The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18
Everybody Is Anxious to Sc
cure the Arrest of His
Enemies.
GAVIN HIGH DISAPPOINTED.
Though Served With Two Warrants
He Cannot Get Papers for
Others.
OAKLAND OFFICE san Francisco CALL, !
QAp RronAu-n,r lima II


90S Broadway, June II.
The dull spell is broken. Oakland is
now enjoying high times, which state
ment IS somewhat of pun, but all of the
truth. Libel, politics and bribery are the
warcries of the various camps, and while
the storm Is raging those most interested
are wondering where the lightning will
strike next. A new element is added each
day and, like so many acids of different
natures, they have now reached the point
of ebul Iition and the public is enjoying
the show
The first heavy gun was fired last night
when Gavin Dhu High was arrested on
two charges of criminal libel preferred
against him by William J. Dingee presi-
dent of the Oakland Water Company
Mr.. Dingee's COMPLAINT referred to pub
LEGATIONS in Mr.. Highs paper, the Times,
and which reflected on Mr.. Dingee as a
real estate agent and also on the methods
of the company of which he is president
After waiting what he considered a rea-
sonable time to give Mr.. High an oppor-
tunity 10 retract, Mr.. Dingee swore out two
warrants and Mr.. High, after putting up
bonds, was released.
Then the editor came back with a griev-
ance, In published interview Mr.. Dingee
inferred that he had been approached
some time ago and told that if he supplied
Mr.. High with new printing machine
and guaranteed a subsidy of..S125 month
Mr.. High would be Mr.. Dingee's "friend."
Mr.. High Indignantly denies that he
ever dreamed that the donation of print
ing machine was part of the legitimate
business of water company. The editor
published his view of the case this morn
ing and said:
'Mr. High emphatically denies that he
ever asked Mr.. Dingee or anybody con-
nected with his enterprises for a dollar or
any other consideration, but will affirm
under oath in court at the proper time
that he had not been in the city more than
forty-eight hours when politician in Mr.
Dingeeis employ attempted to bribe him
to advocate the sale of the plant of the
Oakland Water Company to the city of
Oakland. Mr.. High refused point blank
to be a party to the scheme to foist the
plant on the city and he was then threat
ened with all kinds of calamity unless he
fell into line and advocated the Dingee
plant, and it was that very refusal to be
party to Mr. Dingee's pet scheme which
has caused the arrest of the editor"
This morning Mr.. High applied to the
District Attorney for warrant for the ar
rest of Mr.. Dingee for criminal libel for
his reported reference to the printing
machine; he also wanted a warrant for w.
e. Dargie, who printed Mr. Dingee's inter
view. Frank Robinson, the editor of an
other paper, also printed the interview
and not contented with this he published
an editorial in which he said:
hoe q
the press. 1t does not appear well for any
one in this community to attempt even to
helittle his efforts, let alone slur his char
acter. He has saved to the people OF this
CITY hundreds of thousands of dollars in
water rates by introducing a competitive
system equal to any on the Pacific Coast.
These are the men Oakland ought to aid
and support in every way possible. The
same offending paper seems to be the
mouthpiece of a banking institution. As
a consequence the impression has gone
forth that the bank is responsible In
measure for the policy of the paper"
For his share in the matter, Mr.. High
also asked for warrant for the arrest of
Mr.. Robinson. The District Attorney did
not consider that he was justified in oblig-
ing High, and so no warrants were issued.
These are the facts of the latest sensation
in this city, but they are simply like the
covers OF a book. They constitute merely
the title to hundred untold stories and
sidehghts that are familiar to those on the
f'inside," but which will, If the cases
against High go to trial, become public
property. The editor does not believe the
prosecution viii be pressed, but promises
sensation if it should be. Mr.. Dingee de-
clares that he will vindicate himself by
the law and intimates that he has trump
card up his sleeve.
And Frank ]. Mofitt, the assistant
manager of the Oakland Water Company,
says this is not his fight, but calmly awaits
developments. Truly there are High
Times in Oakland