The San Francisco call., 1898-04-08
DINCEE AND NOFFITT TELL THEIR TALES Deny Using Money to Elect Their Friends. The EX-Senator Objects
 to the Garbling of
 Testimony. Is Prepared to Make His Own Report of Grand Jury
 Proceedings.
HIS CONTENTION IS LEGAL
Efforts Were Made to Elect "OId
 ParG T" Bassett Last Election.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call
 Q0S Rrna wau nril [

Oakland Ofnce San Francisco Call, sos Broadway, April :. Much surprise was expressed to- night when it was announced that the Grand Jury had adjourned indefinitely. This is taken to indicate that the jurors do not see any prospect at present of being able to reach the truth of the many scandals that are being openly discussed. It was reported that Chairman Crooks may not call the jury together again un- til ready to discuss their nnal report.
 William J. Dlngee, president of the Oak land Water company, was before the Grand Jury this afternoon. The investi- gation was confine, throughout the day solely to the water rate business and the alleged circumstances attending the cleo ton of the present City Council and Mayor
 The following was MT. Dingee's exam ination:
 Were you interested in the election of ihe present City Council?'
 T was. l helped to elect my friends" Did you know that Mir. Woodward was to be appointed when MT. tibush re- signed?"
 II did not know of his appointment till 1t had taken place; neither did 1 discuss 1t with anybody, being in complete ignor- ance."
 How long after his appointment did you try to see him?"
 T tried to see him the minute I heard of 1t. l have discuss d water rates with every member of the Council except MT. Girard, and I do consider him as re- spOnsibIe for much that he says and does"
 Do you --now MT. Mofitt?"
 T do."
 What are your relations with him?"
 "Of business anu friendly nature"
 Would you tell us the nature of the business relations?"
 T will. We are interested in enter prises involving many thousands of dol lars, and naturally We work together for DO you know anything of MT. Moffitt's private affairs"
 Yes I know that he has a private in- come of comfortable proportions, such as no doubt many of you Grand Jurors would like to possess"
 What is the nature of your friendship .. We are the best of friends" :. Tn what way is MT. Moffitt connected with the Oakland Water Company? Has he been the political manager for the cor poration?'
 :. MT Mofitt has no technical connection with the Oakland Water Company; he is rot on it's payroll, he has never received a penny from the company and neither has he ever been its political manager $. We have discussed many things together fin a friendly manner and in one large F.. concern Mr. Motfitt and l are partners. He has never handled any money for the
 
 ,::thing but a friend of mine since we had business relations together. >. Several other questions were asked MT. :" $DiRgee regarding his anxiety to elect cer- Iain Councilmen, and how far he had - gone in showing the depth of his friend ship for them. But no material evidence was extracted from him. Frank J. Mofftt was the next witness. MT. Moffitt and MT. Dingee had been +:walking about the corridors of the court house for an hour before being called tO During Mofitt carried a large block of yellow le- gal cap. On being asked what he intend- ed to do with it, he replied: "Yod will know as soon as l have been in the Grand Jury room.'
 When MT Moffitt's name was called he .. marched in with his block of legal cap. AS soon as he was asked his name, ad- dress and other preliminary questions, the District Attorney said, Are you in tho employ of the Oakland Water Company"
 MT. MoffittS pencil at once started to record the question on his pad of fools cap. At this action of his some of the Grand. Jury protested and asked MT. Moffitt what he was doing.
 MT. Mofitt said: "Gentlemen, 1t is a . notorious fact that within one hour of :. the adjournment of this Grand Jury this room is public property and is the common talk of everybody on the street. Friends of mine who have testified here ..have been annoyed by seeing their testi- mony published in the newspapers in a garbled and untruthful fashion and so worded as to help the various political ideas of those who are responsible for : their publication. I determined, there fore, that when I came before this Grand Jury l would myself keep record of every question and every answer that transpired, so that in case of misrepre- sentation and falsehood l could make public the whole truth in my own inter- ests and for my own protection if neces- eary"
 "Do you intend to carry out your idea, MT. Moffitt?" asked juror.
 ,l.,
 Jerry Tyrreu. himself an old politician. made motion that MT. Mofitt be ad- Judged guilty of contempt of the Grand Jury. The motion was promptly second ed. whereupon Foreman Crooks asked the District Attorney if such a course as MT. Moihtt proposed to take were permis- shle.
 MT. Shook replied that he knew of no law that would prevent man from doing such a thing. and he could not therefore advise the jury that such a course was illegal.
 It was then proposed that Mr. Moffitt be excused for fifteen minutes and he left the room. Judge Ogden was sent for and in the interval he agreed with MT. Shook that there was no law to prevent a man keeping a record of his own testi- mony, and Mir. Moffitt was again sum moned.
 We are seeking to ascertain If any thing criminal has been done in the mat ter of fixing water rates, and we wish to know from you as a citizen any informa- ton you can give us. It is the unanimous wish of this jury that you do not take notes of the proceedings, and we ask you not to do it." said Foreman Crooks
 Mir. Moflitt replied that if it was not pleasant to the jury for him to take notes he would refrain from doing so. except he should be asked questions which he considered to be of vital character.
 The witness was questioned regarding the appointment of Councilman Wood ward, and in reply told the following story:
 'I did not know that MT. Woodward had been appointed until the Mayor had flied his appointment l did not make any attempt to see Mir. Woodward imme- :clately after his appointment, although I = met him some time later. I did not try ,. to induce him to do anything contrary ing in the water business myself nat,Ir- eIV thought that rates should be high ::