The San Francisco call., 1896-07-25
Result of an Expose at the
Monday Meeting of
the Board.
THE coLoNEL's LOADED CANE.
King Was Called Down by a Man
Almost Old Enough to Be
His Father.

Supervisor Joe King came nearer to
death on Tuesday last than he ever was
before in his life. and in consequence his
bearing toward one of his fellow-members
in the board has changed since that time
to q remarkable extent.
The man who ''called him down. was
Supervisor Taylor, one of the oldest men
on the board, and who, from his physique
and dignifed bearing, would not be taken
for man who could cow the burIy Super
visor of the First Ward.
The trouble arose over one of the trans
actions of the board at its NEE ting on
Monday last.
While the matter of milk contracts was
being discussed, Supervisor Taylor made a
plain statement of facts regarding the
manner in which milk is supplied to the
Almshouse, the statement being directed
at King, who is chairman of the Hospitals
Committee, the inference being that he
was responsible for the charging of exorbl-
tant rates by the contractor who supplies
the lacteal fluid for the use of the City's
poor.
During pause in his discourse he held
q moments whispered conference with
Supervisor bunker, who sits on his right,
and, who is a member OF Kings commit
tee. Then he went on to say that he un-
derstood that the other committeeman
had never been consulted by King before
the contract was let, that the committee
had never been called together to con-
sIder the matter, ana that, moreover, the
contract had been given to brother-in-
law of the Supervisor from the First.
King was white with rage when Super
visor Taylor had finished, but he refrained
from an outbreak at the time, contenting
himself with denial of the charge that
he had given the contract to any relative,
but admitting in the next breath that he
had given 1t to a friend without consulting
the members of his committee.
Later, in the clerk Office, he called both
Supervisor Taylor and Supervisor bunker
vile names behind their backs and threat
ened to wreak vengeance on them, but it
was not thought the matter would go any
further.
The next day, however, King accumu-
lated heavy load of liquid refreshments
and with fire in his eye and the events of
the day before ranking in mis- breast startad
on hunt for those who had forced him
to expose his methods of handling the
City's business.
He presently ran across Colonel Taylor
and began to make belligerent remarks in
tended for that PERSONS ears. He appa-
rently did not wish to appear to start a
disturbance, for he mentioned no names,
but he talked of giving some one who had
insulted him a sound thrashing. Colonel
Taylor gained the impression that the
threat was directed at Supervisor bunker
and, after listening to the TRADE of abuse
until he was thoroughly exasperated, said /:
"You seem to be looking for some one
to lick, King?"
"Oh, don't know, answered the repre-
sentative of the First Ward insinuatingIy.
"Well, if you are determined to tackle
some one, why don't you begin on me.
was the one who told of your connection
with the milk business2 ?" said Supervisor
Taylor.
Perhaps 1 might" said King. "If I
should what would you do about it2" He
was edging toward Mr.. Taylor as he spoke,
his rignt hand clinched and ready for
business.
II would kill you like rat" answered
Mr.. Taylor quietly, but looking King
straight in the eyes.
By this time a crowd had begun to
gather about the men, and those who heard
the words last quoted say that King gave
one look into Colonel Taylor's eyes and
noting the look of determination there
wilted and made no more threats, soon
afterward taking his departure.
Supervisor Taylor makes no secret OF
his bloodless but rather dramatic meeting
with King.
Il never could stand being buliied," he
said yesterday, "even by a young and
athletic man like King, and l am not
going to begin now. AS matter of fact,
King was intoxicated and smarting over
the way he was exposed in the board. He
wanted 10 lick some one. or tried to make
it appear that way, but he tackled the
wrong man when he went after me. /
meant just what l said when told King
that would kill him if he made an attack
on me. He has the reputation of being
fighter, and as l understand it, has had
number of encounters, so that had he