The San Francisco call., 1899-04-28
Are Kept Waiting for
Many Hours.
SOME UNKIND ACCUSATIONS
A LACK OF DILIGENCE AND A
LACK OF FEES.
An Effort Being Made by Colonel
Sutherland to Secure the In
dictment of Mrs. Thomas
Fecker.

Ten business men who had been sum-
moned to appear as witnesses before the
Grand Jury cooled their heels in the
windy corridors of the City Hall from
until o'clock yesterday afternoon ana
employed their time in giving expression
TO not altogether complimentary opin-
ions of the men who were responsible
for their presence there. One week ago
these same witnesses danced attendance
at the outer portals OF the Grand Jury
room for one entire afternoon and were
finally told to return again yesterday, as
no session could be held on account Of the
absence of the majority of the members
of the jury.
Since, by a recent decision of the court,
it has been decided that members Of the
Grand Jury are not entitled TO fees for
their services, the members of the exist
ing inquisitorial body have not shown that
degree of diligence in the prosecution Of
their labors that has characterized for
mer juries. During the past few weeks
Foreman c. A Murdock and Secretary
L. E Van Wrinkle have employed consid-
erable time in inditing communications
to the Board of Supervisors urging that
body to take some action that viii get
behind the court decision in the matter
Of the payment Of fees and thus allow
the members of the jury to draw out or
the treasury 81 a day each from the pc
ginning of the year to date. NO ATTENTION
has been paid to these appeals and the
officials about the City Hall, as well as
the business men who were KEPT away
from their business through no fault or
their own. are saying unkind things about
the jurors and the work they nave not
accomplished during the four months they
have been in their official positions IL
is pointed out that since the beginning OF
the year the Grand jury has touhd put
two or three indictments, and these
against petty offenders who are alleged
10 have evaded justice in the Police
courts. The jury took up the investigation
of the old school scandal, but the man
ner in which the investigation was con-
Quoted was so little likely to produce re-
his position in disgust and the whole mat
ter went by default
The witnesses who were in attendance
on the jury yesterday declare theif pc
lief that the case under investigation Is
one in which the jury is allowing itself
to be used as a catspaw 10 pull a private
individuals 5 chestnuts out OF the fre ne
case under investigation Is that OF MIS-.
Thomas Fecker, otherwise known as MIS-.
Cannon or Mrs Webber. She is the
woman who. some months ago, brought
suit against Colonel Sutherland for
breach Of promise, alleging that her ar
fections had been damaged 10 the extent
of $2O, 900. The suit is SUI pending in one
of the departments of the Superior Court.
Mrs Fecker is in Europe and Is not hkeiy
to return to prosecute the case, as II Is
now generally known lnat she Is mar
ried woman.
Colonel Sutherland wishes the Grand
Jury to indict the woman on charge OF
forgery and other minor oHenses, ana 10
this end has caused the several business
men with whom she had dealings at va
rious times to appear and give testimony
This they are not unwilling 70 do put
they object to polishing the moor OF iue
for many hours the pleasure of the lee
loss Grand Jury.