The San Francisco call., 1896-11-21
DOCKERY'S HEAD
IS IN DANGER
A Suit Begun Yesterday
to Gust Him From
His Office.
IF This Is Not Successful the
Matter Will Go to the
Grand Jury.
Charges That He Conspired to Black.
mail Dairymsn Which Cannot
Be Suppressed.

1t IS evident that the end is not yet in
the matter of the charges against j. P.
Dockery, the chief food inspector of the
Board of Health, in spite of the efforts of
the board to shield him.
Christian Rutland and Kari thinner
man, proprietors of the Richmond Dairy,
have Instituted proceedings to oust the
inspector from office on the ground that
he and Market Inspector Davis attempted
to levy blackmail to the extent of 5000.
The complaint is drawn by Attorney NJ.
NJ. Estee and sets forth sthat on or about
the 1st day of October, 1896, DockerY ana
Davis combined and conspired for the
purpose of corruptly obtaining money
from these complainants; that for said
purpose Dockery approached these COM
plainants and informed them that if they
would pay to Dockery and Davis $500 the
cows of com plainants would not be con-
demned as unhealthy or unfit for the
production of pure milk; but that they
would be condemned unless the said sum
of $500 was paid to Dockery and Davis"
1t is further avowed that afterward, on
or about November 6, near the northwest
corner OF Third and Mission streets,
Dockery and Davis approached thinner
man in relation to the payment of the
$500. and that Zimmerman promised to
make a partial payment of $500 on the
9th inst; that on the day agreed on, at
the same corner of Mission and Third
streets, between and o'clock in the
morning, Dockery again met Zimmerman
and demanded the payment of the $500
promised, and that the complainants
thereupon refused to pay the money.
Judge Hunt has cited Dockery to ap-
pear on the 30th inst. and show cause why
he should not be deprived of his office.
This Is the same charge now under in
vestigation before the local Board of
Health.
The matter came up at q special meet
ing of the board few days ago, and
Attorneys Estee and RothchiId appeared
for the prosecution and stated that they
had good case against Dockery, but that
they were not prepared to go on with the
case, because their principal witness was
absent from the City.
DR.. Morse was in favor of dismissing the
charges without a hearing, stating that
the witnesses had had ample notice and
that they should nave been on hand.
The attorneys mentioned combated the
proposed dismissal vigorously and sue
ceeded in getting postponement for a
week, but the filing of the suit to oust
Dockery is evidence that they have strong
testimony to back up their action, and
they sear that to come before the Board of
Health would be to smother the case be-
fore a fair hearing can be had. They pre-
| fer to have the testimony of the witnesses
| against Dockery heard in open court, so
that it cannot be suppressed in secret
| session, as was the case in the investiga-
| ton OF Superintendent Weaver OF the
| Aim shouse.
| 1t is understood that the attorneys foI
| Dockery will attempt to convince the
court that it has no jurisdiction in the
matter and will endeavor to have the
action thrown out on that ground. Should
the court take Dockery's attorneys view
of the case the matter will be placed IN the
hands of the Grand Jury, where a thor
ough ventilation of the scandal is certain.