The San Francisco call., 1898-04-13
Gil B. Daniels Believes That He Is Possessed of Much
 Information.
F. J. MOFFITT IS PLEASED.
Saws an Examination of the Books Will Be a Good Thing
 for Him.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 9O8 Broadway. April F.

sos Broadway, April 12.
 The Grand Jury has struck a new trail. It is bright shining trail full of good things, and it is asserted by some of its members that 1t will lead to many astounding revelations con- nected with the corruption by water companies during the past fifteen years. Gil B. Daniels is now the pro- prietor of the historic old newspaper, the Oakland Times. Mr. Daniels Is also a member of the present Grand Jury The Oakland Times during the past fifteen years Is generally consid- cred as having been the medium be- tween the Contra Costa Water Com pany and the Southern Pacific Com pany and their political friends in this city, and it has generally been thought that if the books and contracts of the old newspaper could ever be made public they would tell some of the mysteries of the past that have been credited to certain Oakland poli ticians and back rooms of Oakland Sa looms.
 A few nights ago In the course of conversation Mr. Daniels was discuss ing some incidents connected with the past history of the Times, and he re- marked that the old Times safe, with it's books and contracts covering some of the most interesting years in Oak land politics, would tell many an in- teresting story. It is a peculiar cir cumstance that the books and papers of an adversary should fall into the hands of his political enemy. There were not two greater political enmi- i ties existing in Oakland six years ago than those of ex-Senator Moffitt and Dr. l George c. Pardee. Frank Moffitt fig ured as the leader of the old guard in l local politics, George Pardee was the | leader of the reform element. Moftitr l fought with his own paper, the Times, Pardee fought with Frank Leach's pa per, the Enquirer. When the ex-Sen- ator sold the Times to 4. w. Bishop 1 he went out of the newspaper busl- ness, and the paper finally passed into the hands of two banks and event ually to MT Leach. A few months ago when MT. Leach retired from journal ism, the Times went with the Enquirer l in the deal which W made in the | interest of Dr. Pardee with Gil Daniels as the nominal head. Thus 1t comes about that the books, contracts and papers covering many interesting years of the Times existence passed out of the hands of MT. Moffitt into the keep |
 With these documents as lead, 1t Is believed the Grand Jury will be able to follow up many interesting clues, for it was during the latter years of MT Moffitt's proprietorship that the Times ceased to support the Contra Costa Company and showed a marked friend ship for MT. Dingee's enterprise. As MT. Daniels is an active member of the Grand Jury, it Is not to be supposed that he will hide any of the evidence in his possession, but will make the greatest use of it in the present inves- tigation.
 Ex-Senator Moffitt was asked tonight what sensational testimony could be extracted from the books of the Times, and he replied: T have never given those old books and contracts a thought in connection with the Grand Jury; however, it will be a good thing for those archives to be examined They will show that the Times was conducted under the seven years of my management as a business propo- sition, and I defy all the Grand Juries in christendom to find any evidence of crookedness, bribery or corruption from any water company, railroad company or other corporate influence