The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-15
APPEAL TO THE LEGISLATURE
WILL ASK FOR THE PASSAGE OF
A SUITABLE BILL.
How Guards Cramer and Brooks
Were Detected in the Act of
Smuggling in the
Drug.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Jan. IA
Opium smuggling and measures to pre-
vent it constituted the principal topic
Of discussion at the monthly meeting Of
the Board Of Prison Directors to-day.
Besides the consideration of a number
of cases the vigilance Of the guards de-
tected throughout the month, it was
agreed to ask the Legislature to pass a
law making the offense of bringing the
drug upon the grounds a felony.
Collaterally the board took up the
case of Guards Cramer and Brooks,
who were discharged last month for
alleged completely in the contraband
trade. A convict gave the officials the
tip which led to the discovery and the
facts came out on the examination Of
J. J. Mccarthy for the same offense.
Mccarthy is serving a ten years sem
tence from Los Angeles County for bur-
glary and is alleged to be the man for
whom Cramer and Brooks were OBJ
tanning the drug. He denies this, how
ever, and maintains that he knows
neither
According to the statements Of the
officials before the board it appears
that c.. II. Miller, a two-year man,
serving a sentence for forgery COM
mitted in San Joaquin, supplied the
bulk Of the information. Miller claims
he was approached by McCanthy and
requested to carry letters to Brooks.
At first he declined, but after consult
ing Captain of the Guard Birlem en-
tered into the scheme. The letters
were written in cipher. Miller took the
letters to Birlem, who, after making a
translation, returned them and directed
\ 1N1s
were some ten letters, all relating to the
purchasing Of opium and several con-
tanning money. A close watch was
kept on these men. Shortly following
the receipt Of a letter containing the
necessary funds to purchase the
dope" Cramer was seen to walk down
the wall to Brooks post and hand him
a package. Cramer returned from San
Francisco that morning. About an
hour later Brooks lowered a water
bucket from the wall at a prearranged
time with Miller, who was there osten-
sibly to fill it.
In the bucket which was lowered q
two-pound package of opium was
found. Miller slipped it into his pocket,
filled the bucket for Brooks. and then
fastened to Victor Gilardin, keeper Of
the lower gate and reported the facts.
Warden Hale dismissed Brooks and
Cramer, upon this showing without call
"
convict, stated to the board that Miller
was an enemy of his and that this
charge had been concocted for revenge.
The directors regarded the matter in
another light, however, and deprived
Mccarthy of all his credits.
The constant use of opium by the
convicts, which the officials apparently
cannot prevent, has led Warden Hale
to draft a bill making it a felony to
bring that drug. or any other narcotic
upon the grounds. He submitted the
matter to the board. The draft did
not quite meet the views of the di-
rectors, so Devlin and Fitzgerald were
appointed a committee to draw up a
bill which shall meet the requirements.
At the same time the warden was au-
thorized to go to Sacramento and urge
its passage before the Legislature.
Leon Crosmond, who is serving two
years for burglary. from Yuba County,
was ordered released on parole, as was
Claude Armstrong.