refusal to allow juries in misde-
meanor cases, and appeals are now pend
lng., Garrlty habeas corpus case will be
tried on Monday morning, and there is
some speculation as to the result. Follow
ing will come the proceedings on behalf of
the Chlnaman by ex-Mayor Chapman, by
which he hopes to have the court declared
as having no legal existence.
The legal advisers of the Judge laugh at
the proposed proceedings, and say without
hesltancy that there has never been more
upright man on the bench and that the
only opposition 10 him originates with
certain powerful interests in the city TO
whom indulgences are denied and whose
animus is OF political nature.
1t Came to Naught.
OAKLAND, CAL, Feb. 15.-District At
torney Shook has decided that there is no
reasonable ground for instituting proceed
ings against Mayor Davie for violating the
purity OF election law.
1t was represented to the District Attor-
ney that in the statement of election ex-
penses filed by John L. Davie on the 22d
OF March, 1885, he swears that SS4 had
been paid for watchers at the polls after
the election. James Hopkirk, member
OF the City Central Committee, stated that
the money for this purpose was paid to
him by Eugene Hough some time in April
subsequent to the date that Dayie swore
that he had paid the same, and that
Hough stated that he had got the money
from Sheriff c. B. White, who put it up
for Davie. This would bring the payment
outside OF the period prescribed by law
within which election bills may be paid.
Mayor Davie' has shown his vouchers to
the District Attorney, and that official has
plant
Redfeld's Attorneys Fees.
OAKLAND. CAL, Feb. I5.-Harold A.
Redheld asked the court to approve a con-
tlugent agreement to-day made with S. P.
Hall and Senator Earl for attorneys fees
in the case of the applicant against the
Oakland Consolidated Street Railroad
Company, The agreement was that the
attorneys advance all costs, conduct the
case and take oQe-third of the first $4,000
and one-fourth of any further payment.
Judgment was given for SD, 900 and $I75
costs. The basis of the action was the
death of the plaintiffs wife in streetc ar
accident By this arrangement the at
torneys receive $4333.
Young Men Populists.
OAKLAND, CAL, Feb. 15.-The Young
Mems People Party Club of Alameda
County was organized last night with
about twenty charter members.
Those present subscribed to the pledge
to support the Omaha platform and then
proceeded to effect permanent organiza-
ton by the election OF Burdette Cornell OF
West Oakland and Leo S. Robinson of
Alameda vice presidents; John H. Fuller,
secretary; John R. Ellev, treasurer, and
Will II. Cornell, sergeant-at-arms.
Paderewski's Concert.
OAKLAND, CAL, Feb. 15.-The an
nouncement that Paderewski will play at
the Macdonough next Saturday evening
has met with much enthusiasm here The
sale of seats begins next Wednesday at
A. NJ, yet already the hox-office is besieged
by would be tIcket-buyers. His success in
San Francisco has so intensified the popu
lar desire to hear him as to amount to a
craze, and his audience here will be as
large and fashionable as any he has ap- |
peared before on the coast.
Wagner in Court.
OAKLAND, CAL, Feb. 15.-James A. |
Wagner. the former husband of the |
mother of Abe Majors, one of the boy |
burglars, who was brought back from San |
Luis 0bispo, was in the Police Court this |
morning. He left town suddenly instead
OF returning to Oakland and paying ali
mony to his divorced wife. Judge Wood
will give judgment on Monday, but
limited to-day that Wagner need expect
no mercy.
More Treasure-Seekers.
OAKLAND Call, Feb. 15.-The treas
IIr HIIrre-seekers, who recently dug a hole IN
west Oakland and looked for buried gold,
-,,&o nil lie ivsl