The San Francisco call., 1899-04-13
Says He Is innocent of the
Charge of Corruption.
The Police Commissioners Commence
Their Investigation of the
Chinatown Scandal.

cards to Chinese restaurant keepers, al
lowing them to continue playing music
until o'clock in the morning. The cards
bore the name of the restaurants and
were signed by the lieutenant. l sent for
him and demanded to know why he had
overriden the law to the extent Of allow
ing music to be played after midnight:
He explained that the Chinese were hold
ing their annual festivities, 1t being their
New Year; and that he saw. no harm in
1t. l told him it was against the law
and he promised that it would not occur
again
ITO show what schemes the Chinese will
resort to, | deem it proper TO make pub
lie a forgery which was evidently in
tended to entrap me- On March 10, 1898.
l received note purporting to have been
signed by the Consul General asking
the privilege of exploding firecrackers be-
tween certain hours on the following day.
1 suspected that the signature was for
gerry, and, calling IN my clerk, dictated a
reply to him, which was to be sent TO the
Consul General. In a few days received
an answer in which the Consul General
declared that the original letter was a
forgery and excusing the crime by say
Ing that one of his servants must have
some friend"
The Chief was about to descant on the
scheming methods of the Chinese in gen
eral when Commissioner Tobin, who had
evidently grown tired while listening to
the Chiefs report, suggested that further
hearing of the report be continued until
Monday night, which was adopted.
Before taking up the investigation of
Price and his men the Commissioners
tried Policeman John Crowley, charged
with failing to report for duty On March
19 Crowley visited a restaurant on Davis
street, where he met Sergeant Wolf and
two ladies' Crowley was unable to re-
port for duty at midnight and at his re-
quest Sergeant Wolf went to the Cali
fornia-street station, where he informed
the officer in charge that Crowley was
sick and unable to do patrol duty.
The matter was reported to Lieutenant
Birdsal who sent Sergeant Monahan to
investigate the story of Crowley's alleged
sickness.
Monahan visited his house and was sur
prised at not finding him there. Con-
vinced that there was something wrong.
against the officer. Officer Edwards tes-
titled that he saw Wolf, Crowley, another
man and three women standing at the
corner of California and Kearny streets a
short time before the watch reported on.
He reported the fact to acting Desk Ser
geant Young. The latter notified Lieu
tenant Birdsall, who sent one of his men
that he said that the women were hay
bags" or Barbary Coast FOUNDERS.
officer Young testified that Crowley was
accompanied by woman named Mrs.
Mcintyre. In answer to Commissioner
Gunsts questions, he said that the char
acter of the woman was bad. Captain
Whitman, when sworn, said that Crow
ley had told him that the Mcintyre wo-
man was stuck on him, and that he
couldn't shake" her.
Commissioner Gunst rather testify
asked why the case had not been brought
to the attention Of the Police Commission
before.
This offense occurred on the Goth of
last month, he remarked. II should like
to know why the charges were not in
vestigated at the last meeting"
Chief Lees replied that he had read the
charges and expected that they would
be brought up shortly after the occur
renee.
II spoke of the case at the recent meet
ing" remarked Gunst. II would like to
know who is to blame for this seeming
negligence"
Captain Wright had the charges, %
hotly retorted Lees.
Excuse me- interrupted Gunst. 'It
must be Wright's mistake"
After listening to the statements of sew
eral witnesses to the effect that Crowley
was sick and not drunk. the Commission
ers decided to dismiss the charge against
him.