The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-06

Lees to make an investigation. 4ester-
day he notified President Tobin that he
was ready to report and meeting was
called for last night. After the routine
business had been transacted Commits
sioner Gunst, whose antipathy for Price
dates back 70 over a year ago when he
arrested one of Gunst's friends for OBJ
structing the street. arose and referred
to the rumors of a sack in Chinatown.
'If Price and his men have accepted
money from the Chinese gamblers he
remarked with an apparent show of in
dignation, I'm in favor Of dismissing
them from the force. Rumors of corrup-
ton among the squad in Chinatown have
been current, and it behooves US to make
a thorough investigation"
Gunst then had the clerk CT the board
read several communications from Chi
nese gamblers in which the writers de-
clared that money was being used to al
low certain games to run.
Chief Lees defended the course of Price
and declared that the Chinese were anx
ious to get rid of him because he was
inexorable in his prosecution of the law
against lottery and fan-tan. Commission
ers Tobin and Alvord, after listening to
the reports which were read by the Chief
and which were not given TO the press,
after a consultation with Commissioner
Gunst, ordered the head of the Police De-
partment to further continue his investt-
cation and report to them at the next
meeting.
During the so-called investigation,
which was held with closed doors, Ser
geant Price and his squad remained in
the corridor contiguous to the meeting
room of the Commissioners, anXiously
awaiting the verdict. Price seemed to
think that he was to be sacrificed for no
other reason than that he was in. the
way of Lieutenant Esola, who is anxious,
he says, of having him relieved of duty
in Chinatown.
This is a diabolical scheme to get rid of
me-" he said. "Esola, anxious 10 run
Chinatown to suit himself, has conceived
the bold plan of accusing me of accepting
money from the gamblers in order to
carry out his purpose. 1 am no pinhead
policeman, and l defy even my superiors
to say that l am not thoroughly acquaint-
ed with police duty. 1t is different with
Esoia, whose ambition is to be Chief Of
Police.
"He poses as an officer far above the
rank and file of the department. There
is one thing ne lacks, however, which is
patent to every man in the department,
and that is brains. Always anxious to
throw dirt on me, he waits until myself
and men are out of Chinatown, and, sum-
moning his officers, he picks out an easy
pets raids it. Only. recently he raided a
fan-tan game and failing to get the nee
essary evidence he sent for an expert,
who p the 6 5af Sookgd it he ev fGgn
against the unfortunate Chinese who
were present. The principal gamblers of
Chinatown unhesitatingly declare that
at recent raid Esola was supplied with
beans, such as are used in playing fan
tan, and being unable to obtain any evil
dence against the gamblers he subsu-
tuted the beans and arrested the gang.
He had the audacity to book the beans
he had taken into the place as evidence
want to tell too much, but if he drives
me too hard / will tell all I know. My
report which is in the hands of the Chief
Of Police, clearly proves that l am limo
cent of the charge of corruption.
II do not propose to have my honesty
inpeached by such a man as Esola, and
1 demand a thorough investigation. My
men were present ready to testify, but
for some reason the Commissioners did
not conclude to call them. This matter,
as far as 1 am concerned, will be thor
oughly sifted, and at the conclusion
Esola will be shown in his true colors. He
has injured me enough. He must cult -
When Price was told of the verdict of
the Commissioners he was warmly con-
graduated by mis- fellow officers in whom
he is held in high esteem.