The herald., 1897-03-21
Considered to Have Bearing on the
Charges Of Crookedness
The Committee Says the Coyote Bill Was
Passed by Bribery
The discriminating Messages Read In
Open Session of the State Assembly
Amid Deathlike Silence-Action
Unanimously Approved

SACRAMENTO, March 20.-1Assen-
blyman Melick is the hero of the hour.
He has shown today that he is the most
nervy man in the legislature. Last
night or. rather, this morning, repre-
sentatives of the Examiner called on the
committee investigating the coyote
scalp scandal and offered it's special
train to meet a train bearing the box
Of kilograms intercepted at Truckee and
ordered back to this city: All the COM
mitteemen except Melick favored ac-
cepting the offer, but Melick would only
accept on the understanding that all
newspaper men who desired could go on
the train. This the Examiner demurred
to. saying: 'If we pay for the train, we
should get the news"
1--WE are not conducting this examina-
ton for the Examiner. but for the state
of California" said Melick. IF the rest
of the committee are willing to accept
your exclusive hospitality, well and
good, but I will not, because would
only accept it to further the ends Of JUS
tice-what you profess to desire to sub
serve"
When the committee insisted, Melick
said: "Well, gentlemen, you can go If
you wish. but will resign as chairman
II you do and state to the assembly why
I resigned"
It was a. m. by that time, and so
the committee concluded to agree to
Melick's position. 1t adjourned to meet
at the depot at a. M, three hours later.
At the hour named only Melick. two 9TH
er members of the committee and John
Wray, clerk of the committee. were on
hand When the train rolled in Melick
and the committee boarded the express
car and demanded the box of kilograms.
The messenger declared at first that the
box was not there, and then declined to
point it out. AS the train was about to
leave the depot Melick grabbed the mes
senger and pulled him off the train, ar
resting him in the name Of the state. He
also arrested the conductor, and the
train was stopped. The messenger fin
ally pointed to a trunk, which Melick
broke open and found within 1t a box,
two feet square, containing kilograms.
The sheriff was going to arrest Melick
on a charge of burglary for breaking
open the trunk, but Melick declared the
legislature was greater than the county
sheriff and ordered Wray to arrest the
sheriff or any one else interfering with
the committee. That had the desired
effect
Melick then, as chairman Of the COM
mittee, gave receipt for the box to the
express messenger. grabbed 1t. put it in
carriage and. with the committee.
drove to the capitol.
They went at once to the committee
room and locked the door. barricading
1t also with tables, and excluding every
one, including reporters and the balance
of the committee. At once the commit
tee went over the kilograms, one by one.
spreading them out on the table.
Meantime Local Manager Senf and
General Superintendent Jaynes Of the
Western Union arrived with Judge Car
penter. their attorney, and demanded
admission, which was denied them.
They rushed up and down the corridors
swearing vengeance, while a large
crowd of members and others gathered
Finally Jaynes broke down the door and
tried to force himself into the room.
Shaking with rage, he declared: II will
follow you to the end of the earth. Mr.
Melick; the Western Union will crush
you with all its power.,'
Melick said: IT you will follow me to
Antelope valley, Mr. Jaynes. / will lose
you on the desert. But get out Of here;
do not wish to be bothered with you.
Mr.. wray. arrest these gentlemen and
put them out
wray obeyed order and put the men
out. Then Andy Clunle. a. attorney for
the Examiner. tried to enter. but Melick