The San Francisco call., 1898-12-29
LISTENERS WERE SECRETED
DIR. DERRICK THREATENED TO
 BRING CONTEST.
Should the Case Ever Come to Trial There Will Certainly Be Few Sensations Ex-
 plotted.
Oakland eOfflce San Francisco Cali,
 d.


 The somewhat sensational contest filed by San Heller against the seating of Sherif-eiect Rogers has brought out secret of the campaign that was suspect cd, but which could never be proven When Heller withdrew a. an independent candidate it was no surprise. ConserVa- tive politicians figured that if he could receive 500 votes in the entire county he would be lucky. He had gone into the fight with considerable display and na- turally sought to retire with the least possible chagrin.
 After an alleged discussion between his friends and the friends of Rogers it was announced by Mir. Heller personally to the newspapers that he had withdrawn fin favor of MT. Rogers" Now it appears according to the statement of Rogers at- torney, that little conspiracy was form ed in which Heller was to be the gainer and Rogers the victim. There was the us- ual hiding behind portieres to lis ten to momentous conversation, and according to Helers story and Attorney Churchs explanation, Dr. George H. Derrick took the part of the mysterious man. Derrick is frequently heard of in local politics, having been mentioned for State Sena- tor and for Mayor He was at one time State president of the American Protec- tive Association.
 ldn .. CnurCn, attorney TOT Snerlu- elect Rogers, has made the following statement: "Dr. Derrick wrote to Rogers recently reminding him of his alleged promise made at their interview and sta ted that everything had been takeh down in black and white. He further stated that if the promise were not kept he would be called upon before he took his seat.
 Rogers says he never made any prom ise to pr. Derrick that he would make Heller a deputy, though he said he had !, @l Nh.av rrR,4 l.- a good idea as it might influence a good many votes. This was in my presence, and he called the doctors attention to the fact that the purity of election laws would not permit the promising of a, dep utyship.
 II think it is a conspiracy pure and simple. They have instituted contest, but they are too late. as a contest must be brought within forty days after return day. The Supreme Court has just handed down a decision that return day is the case would be the 14th,. therefore the latest a contest could have been insti- tuted would have been on the 24th of De- cember.
 "Dr. Derrick refused to show the state ment to me, saying it would be shown at the proper time. He said, also, that he felt justified in having some one behind the folding doors to take down the con versation, as his past experience in such matters had taught him that it was best to have a witness on such occasions.
 "I do not accuse Dr. Derrick of being a party to this conspiracy, or attempting to do anything wrong. l am satisfied that 1t will be thrown out of court
 The petition for a citation was brought up in Judge Ogden's court to-day, and District Attorney Shook stated that the time within which the citation could be Issued had lapsed. This view of the mat ter was opposed by Attorney Sawyer, on behalf of Heller. and after argument the case was continued until 10 o'clock Fri day morning.
 J. B. Lanktree, who was one of the man agers of Rogers campaign. says that the scheme of Heller is merely to annoy Rogers. He declares that owing to his intimate knowledge of Rogers fight he is positive that the latter never made any promise to Heller but on the contrary he issued orders that Heller should not be given any cards or money to use in furtherng RogerG campaign in case such actions might be misrepresented. Heller used to come to us every few days" said Lanktree, while the cam paign was on, and ask for a few dollars to go out in the country with to talk up Rogers. He bothered us so that we shut down on him completely. l know abso- lutely that promises of positions to a number of other deputies were not made till long after the election, because 1 was largely instrumental in having Rogers recognize them.