The San Francisco call., 1898-02-05
An Exciting Scene at the Investigation of the
 Public Pound.
Supervisor Delany Threatened Violence to Attorney
 Martin Stevens.
Witnesses Who Said That E. L.. Wadhann's Reputation Was
 Very Bad

The hearing of Deputy E. l.. Wad- hams charges against Supervisor De- lany came to an inglorious end yester- day before the Finance Committee. but not until an exciting scene had taken place.
 It was voted at the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors that the Fi- nance Committte should conduct an in vestigation at it's regular session and both sides were present in full force. Chairman Rottanzi announced at the opening of the meeting that he be- lieved the Grand Jury, and not the committee, was the proper body to hear the matter, but Supervisor De- lany objected and demanded that the investigation go on.
 MT. Wadham was called upon and stated that he had gone to see Super visor Delany about allowing the Pound to remain under the control of the So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
 MT. Delany told me-" he said, that he did not see why, as long as the so- ciety had $25,000 in the treasury it could not afford to pay Osborn his sal ary. When I was about to leave he asked me if I could put him on to a way of making $500. I considered this as an insinuation that the society could get the Pound for $500. Perhaps if the $500 had been paid the society would not have lost the Pound"
 Then Attorney Martin Stevens, who was present in the interests of the so- o;a sTx Ie, he said you believe Delany was out for the stuff"
 That's right" replied Wadham. ''The general reputation of the board had led me to believe that such was the case"
 Supervisors Rivers and Haskins were on their feet in an instant and inter posed a strenuous objection to such language, but Attorney Stevens was not to be denied.
 ''Is it not a fact" he shouted, that it is a common rumor that there is a solid ring of seven members of the board who are out for the stuff on any and all propositions?"
 The room was in an uproar in an in- stant. Chairman Rottanzi rapped and roared for order and Supervisor De lany jumped to his feet and facing Stevens said:
 1 you get personal in this matter"
 You'll get a battle if you try it, re- torted Stevens.
 "Oh, you're too small game to shoot at," said the captain, and once more the angel of peace spread her wings.
 On cross-eXamination Wadham was asked certain questions tending to show that he was friendly with no- torious woman known as Sadie Nichol, but objections were sustained on the ground that the witness was not com pelled to make statements that might incriminate him.
 Captain Delany's side then took an inning. J. w. Bird was called to tes- tify that Wadham's reputation was bad and he justified rne expectations of the defense. When he had finished Captain Delany asked him why he had appeared to testify.
 Justice to fellow man." replied Bird and he further stated that he had never met Captain Delany before see ing him in the committee room.
 Attorney A. A. Friedlander was the next witness and stated that he and Wadham were on the bonds of Sadie Nichol when she was charged with keeping a minor in a disorderly house. He charged Wadham with drinking and carousing in the woman's house and stated that he was an associate of Oliver Winthrop, who was sent to San Quentin for the abduction of Mill lionaire Campbell.
 Wadham admits that he was on the Nichol woman's bond, but states that he qualified his surety at the request of Attorney Charles Nagle. He stated also that he never knew Oliver Win throp.
 Frank A. Holbrook, brother of the busted Doundkeeper, testified that Wadham's reputation was bad. When asked if he ever had any conversation with Wadham relative to the pound he said that about December 1 last Wad- ham had told him that if he had $500 he could get the pound for the society. Holbrook stated that Wadham had said that he wanted the money to use on the Health and Police Committee.
 George Delmar, formerly a special officer of the society, testified that Wadham had said that the pound mat ter had been fixed" but that he did not think 1t was possible to reach Dr. Rottanzi with money or anything else. Other witnesses were Cornelius J. Carey and R. J. Gilfeather. who gave Wadham a bad name.
 Supervisor Delany took the stand on his own behalf. He denied that he had ever talked with Wadham about $500 or in fact any one else, and said that 1T he wanted any money he would certainly rot ask it of a man like Wad- ham.
 Chairman Rottanzi announced when the testimony was all in that the com mittee would make no decision but aI- low the matter to rest with the in VPStiPatiO that ic now c-oipc or 1>o