davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

Five large, magnificent and costly steam
ships are 20 be built for the cuba trade
il is announced. Il must be that the pro-
jectors of the scheme have some inside
Information indicating the speedily APP
preaching end of the war. Conditions in
Cuba just now are not inviting for heavy
investments in the carrying trade TO and
from the island 1t has not been a great
while since one or more magnificent
steamers, said to have been intended for
the Cuba trade, were put into other
traffic II is to be hoped that this steam
snip report is a straw showing that the
wind is blowing IA the direction Of peace
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

1t seems to be practically assured that
the famous Princeton Inn. with regard 60
the license for which there was recently
80 much discussion, will soon be perma-
nently closed. Ten days or so ago the
trustees Of the university issued an order
prohibiting the students from visiting
drinking places. The governors of the inn
are all Princeton graduates and at a
meeting held a few days ago they de-
cided TO close the doors of the grill room.
This. IL is thought will be followed by
closing The inn in it's entirety. Ex-Presi-
DEM Cleveland and other eminent men, 1t
win be remembered, signed the petition for
the license for the grill room.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
Who Can Resist This !?

1t surely is inviting to have three essen
tials to mans happiness awaiting him
on his return home. An easy chair. a
charming woman, and the cheerful glow
of one of our heating stoves that, besides
its genial warmth, is both ornamental,
and will keep you good company for
many long winters evenings. Our hard
ware stock of parlor and kitchen stoves
is unrivaled in quality and prices.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

So far as the Information goes. the cold
snap did no damage to the orange trees
in Florida The low temperature was not
sustained for sufficient length of time to
kill even the young and tender trees If
no moro serious cold spell should come
along, the groves would he perfectly safe.
1t is to be borne in mind, by the way.
that the growers are taking better care
of their trees now than was customary for
them to do before the great freeze of sew
eral years ago. The incident taught them
valuable lessons with regard to caring for
trees in the winter, as well as cultivating
them and harvesting from them at other
seasons of the year.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

Frost IS
In the Air.
Cold winter is upon us, and right in the
nick of time is our determination to clear
out
All Winter Stock
Very Low Prices.
The sale must be rapid, and as low
have been lowered to the very bottom.
We start at these seasonable, comfort-giv-
ing and stylish
LADIES' CL0AKS.
Ladies' Jackets at $3.50 to 500
Ladies' Plush Capes 1898 to $25.
Ladies' Cloth Capes 81 to SIS.
Childrcn's Refers Sis to Sc.
Ladies' Flannel Shirt Waists 75c to So
Every item here represent a SAVING
| OF FROM 20 TO % PER CENT
BLANKETS.
Could you want anything more sea-
sonable? These cold nights one of
our Blankets is equivalent to ton
of coal See the reduction in price:
All Wool Blankets
$50; we're $1,000
| $3.50; were $3.50.
$1O.5G; were $780,
| UNDERWEAR.
SPECIAL COLD WEATHER SALE
OF ALL WOOL UNDERWEAR for
Ladies, Gentlemen and Children, at a
reduction of % per cent. from former
| prices.
| so pieces of our Standard Tapestry Car
pets will be sold al csc per yard good
value at S5c.
so pieces Mating ranging in price from
zoe to SOC per yard.
Daniel Hogan,
The corner Broughton and Barnard SITS,
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
For BIufftOn and Beaufort, S. C,

Steamer Doretta will leave wharf foot
of Abercorn (Ethefs WHARF street at 3 p.
m. for Button daily except Sundays and
Thursdays Wednesdays trips extended
to Beaufort, leaving Bluffton Thursdays
at 8 a. m. Returning same day.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

There is growing probability that the
Tillman brothers of South Carolina will
be heard on the stump in opposition to
each other in the next campaign Ex-COn-
gresham George d. Tillman. who is OPP
posed to the dispensary law and in favor
of high license and local option, is being
urged by his friends 10 run for the gov
ernorship His brother, Senator Ben Till
man, says if the dispensary should be at
tackled he would take the stump and de-
fend it. Both of the Tilimans are power
ful stump speakers, and if they were 10
lock horns" in the campaign, the fight
would be an exceedingly hot and interest
ing one The "brother-act" of the Taylors
of Tennessee would not be marker to il.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
Ocean Ste3 mship Co
-FR-
NewYork, Boston
AMI
THE EAST.

Unsurpassed cabin accommoda tons
All the comforts Of a modern hotel.
Electric lights. unexcelled table. Tickets
include meals and berth aboard ship.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

Cheap Column Advertisements Help
Wanted; Employment Wanted; For Rent;
For Sale; Lost; Personal; Miscellaneous.
The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04

The sale must be rapid and as low
prices contribute to that end. our prices
have been lowered to the very bottom.
We start at these seasonable, comfort-giv-
ing and stylish
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

the sum Of $4,000 and for the additional
sum Of $1,000 for himself to purchase
enough votes in the Board of Education
to secure the lease for these people
Waller was to be the almoner of these
people, paying them as the votes were
delivered. That he carried out his part
Reynolds declares is evidenced by the
fact that the majority voted solidly
every time anything came before them
affecting this corporations interest in
the Lincoln School property lease.
The first services rendered" was
when the advertisements calling for
bids was proposed. These advertise
ments were prepared by Alexander
Vogelsang, attorney for the Board of
Education, and by Jacob Samuels. who
had been employed by the corporation
to represent it before the board. They
were SO iumbled up as to be impossible
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
SAMUEL L. WALLER, to Whom Reynolds Alleges the
BTbe Money Was Paid.

the board over and above whatever
sum was paid for the votes Of the
board.
Q. How do you know that such Sc
cret agreement existed?
A. Shook told me so. 1t was all done
right there in the room. When we had
had a drink and got settled down to
business we wrangIed about getting to-
gether and not have fight over this
thing. We agreed that we had better
be amicable about it. We got Waller
to talk about the manner in which he
could control the board, and then Shook
and I, in pursuance of a previous un-
derstanding, decided to go outside and
try to get together" ourselves, max
ing an appointment for an hour later
at the same place. We went outside
and took a ride on the cars, and it
was then arranged that 1 was to push
Waller to the wall by asking him point
blank what it would cost in coin to
control that Board of Education, and
also the names of the directors who
could be controlled, and all particulars.
Shook announced that we had come
to an understanding. and then said TO
Waller, Have you seven votes in that
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
JOHN REYNOLDS the Man Who Declares the Board of Education Was Bbed

to understand. This had it's effect. as
but two tenants of the property bid for
the stores occupied by them. These
were Marston, the restaurant man, and
Prayer, a clothier. No one else could
seem to fit their bids to the extraordi-
nary wording of the specially prepared
advertisements. This was victory num-
Der one for the corporation and its hire
lfngs in the board.
The next victory was in regard to the
bond originally required of each bidder.
When the syndicate put in its bid 1t
agreed to give a bond for 800, 000 The
conspirators stood by that offer until
they saw the job was safely through.
At that time, it is said, Jacob Samuels
requested the board to reduce this to
$25, 900 or $50, 900. There was more than
method in his madness. While they
were in a position to give the required
bond the four men who had agreed to
act as sureties each demanded as COM
pensation a block of stock in the cor
poration. In the meantime a surety
company had been found that would
give a gilt edge bond for one-half of
one per cent or about $3.50 per year
The action of the board in accepting
formance of a duty they had agreed to
render when they were subsidized.
In keeping with this was the alleged
action of the board in the matter of
insurance. Under the condition of the
lease the insurance would go to the city
If the buildings were destroyed, the
syndicate paying the premium. To a
committee from the board was dele
gated the duty of visiting insurance
companies and securing a maximum
of insurance. This committee, Reynolds
swears, visited companies already
fixed by the syndicate and the highest
amount of insurance they could secure
was $24, 600. Director Derham opposed
this, affirming that he could secure
S65, ,000 In spite of this showing the re-
port of the committee was accepted,
showing, according to the plaintiff,
that the "solid seven" still remained
bought.
When the time came for the opening
of bids, so states the complaint, the
manipulators in the Board Of Educa-
ton laid their plans carefully. Secre-
tary C. w. Welch was to open the bids.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

The amount in the document supplied
by the syndicate was to be left blank
and Secretary Welch was to fill in the
amount after scanning the other bids,
This course was abandoned as a Call
reporter specially detailed for the pur-
pose, was watching the proceedings.
In lieu of this information was OBJ
tanned by which the corporation was
enabled to bid SAL per month more than
the next highest bidder, thus securing
the lease.
This lease, which Reynolds AYERS was
obtained by fraud and is thus illegal, is
very valuable The syndicate pays at
the present time $4,000 per month rental
to the board. 1t receives from its ten
ants $4S00. The lease runs for ten
years No tenant has a lease for more
than five years and some have one only
from month to month. There is
gradual culling out Of the bad tenants,
so that it is estimated that when half
the term Of years has expired there
will be net profit of $4,000 per month
on the $4,000 invested. This would ex
plain the anxiety of the syndicate to
secure the leasehold.
The first incorporators of San Fran
CiSCO IScdl ESldLG investment
were merely dummies used by Shook
and Crimmins to further their plans.
1t was intended, according to Reynolds
story, that at the pro"er time they
would be retired and the ch-conspira-
tors would take the helm. The origi-
nal incorporators who are not impli-
Gated in the alleged purchase of School
Directors were p. J. Martin, G. S. Ben
edict, F. NJ. Meigs and Fred B. Burnell
of San Francisco and o. NJ. Tupper of
Oakland. These were dropped one by
one until when the critical time was
reached and the lease secured they had
all been retired. The principals In the
corporation now are James A. Shook.
ex-secretary of the Grand Jury; E. w.
Williams, clerk in Justices Court; John
P. Reynolds and Phil Crimmins, poll
tician The original board was pur-
posely composed of substantial bust
ness men to lend Incorporation to it.
Mr.. Reynolds says that after he had
carried out his part of the agreement
regarding the securing of the valuable
lease as he certifies to in his COM
plant, he received but 1000 of the 1850
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
John P. Reynolds Makes a Start
ling Affidavit Involving
High Officials.

board that you can count on?" He said,
"I have" l said, How much will it
cost to control those votes in the in
terest of this lease?" He said. 1T Will
cost $4,000" Shook said, THAT is all
right. We are willing to pay $4,000. We
will pay you $1,000 If you will carry out
your agreement with us and deliver us
that lease" 1 then asked him for the
names of those he could control and he
gave them as follows: DR.. Ragan, CAL
lagher, Bantel, Burns, Drucker, Ham
mond and himself, making in all seven
votes. Besides this he said Darlington
was safe enough, as he always voted
with the majority and that Mr.. Carew
would probably come in all right and he
was interested in keeping solid with
the majority combination Of the board.
Q. But he said that neither of these
men would cost him anything?
A 1 am going to explain that. Yes.
It is understood that neither Barring
ton nor Carew would be approached
with coin. He said also some Of the
others would come in without being
paid; that Hammond and Drucker,
through friendship for himself and DR..
Ragan, could be easily handled. know
that to be a fact also because DrucKer
has always followed Ragan and Ham
mond-well, 1 won't mention who 1t
was that he followed. The remainder
were to be paid a portion of the coin.
It was definitely agreed at that time
that Waller was to receive for the
benefit of those who voted the sum of
$4,000 no definite amount to be named
for any certain director. We don't know
whether he ever paid that or how he
paid 1t or anything about it. We know
that it was paid.
@. You know that you paid it?
A. I know that the corporation paid
it, but whether he paid $500 or $1,000 to
each Of them, or put it in his pocket, or
paid it out in $50 driblets, don't know
anything about it. When the question
of services was arrived at the first we
required was the wording Of the adver-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
Five Thousand Dollars Said to
Have Been Distributed Among
Seven Men for Services.

extending from the Emporium to Fifth
street. 1 asked him what the nature
of the business was. He said that the
lease. by virtue of decision of the Su-
preme Court, was about to be let and
that If we went the right way about it
1t could be acquired. He said there
were a number of bidders for it, some
of them tenants and some who knew
the value of the affair, and that it
might be a hard contest, but that he
and his friends were willing to spend
a considerable amount of money, even
up to $4,000, in order to get possession
of this lease. He asked me If 1 had
any influence with the Board of Educa-
ton l told him that l had, and he
asked me if I could talk business to
them. I said I could. 1 said 1 could
talk to Mr.. Walker. He said, well.
you see Mr.. Waller and find out
whether he can control things" I told
him that Waller was the handspring OF
the business men" of the Board Of Ed
ucation, and he instructed me to go
ahead and break the ice, gets things
in shape and see what we could do. l
called on Mr.. Waller and told him that
1 represented people who were think
ing of bidding on that thing, and
thought there might be some money in
it for some of the members if things
went just right. He said: II don't
object That is what l am here for"
1 told him that I would see him again
and introduce him to some of my peo-
pie. In the mean time had been in
troduced to James A Shook, who was
at that time secretary of the Grand
Jury, and who was the main mover in
the scheme to get possession of the
lease. Shook told me to tie Waller
up, to get him in such a position that
we could talk business together. did
so by arranging a meeting, called on
Waller at his place OF business at the
corner of Grant avenue and Geary
street, made an appointment to meet
him that evening at the Louvre restau-
rant at the corner of Market and
O'Farrell streets. I also informed
Shook of the meeting, and we three got
together there. Waller was given to
understand that Shook and 1 were in a
measure rivals for the possession of
this lease. A secret agreement ex-
listed between Shook and Waller, by
which Waller was to receive eompen-
sation for his services in manipulating
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
Samuel [. Waller Of the Beard
Named as the Man Who
Handled the Sack.

A sensational suit was filed in the
Superior Court yesterday, in which at
least seven members of the Board of
Education are accused outright of hav-
ing accepted bribes, and, along with
several outsiders, of having partici-
pated in one Of the most outrageous
scandals that has eve come to light
in San Francisco.
During the past two years there has
been a strong undercurrent of talk that
the present Board Of Education has
been corrupt. There have been ru-
mors of jobs. both large and small, in
which the members have been impli-
Gated. but the char0es have never been
brought home to them.
While many attempts have been
made to expose the shameless actions
of what was said to be a ring in the
board, they have never succeeded up
TO the present time. If the allegations
in the complaint filed yesterday are
true, the rascals in the ring have now
disagreed just as their term of office is
about to terminate, and The Call is
thus enabled tod. to expose the
knavery of these men in high places.
The prime conspirator. it is alleged,
is Director Samuel L. Waller. He is
said to be the business man" of the
board, through whom the votes of at
least six others we're bartered away for
q money consideration. He duplicates
as the directors whom he could con-
troll, Directors P -. Gallagher, Ban
tel, Burns, Drucker and Hammond
This with his own vote, made the con-
trolling seven. And President -arring-
ton and Director Carew he also is said
20 have counted upon when it came to
voting.
The sensational disclosure of the
venality of the alleged board was
brought to the surface yesterday
through the filing of an innocent look
ing suit. This action, commenced in
the Superior Court, is entitled John P.
Reynolds, plaintiff, VS.. the San Fran
cisco Real Estate Investment Com
pany "a corporation) and P. ]. Grim
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
Directors Charged With Having Ac:
cepted Money for the Lincoln
School Lease.

and Fifth streets, knowing his intimate
knowledge of the various departments
secured his aid to carry out their ne
farious schemes. In an affidavit printed
elsewhere he goes into the most minute
details of the unsavory scheme by
which the board was manipulated and
makes grave charges against a num-
Der of city officials OF the men he ac-
cuses of malfeasance in office Samuel
[. Waller is a School Director, Charles
w Welch is secretary Of the Board of
Education, James A. Shook, the alleged
moving spirit of all the corruption,
was then secretary of the Grand Jury
and E. w. Williams, clerk in the Jus
tees Court In addition to these Phil
Crimmins, the politician, was also in
volved, being one of the directors in
the corporation seeking the lease
The specific acts of corruption now
charged developed over the leasing of
the Lincoln School property. This con-
sists of eleven business buildings, be-
tween the Emporium and Fifth street,
on Market. Some three years ago the
Board of Education, having the prop
erty under it's Jurisdiction, advertised
for bids for the leasing of the property.
The tenants brought suit to enjoin the
board from granting the lease, and the
Supreme Court finally decided in favor
Of the board All this time Phil Grim
minis and James a. Shook contemplated
bidding for the lease. j. A. Mcdonald
also had the same object in view.
When the lease was in a condition to
be offered to the highest bidder in
open market Crimmins and Shook, ac-
cOrding TO Reynolds sworn statement,
decided that the surest way to secure
the coveted document was to put up
sufficient money to buy the votes of the
School Directors. Shook, who is one of
Crimmins' closest friends, has contracts
for all hardware supplied the Board of
Education and for all the wagon mater
ial supplied the Fire Department. These
valuable concessions may be among
the services rendered" by the board.
and for which $4,000 in money is alleged
to have been paid Director Waller.
1t was at this stage of the proceed
ings that Mr.. Reynolds swears he was
approached by z. w. Williams. clerk
in the Justices Court. The outcome Of
this meeting was a conference between
Reynolds, Shook and Waller. At this
conference, he says, Waller agreed for
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

tisement for bids in such a manner that
no one outside of the corporation could
understand what was wanted.
Q. What corporation do you refer to-?
A. The San Francisco Real Estate
Investment Company.
Q. That corporation was organized
prior to these conversations?
A. 1t was being organized at that
time. Just what date the papers were
filed 1 don't know, but it was formed.
of course, prior to the getting of the
lease. This thing was all sort of trust
arrangement among ourselves. There
were no documents or anything Of that
kind. We simply agreed to do certain
things and it was carried along in that
way.
@. Explain how that corporation was
formed?
A. The corporation that was orig1-
nally formed to secure lease was, in
fact, dummy. A Mr.. Martin, who was
a capitalist. who was reputed to be
worth $250.000, was its president, and
number of well-known business men
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
SENSA ATIONAL ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY
AGAINST The BOARD OF EDUCATION

understanding and then said
Waller av board that He
the
He $4,000 Shook said: That all right We
willing We will $4,000
then asked him for the of those
follows: Dr. Ragan Gallagher Bante
himself making voesExact From
P Ryn0ds' AfdauH
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
JAMES A. SNOOK, Who Reynolds Says Manipulated the
School Board
School Board.

minis, E. W. Williams and James A.
Shook, defendants.
Back of this simple recital is all the
scandal incidental to the leasing Of the
Lincoln School property last December
by the Board Of Education. At the time
OF letting the lease The Call learned
that crooked work would be attempted.
and detailed man especially to follow
up the case. He could not develop
where the scheming would be attempt
ed. but as the following narrative dis
closes his presence deferred the arch
conspirators from carrying out their
original plans.
Reynolds, who is the plaintiff in the
suit, is a newspaper reporter who was
for years detailed for work in the City
i.all The pIotters. who were endeav-
oring to secure the valuable leasehold
on the property on the corner Of Market
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

shares. He has been unable to make
his associates disgorge the balance, but
affirms that he will bring all the power
of the courts to bear on them.
After the complaint was filed with
the County Clerk Mr.. Reynolds went
before a notary public and swore to
the affidavit published elsewhere in
this column. This affidavit is now in
the hands of his attorneys.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

SNOOK DENIES REYNOLDS ALLEGATIONS

the IN Francisco R env tcpany
edbyb brbryM
He lies wh he says O the
ofth school Board oughs shd Noey eve o
eekeo btan hat.aseW We fol-
t Ist t
tirue O.
wpador legl rvce aed by MI sa n was not @ t
L
getting
frervca n connection the gai
u hecodp pe d n
f attmpt~ ~t t @ tn
dhoughthe honest
roraion hearing
hoempht HatH til there S nc dof il Reynolds