The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-04
SUPERVISOR GILLIS SEATED.
JOHN DREMAN RESISTED TO
TO THE LAST.
High Sheriff johnson Gently Led
Him Outside the Charmed
Circle.

The large crowd that assembled III
the Supervisors room yesterday morn
Ing with the expectation OF Witnessing
q scene of unusual interest, with the
possibility of something of the melo-
dramatic order taking place, were as
appointed. Nothing better than very
commonplace farce-comedy resulted III
the contest over the seat occupied ny
John brennan of the First District.
brennan had on the preceding day de-
clined to vacate in honor OF ms sue
cessful competitor at the polls, Gugaiu
ellis, on the ground that the latter ;
bond was not legal and that ne nao
not, therefore, properly quallfled. Ore
man claimed the right to hold the place
until ellis should file a bond that Wouiu
be satisfactory to him. He Oreman)
intimated that he would hold the lori
until then unless he should hrst De
forcibly elected therefrom.
This threat seemed to imply that
there would be a sensational scene When
the board should convene on the follow
ing day. brennan is a small man, Tar
along in years and of anything but
robust constitution, and it was interest
ing to know what sort of fight he
would be able to put up against Glllls,
who is nearly seven feet in hight and
of herculean strength, in case he should
see fit to personally remove the OBJ
struction represented in the attenuated
personality of brennan.
When the board had been called to
order, Chairman Morrison stated that
this being the first session of the year,
H. I'll rNf (1,aiy N n r.
der, and he asked permission to tenn
porarily call Mr.. Curtis to the chair.
Hiram w. Johnson, who appeared as
counsel for Supervisor Gillfs. suggested
that it would be best to first settle the
matter of the disputed seat.
Chairman Morrison said there would
be no difficulty on that score, as Mr..
ellis had been recognized by the board
and his name would be called instead
of that of brennan. He then called
Curtis to the chair and exchanged seats
with him.
It was apparently Morrison's inten-
tion to place Curtis in nomination, for
Chairman, but Mclaughlin was first on
his feet and himself named him, and
the nomination was seconded by Merri-
son.
There were no other nominees, and as
the roll was being called brennan asked
to have his vote recorded, to which
Lawyer Alvin J. Bruner, representing
the Fidelity and Deposit Company
(Gillis' bondsmen), objected.
Dreman said his request to have his
vote recorded was merely formal mat
ter, made for the purpose of preserving
his rights.
The roll was then called, with the re-
suit that Mr.. Curtis was elected Chair
man by the unanimous vote of the
board.
He said the honor had been wholly
unsought and was, therefore, unex-
pected. While he would feel more con-
tented in his old place, this unanimous
action by his colleagues would encour-
age him to accept the trust and en-
deavor to fulfill its obligations. He
would use his authority as presiding
officer prudently and fairly, always vot-
ing last on any proposition and with
out attempting to influence other mem
bers of the board. In a. voice tremb-
ling with emotion Mr. Curtis thanked
the members of the board for the trust
and confidence they had reposed in him
A SLIGHT VERSION
Mr. Morrison then called attention ia
the provision of the law regulating the
working of the changing, which re-
quires the Sheriff to appoint one officer
or guard, and the Board of Supervisors
one. He, therefore, moved that the
board proceed to elect one chaingans
officer.
AT this point communication was
received from Sheriff Johnson announc-
ing that he had appointed w r. Flint
as his changing deputy and George
Kelly as his assistant pending actor
by the board.
Sheriff Johnson orally informed tht
board that he recognized its right tt
appoint one changing officer. He ha6
put on Mr.. Kelly to assist his own dep
uty until such time as the board might
name its officer. but he hoped Mr.. Kelly
would be appointed. as he was an ex-
cellent man for the place.
1t was decided to leave Kelly on duty
for the present.
CONTESTED SEAT AGAIN.
Hiram W. Johnson then asked tina
the board direct brennan to give up hi.
seat to Gillis. so that Mr.. ellis mighI
out obstruction or embarrassment Mr.
brennan had fully established his con
test and should now retire and submit
his case to the courts.
J. Charles Jones, counsel for Mr.. Dire
man, opposed such action He claimed
that Mr.. brennan was the only person
legally entitled to the office and tina
he did not intend to yacate.
Mr.. Johnson called attention to TIL
fact that Mr.. ellis had been recog
nized by the board as the person en-
titled to the office. The board had con
troll over the matter, and it was its dut.
to require Mr.. brennan to retire am
permit Mr. ellis to take the seat t
which he was entitled.
Chairman Curtis asked District At
torney Baker. who was present, for hi
advice in the matter.
Mr.. Baker started in to discuss tn
legality of official bonds, when he wa
interrupted by Mr.. Morrison, who sal
that what the board wanted to know
was whether it had six members or five