The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-10-12
An Animated Colloquy Between
General Barnes and the
Commissioner.
GUNST SAID HE WAS MISQUOTED.
The General Sharply Denied the State
ment Accredited to Gunst That
Lees Put Him in the Figel Case.

The report was circulated on the streets
and in public places yesterday that Moses
a. Gunst, Police Commissioner, had de-
termined to resign on account of his lack
of health. II was SAID that Mr.. Gunst
made his recent trip abroad to restore his
nervous system, which is subject 10 pros
tration by reason of undue excitement.
On his return from his journey bis heath
was in a great measure restored, but be-
fore he had been in town three days he
became involved in controversy with
Chief of Police Lees, which caused an
other attack of nervous prostration.
In addition to the controversy with Lees
1t was reported that the Commissioner and
General W. H l.. Barnes exchanged some
high words on Market street yesterda y.
The dialogue between the two took place
near THE CALL business Office, and was
heard by quite group of spectators who
observed The meeting. According to the
version given by a spectator. General
Barnes overlook the Commissioner ana
called him TO account Tor an intervie W
wherein the Commissioner was reported
TO have said for publication that he called
the turn in the engagement of counsel to
defend FIge1 as soon as he heard OF the
action taken by Chief Lees-that he then
named Louderback and Barnes.
The Commissioner denied that he had
ever mentioned the name of General
Barnes in the interview. A copy of the
paper was procured and sure enough
Barnes name was there. Mr.. Gunst then
challenged the correctness of the inter-
view, saying again That he had never re-
ferred to Barnes.
Last evening Mr.. Gunst was seen at his
residence on Hyde street and asked if
there was any truth in the statement that
he intended to resign in order that is
health might be restored. At first he re-
fused to accept the question as serious
He did not say that he was on the Board
OF Police Commissioners for his health
but be aseed the newspaper scribe if
he Mr.. Gunst) ever seemed 20 be in
better health than at the present time
The interviewer had to agree as to the
outward and visible signs of robust health,
but yet nervous prostration is sucn a de-
ceiVing disease that one may look as
strong as Samson and still go all to
pieces in moment of intense mental ex-
element Mr.. Gunst said, however, hat
he Intended to stay IN office.
The incidental question of health and
resignation having been disposed of the
Commissioner was asked to give his YER
sion OF the colloquy on Market street yes
terday between himself and General
Barnes. Mr.. Gunst said: General Barnes
met me on the street yesterday and asked
me why | ad used his name in connec-
ton with the Figel case in a newspaper
interview. | told him that had not used
his name and it was not so reported He
said the best proof that l had used his
name was the paper itself, and we pro.
cured a copy. 1t was so published as
General Barnes had said, but did not use
his name and promised to have the error
corrected. l simply mentioned t: name
of Louderback, but mentioned Mr.. Lou
derback in q respectful manner. That
was all that occurred. 1 have kno wn Cen