The San Francisco call., 1896-01-23
Mr. PAGE HOLDS A LEvEE,
The Ex-District Attorney Is
Glad to Get Back Among
His Friends.
THE FREEDOM OF THE PRISON.
Doubtless the Pull Will Be Exerted
to Save the Ex-Politician From
His Indictment.
THE FREEDOM OF THE PRISON,

Jimmy Page, the ex-District Attorney,
who returned Tuesday from his Eastern
tour, held quite levee in the basement OF
the City Hall yesterday. Many CT his old
friends were on hand to greet him. Among
them were many petty officials and al
most all OF the old ward bosses and wire
pullers.
BY stress OF circumstances over which
Jimmy had no control he was torced TO
hold his levee on the wrong side of the big
iron doors in front of the City Prison. But
this was not great inconvenience. He
and his friends enjoyed the freedom OF the
prison Office and the hospitality, at meal
times, OF the prison-keeper's ia ble Jimmy
otherwise James d. Page-is under in
dlctment by the Grand Jury on a charge
OF embezzling over $4,000 of funds belong
ing to an insane ward, but this fact did not
seem to cast shadow on the Ievee of YES
terday. Although the State of California
paid Jlmmy's fare back from New York
and he travelled in com pany with Detect
I've Anthony. who had been sent out with
q warrant to bring him back, Jimmy
smiled and shook hands with his friends
yesterday, and there was a cordial feeling
inside the City Prison that seemed, to an
unlnterested spectator, rather out of keep
ing with the surroundings.
Jimmy has had his fling at the world,
ana the chances are that mis- days of high
rolling are not yet ended. He has lots of
trends lett among the lesser politicians,
and doubtless the "pull" will be exerted
to the limit. Although it would seem
that he has reached about the end of an
unsuccessful career it is still too early for
the morallst to point him out as living
example. He is still a young man and
the end is not yet.
The career of James D. Page in this City
opened under most favora bic auspices.
He was born in San Francisco, educated
here, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar
de entered politics at onoe, and in 1887
was elected Justice of the Peace. He was
very popular at that time.
When his term as Justice of the Peace
had expired, he was elected District Attor-
ney of the City and County and served
full term in that responsible Office,
being succeeded by the incum bent, Mr.
district Attorneys office, Page married
the daughter of the late Paul Shirley of
Martinez. About this time he began to be
known as high roller. Wine was his
beverage and his friends began to increase
rapidly. In the Republican convention of
", he sought the nomination for Judge OF
the superior Court. his lifelong friend,
now Judge Hebbard, being his opponent.
Defeated IN the convention, Page sought
revenge on his erstwhie friend, and dur
ing the campaign he played an active
but iruitless part in trying to defeat Heb
bard.
ut was then he lost his real friends"
SAID an official at the City Hall yesterday.
We looked upon it as the act of traitor
to his party, and the leading spirits in IL
would have nothing more to do with him."
The success of his opponent at the polls
seemed to embitter Page, for he drank
more than ever and opened more wine in
the tenderIoin districts. Then his wife Sc
cured divorce, and after that Jimmy
Page went TO pieces very fast, his friends
say. he looked we'll and strong yesterday
In the City Prison, and as though he had
refralned from his old-time !dissipa tions
during his wanderings in the East. He re-
fused to talk about himself or his case, but
SAID ne was glad to get back here again
and see his old friends.