The San Francisco call., 1904-12-22
Police Commissioner
Wants PatrOlmen
Discharged.
Says Corruption Is Rampant
in Bacon Place and All
on Detail Take Gold.
Asks That the Accused Be Denied the
Right of Trial and Summarily
Dismissed.

Police Commissioner H. W. Hutton
sprang a sensation at the regular meet
ing of the board last night. In a signed
statement to the commission he said he
had proof that demonstrated to his sat-
isfaction that every policeman who had
served in Bacon place for some time
past was guilty of accepting bribes
from the unfortunates that frequent
the dens of the quarter. They should
be dismissed from the force without
even hearing. he said, and asked his
associates on the board to join him in
a request to the City Attorney for an
opinion as to the legality Of the charter
amendment guaranteeing to every po-
liceman the right of trial on charges
preferred against him.
If the City Attorney held such pro-
vision unco:istitu, ioaai. then Hutton
asked his associates on the board 70
stand by him and discharge every
man that has served in Bacon place
for a reasonable time last past" The
remarkable point of Hutton's request
Is the fact that the details in Bacon
place are changed practically every
twenty-four hours and the dismissal
OF every man that has served therein
during "a reasonable time last past
would mean the practical wiping out
Of the police force as II is now con-
stituted.
Hutton's statement in full is as fol-
lows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec n, 1904.
To the Honorable Board OF Police Commits
sioners Of the City and County Of San Fran
haa- 49,
money being paid to police officers for
protection at Bacon place. on the south side
OF Pine street. a little easterIy Of Dupont
street. 1 conducted a personal Investigation
and after diligent and secret research 1 have
proved TO my own satisfaction that each pros
titute occupying a crib therein pays the sum
OF . cents per day into common fund. which
am Informed Is handled by a woman who is
known as big Marie" and she has for some
time past paid TO each NJ the patrolmen on the
mornin= watch at that place the rum OF 81
per day and TO each Of the policemen on duty
from 20 IL D. m. the sum OF So per day
am told that the money is maid
follows: There is situated on the east
erly side OF Bacon place saloon
known as the "Klondyke." II has an en-
trance on Pine street and one on Bacon
place big Marie at about a certain hour
enters II from Bacon place and when the No.
liceman stationed there her enter he
enters and goes to small box in the rear
where Marie has proceeded The money Is
there passed to the policeman. and Marie
leaves the way she entered and the policeman
does likewise. II there is any one presen, IN
the saloon big Marie shakes hands WITH IN.
policeman in Bacon place and the money /,
passed that way.
On Saturday the aggregate is SIP. instead a,
$40 per day and on Sunday S11 is paid am
aware that the policemen on that beat are con-
tinuaIIy changed. but believe II is an under
stood thing and the money is paid, and alunos.
every policeman going there knows what 70
expect TO do.
/ state further to you tha; IN my Judgment
II is impossible to secure legal proof Of N.
above matters; the policemen receiving the
money viii deny receiving II. the party nav
ing will deny having paid Il and the efrl.
will deny they paid rs cents 70 arv s,rh
fund. and the proprietor Of the Kloudvke win
deny that Marie was ever IN his place. but
that II is paid am sure, and 1 am satisfied
that It Is impossible 10 trap any one
In my opinion. the only way TO preva,. .A,.
state Of facts il to remove the detail. .h.~
have accomplished nothing while ,be-.
Suppress Bacon place at any cost ana ~ No.
can get an opinion from the City Attorney
that the provision Of the charter reo,,ir,n-
trial for police is unconstitutional. a. h.lss,'
II is, I think II would be beneficial N m. =.
partment TO dismiss without trial ever -.
on the Bacon place detail within q r.a.o,.hI.
time past will furnish sufficient proof "a
satisfy you that sucn action is i,stidahle
The above matters were given 70 me ,r -
ndence by parties interested. and under NV
promise not to divulge their names. and non.
OF the above information was received &c.,
any member OF the force. and bays a.,
rected no member OF the force In the rao.in,
OF any Of the above money Very ras-.,,-
fully. h w HUTToN
But Hutton was destined TO be ran
ped over the knuckles by his associates
Reagan said that he was opposed to
any such measure as Hutton adyocat-
ed. He said it would not only be un-
wise but would be unAmerican to denv
any man the right TO a hearing and
that the moral certainty of any one
man as 10 the guilt of any person did
nc. necessarily mean that such person
was guilty. Again Hutton has used In
his report the statement that in his
opinion almost every man" was guilty
Of receiving money from these fallen
Continued on Page 2, Column 8.