The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-08
JUDGE CAMPBELL
RISES IN WRATH
Refuses to Preside in Court
Where O'Brien Is a
Clerk.
Will Bring His Troubles for In
vestigation by the Grand
Jury.
He Declares There Is No Truth in the
Vindictive Charge That II, Sold
Orders cf Release.

The entente cordiale between Police
Judge Campbell and his clerk, L. B.
O'Brien, has been Jared again.
O'Brien has been making statements to
the effect thar the Judge has been in the
habit of leaving blank orders of release
with his signature attached, where criml-
mails could easily find them.
The scandal was telegraphed broadcast,
and Judge Campbell learned OF it in Sac
ramento. He Immediately proceeded TO
this City, and yesterday morning he held
court as was his wont.
Prior to attending to the regular bust
ness. however, Judge Campbell began
hauling his clerk over the Goals. o. Brien
denied having seen any Examiner or
Chronicle reporter, and denied their pub
lished interviews
Judge Campbell, after hearing the evil
dence of the affair, declared he would not
allow O'Brien to act another minute as
clerk of his court.
The bail bonds which Judge Campbell
was accused OF having signed and lett in the
possession of saloon-keepers and shyster
attorneys, are generally termed 80. r. s.
meaning town recognizance." In other
words, such bond or release permits a
prisoner to leave the Jail without furnis
ing any security for his temperance upon
the date set for his trial.
Judge Campbell denies that he ever did
anything OF this kind, and adds that such
proposition would be Infamous.
II propose to present the entire matter
TO the Grand jury" the Judge stated yes
terday 10 CALL reporter. elf / have
done anything of that sort should be in
dicted. II L have not done this then
the newspapers-the Chronicle and Ex-
aminer-that have published these sour
rilous articles should be indicted for libel.
l propose to bring suit against them
anyhow.
When court convened Judge Campbell
said he had seen by the papers that he
was accused of having orders of discharge
signed in blank lying around In different
saloons that could be had for a drink, or
two dollars and half He said further
that t e clerk, T. B. O'Brien, was quoted
as making the charges. O'Brien denied,
however, that he had said anything to
any reporter, or even that he had seen a
reporter.
The Judge then announced his inten-
ton of having the matter thoroughly in
vestigateu, and he ordered the bailiff to
find the reporters who had written the
articles.
. In the afternoon John Rathom of the
Chronicle was called to tell of the article
he had written. He said he had inter
We've OBren at the New Western Hotel.
in O'Brien's bedroom, ana that his report
where he had quoted O'Rrien was practi-
caily what O'Brien had said. Then the
proceedings continued:
The court Ito Mr.. o. Brien)-You have heard
the statement. Mr.. O'Brien, by Mr.. Rathom.
Do you desire TO ask him any question?
Clerk O'Brien-What do you object to?
The COURT object to the statement you
made wherein you said there were blank or
ders of dis charges signed by me in saloons
over San Francisco and could be had for
So so.
Clerk OBrien-No, sir 1 said-I never made
that statement. 1 said that was currently
rumored.
The court-You said that?
Clerk O. Brlen-Yes, sir.
The couri-Didn't you say this morning
sir, you never had been interviewed by q re-
porter?
Clerk OBrien-I was not on Monday night !;
was last night, not on Monday night, though
Tne court-Did you tell the reporter you had
been sitting here Tor two years and had seen
l forget the language-cal this den of
inquity that presided over as Judge?
Clerk O'Brien-1 don't remember used any
such language as that. That may be stated IN
the newspaper, but l never used any such
language; there was no stenographie report
of it.
The court Ito Mr.. Rathoml-Did you get
this from Mr.. OBrien? A. That statement
there is practically what Mr.. O'Brien said, sir
The court (read1ng)-"There are three or
four shady attorneys who have got their peck
cts full of these releases now" Did he say
that to you, sir? A. / telling you that
whole statement is practically what Mr.
OBrien told me. I went up to him; had q II
interview with Mr. O'Brien and asked him
these questions He did not volunteer the
in or ma ton off hand; he did not stand up
and N axe stump speech about it, but he said
those things in response to my queries on the
subject.
The court dnterruptng)-Di he (refer-
ring to Clerk O'Bren) call this den of IN
EQUITY that had been presiding over. or words
to that effect? A. They were the very words
he said.
The COURT took the trouble to look into
this matter for the simple reason that l feel
ana know that great in ustice has been done
me. l am satisfied that every thinking and
reasonable man about the City does not give
any credenee to that very foolish and puerile
statement, but 1t shows a vindictive spirit on
your part that Is wholly un Decoming and un-
/ called for from YOU toward me, and brings
this court into contempt and disrepute in the
eyes of the community, or such of those as are
foolish enough 10 believe your lying state
ment, and from the manner of your bold and
impudent denial of these charges this morning
and your now cringing action in the matter,
ana upon the sworn statement of this news
paper repofter,I believe that what he pub
lished III the paper you told him, and do not
believe you are q fl or proper person to be the
clerk in q court, and so far as l am personally
concerned you cannot be clerk OF this court for
another minute. | would not preside over q
court with such man as you as clerk in it, so
l will adjourn this court until can procure a
decent and respectable clerk.