The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-22
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES iD JdrmdD's
SluDder Suit Against
"Jin" Req.
How Certoin City Officials Were Bulldozed Ipto
Doing the Bidding of tbe Political
RDgsters

SAN JOSE, Sept. 21.-Rea's methods
Of doing politics were ventilated in
Judge Kittredges court to-day during
the proceedings in the Jarman-Rea
$50, 900 slander suit. Ex-Councilman
Jarman related how Rea and Macken-
zie had interfered with himself and
other Councilmen in the performance
of their official duties. Mayor Paul P.
Austin, he said, also was active>ln this
respect. These worthless tried to die
tate the election Of certain policemen
and firemen-
AS was expected the case will bring
out many new things in San Jose poll
tics. 1t establishes beyond doubt that
the city government for years and have
had control of all the City Councils.
The courtroom was packed. Jarman
was on the stand all day and had just
completed his testimony at the hour of
adjournment.
At the opening of court this morning
Attorney Burchard questioned Jarman
in regard to the date of his alteration
with Rea, when the slanderous remarks
were made. The witness was then
passed and Attorney Delmas ELECTED
the following story of the workings of
Rea and Mackenzie in politics:
Jarman said his relations with Rea
were friendly before he became Coun-
Gilman He was elected to the Council
in April, 1895, and about this time Rea
called at his home to discuss such po-
litical offices as would come within his
OF ba
"At Rea's first visit he importuned
me to support John E. Richards for
City Attorney. Mayor Austin also called
and urged me to support Richards.
Rea came to my store two or three
times in relation to the selection of
firemen and policemen. He wanted me
to programme and vote for the slate
he would make up. told him l had
my own view as TO who should serve
as policemen and firemen and would
exercise my own Judgment in selecting
them
On the Sunday morning before the
annual election Of policemen and fire
men Councilmen Jarman, Dittus, Krieg
and Martin met at the office of the
wood yard of Councilman E. P. Main to
go over the names of applicants for po-
sitions In the police and fire depart
ments. They had been in session but
few minutes when knock was heard
and "Boss" Rea entered. In his usual
blunt manner Rea said:
You people think you can get along
without me, but want you to know
1 have something to say in the matter"
Rea then went over to where Council
and. slapping him on the shoulder, said:
What in hi are you doing here?
You know perfectly well you can't vote
with these people. If you do you will
lose your job Tuesday morning. Be
sides, remember that little financial
obligation you are under to me. Come
with me; get out of here"
Rea took Martin with him and thus
broke up the meeting. Martin at that
time was working for r. J. Langford,
Rea's present candidate for Sheriff,
and through Langford Rea intended to
enforce his threat of discharge.
Rea told those in Mains Office when
he left if they would come to his home
in the afternoon he would arrange
things satisfactorily. Jarmans testi-
mony about the visit to Rea's home fol-
lows:
"Councilmen Main, Dittus, Krieg and
myself went to Rea's home. Besides
Rea there were present John D. Mac
kenzie, Major Starck, w. J. Wolcott,
superintendent of the Almshouse; u.
L. Orcutt, superintendent of the In
firmary; Mayor Austin and Colonel
Bennett, Street Commissioner. Coun-
Gilman Martin was absent.
"Rea took pencil and paper from his
pocket and began to write down the
names Of those firemen and policemen
to whom the were no objections. I
was the principal objector. The first
objection / raised was to the removal