The San Francisco call., 1897-03-19
THUS CRUMBLE
ALL THE FAKES
Legislators Laugh as the
Coyote Bribery Yarn
Fails.
Sleuths of Hearst's LEGAL Sewer
of Scandal Tried in Vain to
Make a Story.
Testimony Before Investig ators Shows
That Power Is Innocent of the
Allegations.

SAChAMEN1 CAL.s MarcQ 10
George McCalvey, the ex-Deputy Secre-
tary of State, who, for reasons which may
be surmised by those who know him best,
besought his friend Assemblyman Power
OF San Francisco to confess to an Exami-
ner reporter that he and several of his
colleagues had been bribed, was before the
investigating committee this afternoon
and corroborated the statement of Re-
questions used by them to induce Power
to say something which would sound well
In the fake journal. He denied that he
had received or had been promised any
money by the Examiner for his services,
or that he had been hired by that paper.
Attorney Morganstern represented
Power in the examination. "Why did
you advise Power to confess?" he asked.
because 1 thought he was cornered or
would be cornered. but Power denied very
emphatically that he had received any
money" responded McCalvey.
ibid you have any reason to believe
from Mr.. Powers statement" asked Mr..
iAab uc Adu ISCSlNcQ
promise of reward or money for his vote,
or to change his vote on that bill?"
mo, sir"
McCalvey testified that Power anc Pack
ard were not concealed behind the green
baize screen at the main entrance, but
that Packard was leaning against one of
the pillars at the side of the big doors, and
Power was standing in front of him, both
in plain view of score or more of people
in the lobby.
w. A. Ryan of the Chronicle told the
committee that he had gone with Packard
and Eagan (Packard's friend) to the Cali
fornia State Bank, where Cashier Gerber
informed him that ne did not know Pack
ard, that no m oney had been drawn from
the bank by Packard or any one else, or
that any money had been received or order
for the payment of money from Blodgett
or any one else at Bakersfield.
Then they went to the Western Union
Telegraph Office, where Packard author
lied the young lady in attendance to pro-
duce any kilograms passing between him
self or any one else, and the young lady
replied after search that there were no
such kilograms there. He had not seen
peared in the Examiner and the Chroni-
Gle, but its purport had been told him by
an Assemblyman who would not consent
TO the use of his name.
On further inquiry the fact was elected
that this Assemblyman had said to Mr..
Ryan that he had heard some one say that
he heard some one else say that there was
rumor that telegram had been sent
stating that $4,000 would save Bert on re-
consideration" This was the extent of
the information impaired TO the Chronicle
reporter by the long-eared Assemblyman,
upon whom no libel can be committed, be-
cause he chooses to remain anonymous.
Mr.. Morganstern asked the committee
to force the reporter to disclose the iden-
tity OF the scandal-monger, but the COM
mittee did not care as the matter was
simply wild rumor and the gossip of few
grannies in the Assembly.
The testimony of Mr.. Ryan was blow
at the head OF the fake, but the blow at
the heart of the fake was administered by
Cashier Gerbor of the California Sta3e
Bank, who swore that he did not know
Packard; that he had not received any
orders from Kern County or elsewhere to
pay Packard any money whatever, or from
any one to pay any one else any money in
connection with the coyote bill.
1t will be remembered that both the Ex.
aminer and the Chronicle asserted that
after Packard left the Assembly chamber
he went to the Western Union office and
sent dispatch about coyotes, the buzz
ing of the wires having sounded in the
ears of the Examiner Sherlock Holmes
like the yelping of coyotes.
Then they said that Packard went to
Gerber's bank and drew $4,000, which he
probably distributed to Assemblymen,
with the exception of the half dozen vir-
ruous legislators who told their sus-
p;cions not to policeman or to the
poundkeeper, but 10 the Examiner sleutb.
The days evidence LETT the Examiner
not a leg to stand upon and convicted it
of having deliberately and maliciously
faxed a libel for the purpose OF having a
sensation.
Secretary of State Brown testified that
he did not know that Packard or Mccall
vey had any coyote scalp claims before
the State Board of Examiners.
Senator VOORHEES, of Amador was asked
as to the conversation testified to by
Wright of Alameda. The Senator said
that Wright remarked that he had voted
for the bill and he was very sorry for hav-
ing done it, ard he was going 10 vote for
reconsideration the next day. The wit
ness might have said that he hoped there
would not be another scandal.
Assemblyman Godfrey voted no, but
changed his vote at the earnest solicita-
ton OF Emmons. "Emmoms always stood
in with my bills and l thought would
return the favor" added Godfrey.
E. +. Moran of the Examiner was re-
gave him instructions to interview Power
and that Lawrence said that if Power
was pushed hard be would confess to hav-
ing been bribed. Lawrence told Moran
on that occasion that he had in his pos
session a telegram which showed evidence
that there had been bribery. He did not
show the telegram or state its contents.
Mr.. Morganstern examined the witness
at some length in the attempt to show
that Moran had frequently "put up for
the drinks for Power in order to get Power
drunk so that he might talk freely for the
Examiner. Moran denied the i'm mplica-
ton, but admitted having called for the
drinks with gentlemanly frequency.
Assem- blyman Lacy testified that AS
sem blyman Harris had asked him whether
he had got his "piece" out of the coyote
bill.
The committee laughed at this and ad