The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-04
Sweeney, the Lodging : House
Keeper, Makes a Weak
Explanation.
THE RECORDS ARE AGAINST HIM.
He Says His Aoouser Is an "Un-
grateful Rascal" and De-
spoiler of Helpless Women.

The expose in yesterdays CALL Of the
existing conspiracy TO plunder unsus-
pecting stran gers and to protect the Gull
prits created the widest CONSERVATION IN
the camp of professional "grafte s." I he
confession OF John Mccormack fell like a
boomerang in their midst, and threats of
violence against him were freely uttered.
Notwithstanding that a determined
effort was made yesterday to have him
come off, " as one of tue gang expressed
it, he steadfastiy adhered to his written
statement, even declaring that he had
documentary evidence TO back up his as
sertIons Later in the day, Mccormack
claims, he was accosted by two Of
1.-THE game who informed him that nm
less he lett the city before midnight he
would be killed.
Il know they would not hesitate to put
me out OF the way" remarked McCor-
mack, "as my confession has severely IN
iured their business. Knowing the des-
perate character of the members of the
gang, l have concluded not 10 take any
chances and wlll leave tonight for
Seattle"
Mccormack Teiterates his statement
that Sweeney, the digging house keeper.
is behind The gang.
LOOK over the records OF the Police
Courts" he remarked, and you will see
that during the past ten months over fl
teen cases OF bunko men. charged with
crime, have been. dismissed. In nearly
every case Sweeney used his pull, with
the result that The defendants we're dis
charged.
From Q O'Clock to 7 every day he
can b seen around the corridors OF the
City Hall, VIII >Ueri-g. to the prosecuting
attorneys and lodging in and out of the
Chiefs office. The gang firmly believes
in. his great pull and would stake every
dollar thew ever made on i'm.
During the Christian En- orConven-
ton, when the city was filled with strang-
ers. this same gang got away with at lea st
$50 600. Their victims were held up in
PUBIC places, sleered TO some convenien [
Joint and then robS q. arrests were freely
made, but not one OF the gang was sent 10
jan. would not have sqGeaIed if they had
done the right thing.
= Nv hen | was Dlncned in the act OF turn
ing trick not one of the men visited me
IN Jail or sent any word of encourage
ment. 'Smarting under their unkind
treatment | concluded to tell everything
to the police, in the hope that they would
break up the ring. Going to.the office of
Chief Lees l made the written confession
which appeared in THE CALL.
Mccormack is particularly vindictive
against Sweeney, who he says, was anxI-
Gus to see hIm sent to jail.
He failed to land me, however" he
laughlngly remarked. 81 am too sly u
fox 10 be caught mapping by him."
Sweeney declares that he Is innocent of
every charge made against him by McCor-
mack.
at is true I visit the City Hail." he ex-
Sc planned last night. Scarcely a.day passes
that l do not 90 TO the nall, but only to
see my friends. / have never interfered
in any criminal case, and at no lime did
| ri ai m had FRrril ., D1I II
Dartmenj."
Notwithstanding Sweeney's denial of
the charges, the records of the Police De-
partme snow that in d mum Der OF cases
he furnished the necessary bonds for the
release OF bunko men and surething opera
tors. On September ! LAST Bert Starr
Thomas Ashton, Charles Woods and
Frank Williams; who the polio say are
'grafers, were arrested and charged al
the City Prison with vagrancy.
Sweeney put up The necessary bonds for
STAIR and Ashton and they were released
1t Is claimed. that through his effort the
other men were released on their own
recognizance by Judge Joachims n The
following day, when their cases were
called, Sweeney, was seen in the court
room apparently engaged in "souaring"
matters. After a short trial they were
discharged for lack OF evidence"
Charles Woods. another "graiter," was
otISSISO OI CeplSIuDSF - ana charged
with vagrancy. Sweeney, it is said, inter
ested himself in MS behalf and managed
10 secure dismissal of the case. Anum
Der Of other cases could be cited wherein
Sweeney, through some pull" succeeded
In Influencing lie presiding N magistrate TO
dismiss hem.
When confronted with the records of
the court Sweeney finally admitted that
ne had taken few" OF his friends out OF
Jail.
Il am acquainted with Starr and Ash
ton, he sand, and when l learned that
they were locked up 1 at once arranged to
get them out l deny, however, that l
saw the Judge in their behalf"
Sweeney refers TO Mccormack as an