The record-union., 1899-01-18
THE WRIGHT INVESTIGATION
Editor Leake and Manager Green
Tell Things.


The afternoon session of the Investi-
CATION Committee opened in room l3
Of the Capitol building at 2:3O o'clock.
The discomforts of the circumstances
under which that and the evening 3es-
sion were held are set forth in another
place and nothing but the business of
the two meetings need be given here.
There were present Chairman Cos
per, Mellick, La Baree, Lardner and
Sanford Wade was conducting the
count of ballots in the contested elec-
ton case of Leon Jones VS.. Wardell.
Mead appeared and stated that he
had notified the Speaker pro tenn that
he would not serve on the committee
under any circumstances and he had
come to reiterate that statement My
SUCCESSOR said Mead, would have
been appointed by the Assembly this
afternoon but for Dibble's objection.
If no successor is appointed the place
on the committee will be left vacant.
The committee decided to report
Mead's action back to the House to-
day, recommending Burnett as his sue
cessor.
GETTING TO WORK
The Chairman announced John Dray
as the Clerk and Mr.. Richardson as the
stenographer and then called, as the
first witness. U. S. Grant, Jr. W. r.
Bacon of Los Angeles appeared for Mr..
Grant, objected to his being placed on
the stand before any specific charges
had been made and outlined the proce-
dure he thought the committee should
take
Garrett McEnerney Of San Francis
co, announced himself and E. S. Pills
bury as attorneys for Spreckels and
Leake, and stated that he thought, as
the Cali had made the charges, they
should be permitted to substantiata
them by proofs in their possession.
Mellick objected to having the COM
mittee run by counsel for either party
and demanded that they should only
act to protect and advise their wit
nesses, leaving the committee to do the
investigating.
The Chairman ruled that the "Calr'
should have the privilege of calling its
witnesses unless otherwise ordered by
the committee.
McEnerney then called Howard F..
Wright. Objection was made but he
held to his point and declared that he
had right to call the accused as wit
ness against himself.
McEnerney won his point and Wright
was sent for Meantime the assem-
blage adjourned to the Senate cham
ber
Wright appeared and being called to
the stand stated that he had not been
able to consult his attorney who was
engaged for the day Also, that he
had sent to San Francisco for papers
which would not arrive until evening.
He therefore asked to be excused.
Wright was excused, with instructions
to appear before the committee at the
evening session.
EVENING SESSION.
The committee was discovered in the
evening huddled in a corner of the Sen
ate Chamber with the crowd pressing
upon them at every point. Mellick
offered resolution that the commit
tee conduct it's own investigation, and
that the attorneys for witnesses have
a right to participate only so far as to
question and protect their own wit
nesses.
In moving its adoption Mellick made
a strong speech, pleading against al
lowing the attorneys to- usurp the place
and the duties of the committee. Such
as it was, the committee had this duty
laid upon it by the Legislature, and
should accept it.
After considerable discussion the res
olution was adopted, and the Chairman
called
W. s. LEAKE
To the witness stand He admitted
that he was manager of the San Fran
cisco Call" and, being asked who
wrote the letter on the first page of
the Cali of Sunday last, said that he
and he alone was responsible for the
whole. Being asked again who wrote
it, he said: II saw and approved of
and sent every word of the copy" He
was asked if he was responsible for the
headlines. and said: mo; they were
written in San Francisco. The other
matter was sent from Sacramento
1t was a physical impossibility for re-
porters or others within few feet of
witness to hear all he said or all that
was asked him by the Chairman and
other members, owing to circumstances