The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-22
The ''Hefting" Mayors Candidate
for Public Administrator
Shown in a Bad Light.
Democrats of Alameda County Ask Pointed
Questions Regarding His Connection
With Many Nefarious Schemes.

was brought in and opened. do not re-
member whether I drank any or not
Mr. Fitzgerald in attempting his own
defense said;
The circumstances under which the mar
riage contract between Shelby Martin and
Miss Hickethier was made are briery told
Both Martin and Miss Hickethier are my
warm personal friends. That is one rea-
son why, l presume. was called upon 10
other reasons that l know of caused me to
become involved in the matter.
Among Miss Hickethier's effects at her
death in November 1895, was a joint note
made by E. L. Fitzgerald and Ole c. Vim
zent This was appraised at S30S 20, be-
ing the note with accrued interest ). :
Fleming, attorney for f j. .. Folte, ad-
miaistrator OF decedents estate, enoeaV-
ored by every menaS possible 10 collect
the money. The day before the note
would have become outlawed a suit was
by r. M, Fitzgerald, attorney LOT the
signerS. The case was fought bitterly
until Z. L. Fitzgerald became a candi-
date for office. He then settled the note,
paying but 50 cents on the dollar to MI
Folte, the administrator.
For years there has been an unholy al
lance between Mr. FitZgetald and one
Ole c. Vincent In March. 1898, they APP
pear jointly as the signers of the note for
$40, found among the effects of the late
Miss Valeria Hickethier of Oakland. In
May of the following year they became
involved in the cup scandal In connec-
ton with the Mldwinter fair Vincent was
IN charge OF the Young lOT d cup OneISu
by the Examiner. 1t was his duty TO de-
stroy the ballots after they had been once
voted. The contest developed a bitter
struggle between Alameda County men.
headed by Senator Eli Denison, and So
lano County. Representatives Of Alameda
County discovered that ballots once cast
by its representatives were being sold to
Solano County and revoted in It's favor,
Mr.. Fitzgerald might now explain the
part he played In this nefarfous scheme.
He might tell his constituents in the
IN
of the young man who carried the Valise
full of ballots TO the home of the gentle
man representing Solano County on AIDE
line street and received money in return
for them.
Persons who are interested in an honest
government would also like Mr.. FitZger-
the clearing house. This establishment,
where the banks settle twice day the
balances they owe one another, is located
on Sansome street, near Pine. At the
time Mr.. Fitzgerald assumed the duties
OF Labor Commissioner some three years
since his office was in an adjoining build
ing. Hundreds of men out Of employment
cOngregated there daily. No trouble was
anticipated from these men. but it was
thought criminals might operate on the
clearinghouse under cover of the crowd
I'VE were not greatly worried over the
matter" said Manager Charles Sleeper Of
the clearing house yesterday. "One day
however, Mr.. Fitzgerald, accompanied by
his deputy, CleYe Dam, called on me and
offered to move If we paid him $500, which
he estimated II NOulQ CDSl. i MS S6SlIlcu
out of all proportion to the expense in
volved, as he had only desk and some
chairs in his dingy Office. l told him at
the time the clearinghouse had no funds
which could be applied TO such purpose.
I recommended him to see the managers
of the various banks. He moved his office
soon after. l never learned what success
he met in the matter among the bank
The outcry against the employment of
Chinese to work on uniforms for volunteer
soldiers afforded Mr.. Fitzgerald opportu-
mites for working many schemes. People
would like him to explain why a certain
outside the bounds of an ordinary bust
ness communication. 1t could not have
been issued merely for pleasure nor for
This letter was signed E. L. F1tz-
gerald, Labor Commissioner, and was
couched in terms of most fulsome fiat
terry It was reproduced in fac-simile and
spread broadcast by the firm for whom 1t
was written. 1t was no ordinary busi-
ness communication. It was ,veritable
of healthy, well paid women operators
employed by the firm. Mr.. Fitzgerald
bore testimony to the fact that only one
Der cent of Chinese were employed, and
these only on work that white men would
not do This was misstatement, as the
Chinese We're employed as cutters, for
which work many white men are quail
fed This is but one Of many instances
where the Labor Commissioners has been
able to convert his power into shining
# Mr.. Fitzgerald is elected one of his
attorneys will be CIeve Dam, who has
recently been admitted to the bar. He is
best known in Oakland as the promoter
of fake "suit clubs" In these clubs mem
bers pay a certain sum per week and are
entitled to suits according to drawing:
Before the majority of the members of
the clubs secured their suits the clubs
failed defrauding men and boys of the
money they paid in. Dam also secured
the Endorsement of many prominent men
on notes for hundreds of dollars. He neg
Iected to protect the indorsers, who were
compelled to pay the money. which they
have never been able to collect from
Dam.