The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

The ire of the Health Board is par ticularly strong because no effort was made by the paper to verify the false statements it published, and the board was placed in a position of having appointed a man who was represented as ready at any or all times to take money as a re- ward for protecting those who trans gress the law.
 What makes the case particularly ag- gravating is the fact that it was in sinuated that crooked acts have been common among the inspectors of the department and that an investigation might develop a serious scandal.
 The paper, not content with talk ing the word of a disgruntled Chinese, brought in the name of Health Officer O'Brien, who was said to be carefully and cautiously inves- tigating before making any public ex- pose.
 The story, as misstated in the paper, was to the effect that health inspector in full uniform had called at the establishment of Sing Kee, Chi nese merchant doing business on Sac ramento street near Dupont, and de- manded a bribe to save the Chinese from arrest for having sold quantity of onions that were unfit for food. The Chinaman was represented as a man of wealth and also a man of standing in the Chinese business community, yet he was credited with having paid and quoted with saying that he had paid $50 as a price of his liberty, and to pre- vent himself from being taken to jail.
 The real facts of the case are these: A quantity of onions arrived from Aus tralia by steamer few days ago con signed to a man named Peterson. On account of their bad condition the con- Signee refused to accept them, and as neither duty nor freight had been paid they were sold at auction. Sing Kee was the purchaser. few hours later the Chinese, who is always looking for a bargain. sold the onions to George Brorsen, buyer for D. Keefe & Co. In the meantime Inspector Billy Jordan of the Board of Health had been com plained to about the odor of the onions and had ordered them dumped into the bay.
 When Brorsen called for his onions he was given a receipt by Jordan show ing that the onions had been thrown overheard. This receipt was handed to John w. Gale, manager of the house of D. Keefe & Co.,, who proceeded to demand from Sing Kee the return of the $30 that had been paid for the on- ions. Being acquainted with Inspec tor William Finnigan of the Health Department he asked the latter to look into the matter.
 Finnigan, after ascertaining from h. spector Jordan that the facts as stated to him were correct, agreed to accom- pany Gale to see the Chinaman. Gale and Finnigan called together at Sing Kee's place of business and Gale made a demand for the return of the money, claiming that Brorsen did not know the condition of the onions at the time he purchased them. Inspector Finni- gan informed Sing Kee that he had violated the law in selling the onions and under the conditions the Chinese merchant agreed to return the money.
 The inspector was highly indignant yesterday when he read the charge that had been made against him, and at once called upon Health Officer OBrien. He admitted that he was present when the money was paid. but characterized as lie the statement that he had signed a fictitious name to the receipt. He stated that he had not signed the receipt at all. but that the paper had been signed by MT. Gale when the money was paid by the Chinaman. He demanded a full in- vestigation of the matter and with MT. Gale went before notary public and made affidavit to the facts as they had occurred.
 Among the members and employees of the Board of Health the story is re- guarded as shameless attempt t. make a sensation at the expense of the reputation of Inspector Finnigan.
 Though Sing Kee is quoted with having charged Health Inspector with exacting blackmail from him he evidently believes that MT. Gale of D. Keefe & Co., is responsible, and had his attorneys draw up papers yesterday for suit in the Justice Courts de- manding the return of the $3O.