The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
NEW ERA FOR SAN JOSE
POWER OF THE GANG HAS BEEN
BROKEN.
Defendant Takes His Defeat With
Very Bad Grace-Had Boosted
of Certain and Easy
Victory.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Oct. 22.-James w. Rea
stands convicted of SANDER.
So say eleven citizens of Santa Clara
County, and these same citizens to-
night assessed the damage done J. p.
Jarman by Rea's malicious and SIAN
derOus utteranCes at $500. Defendant
must also pay the costs Of the suit,
which amount to $685.. The original
complaint asked for $4,000 damages,
but one count in ii was not sustained,
leaving the amount asked for at 5000
The good and true citizens who rem
dered the verdict that heraldS a new
era for San Jose and Santa Clara
County, that means freedom from boss
rule and corrupt officials, are: Joseph
CIevenger, Otto Brasch, G.. w. Seay,
Henry Davidson, c. Bertlesman, Wal
ter Murray H Rich, H. Weilheimer
G. ". GIendenning, J. A. Gamble and
A. c. McKenney. The juror who re-
fused to Join in the verdict is E. L.
Moody.
The verdict was practically unani-
nous, for all the jurors had agreed to
it in the jury room. When they were
polIed Moody was attacked with bad
case of cold feet" and answered
mo" when asked if it was his verdict.
The reading of the verdict was as
follows:
we. the jury in the above entitled
case, find for plaintiff and assess dam
ages at $500.
Attorney Morehouse asked for ten
days stay for defendant, TO which Del
mas said he had no objection.
The court room was crowded all day
and the spectators listened attentively
TO Delmas' closing argument. When he
finally got down to his perOratiOn his
= le,rr
and the silence was such that a pin
could have been heard TO drop.
Attorney Delmas began the closing
argument TO the jury at the opening of
the court. He said there were two
questions to be considered: Did Rea
utter words in substance to those in
complaint? And did the words uttered
by Rea impUte or charge plaintiff with
the commission of the crime of bribery?
If these questions are answered in
the affirmative" he continued, you
must find a verdict for the plaintiff,
and the duty also devolves on you to
fix the amount of damage done to
plaintiff by these slanderous utter
anceS.
Defendant knew he was lying when
he said Jarman received a bride, and
knowing that he was lying it did not
make the crime any less, because add
ed to crime of deliberate SANDER has
been added that of deliberate lying. He
has proved himself an infamous liar as
we'll as a malignant slanderer."
He said counsel for defendant had
tried TO impede a full hearing of the
case by every means known. They had
argued at length on a demurrer to the
complaint and for a nOnsuit, but they
had been routed horse, foot and
dragon by rulings of the court until
they had nothing to stand on.
Attorney Morehouse. in his argument,
had likened Rea to Washington, Lin
coin and Christ-this boss of San Jose,
James w. Rea.
DelmaS in a powerful perOratiOn
closed his argument. saying in part:
BOSS Tweed spent his life in organic
ing band Of thieves to rob the public
treasury of New York. to debauch her
legislators and Judges, and to under
mine the manhood of the people and
bring sorrow and desolation in every
household. The name of William NJ.
Tweed is written by the turkeys hand
side by side with those Of the murderers
and ruffians of Ludlow street Jail.
william NJ. Tweed died in the
squalor Of the dungeon, amid the curses
and execrations Of the city that he had
plundered. of the nation he had dishOn-
ored. of humanity which he had dis
graced.
Let those who emulate his career be
warned by his fate"
Judge Kittredge occupied about
three-quarters of an hour in his
charge and at 4:10 the jury retired.
They deliberated until 10:40, when the
verdict was returned
Attorney MOrehouse stated after the
verdict was read that at the opening
of the court Monday he would move for
a new trial. He claimed there was
plenty Of grounds for such action and
he is confident of success.
Rea was dumfounded. He would not
discuss the matter further than to say
it would be appealed and that Jarman
would never get any OF his money. All
along he has been confident of victory
but to-day a change came over him.
When the jury failed to return q quick
verdict Rea became sullen and lost
heart. For some time he has realized
his power has been waning and the
fact that the jury had the manhood to
stand out against him was extremely
demoralizing to him and the gang he
bosses.
The verdict means more for San Jose
than appears on the face of It, It
means that Rea and the MackenZies
have got to the end of their power and
that they will soon be banished from
San Jose and Santa Clara County poll
tics. For. years they have dominated
affairs and those that dared oppose
them were maliciOusly slandered and
otherwise terroriZed.
Rea was conducting campaign
along these lines of terrorism when he
determined to ruin Jarman politically,
because he had refused to stand in
with the gang and take orders In Sc
lecting policemen and firemen. He cir
culated and caused TO be circulated
statements that Jarman had been
bribed to vote for the purchase of a
steam street roller while a member of
the Council.
On March IA last Rea met Jarnan on
North First street, and the latter asked
Rea why he was circulating lies about
him.
Rea answered: There was 5000 paid
TO some of the Councilmen on the pur-