The San Francisco call., 1904-12-03

cence Of the existence and distribution
OF a sack" for the protection Of gam
bling houses in Chinatown the investi-
cation started by the Police Commits
EiOners yesterday afternoon was fail
ure. Two witnesses. r A. Crothers and
Fremont Older, who had been sub
penaed 10 appear and tell what they
knew OF the doings in the Chinese
quarter, were not present. Their fail
ure TO appear aroused the ire Of Abe
Ruef, who in scathing terms, some Of
them unfit for publication, denounced
the proprietor and editor Of the even
D.. ing paper which had attacked the de-
. pertinent
At The conclusion Of his address Ruef
said. i now move you, gentlemen,
that warrants be issued for the arrest
OF these men and that if necessary the
entire Police Department, fortified with
rubber gloves. be turned loose TO drag
Them from their beds that they may
be compelled 10 either verify the
charges they have made or admit that
they are false"
Despite the objections Of Attorney
Hickey, representing Crothers and
Older. the two were again ordered 20
= appear before the Commissioners at
O'Clock to-day. If they fail to come at
that time a citation will be issued and
cisObedience Of this viii result in an
attempt TO punish them for contempt
As both sides admit that there is some
doubt as 10 the authority Of the board
70 punish for contempt in proceedings
Of this kind, a failure to comply with
the mandate Of the Commissioners may
bring the whole matter into the courts.
Attorney Hickey seems anxious TO have
the matter tied up, as he contests the
right Of the Commissioners TO hold the
eat
the charter granting such power was
read to him, he waved it aside con-
temptuously, saying: There has not
been a section Of that charter brought
before the Supreme Court yet that has
not been declared unconstitutional
GAMBLING NOT DENIED.
Aside from the bitter denunciatory
speech Of Ruef and some tiffs between
him and Hickey, the proceedings of the
afternoon were somewhat prOsaic, but
they gave promise OF rich things in the
future. That gambling games were
running nightly in Chinatown was not
eGoied. A line Of inquiry was started,
IN accordance with the report made by
Commissioner Hutton, tending to show
that there was an agreement between
the police and the owners OF the gam
bling houses as TO which house should
be raided on what night and how
F.: many men should be arrested and
fined. The prison record was consult
ed in support Of this theory Of the
Commissioners
In all this there was no reference
made TO any distribution Of funds to
the Mayor, the Commissioners, the
Chief or Abe Ruef Everybody admit
: ted having heard OF the existence of
that sack" but when il came down
10 cold facts the bag Of coin seemed
as elusive as the pot Of gold which
end Of a rainbow It was all passed
up TO the naughty highbinder men and
these same highbinders formed the
basis OF making a novel II not alto
gefher new proposition TO the police.
The Commissioners were informed
with entire frankness that several Chi
-nese. members OF the Educational So
ciety. would willingly testify as to the
wicked ways OF the guardians Of the
citys peace provided they were as
sured- Of police protection. It was TO
be distinctly understood that the Ce-
lestials did not want the police officers
10 escort them about the streets. They
simply wanted an officer stationed out
side the dOOrWays Of their abodes TO
see that no one came in TO molest
them. The plan was not looked on
with favor. The Chinaman is noted for
willy ways and the protection of the
police in the manner suggested would
olLer an. excellent opportunity for a
number Of Celestials to secure a cor
ner" in gambling houses without fear
of molestation.
The hrst witness called was Irving
McAfee, messenger boy, who accom-
panied Commissioner Hutton to China
town on Monday night. He said he
did not know who Hutton was, but
that Hutton had given him a sealed
envelope and instructed him to deliver
il 70 Sergeant Ellis Of the Chinatown
squad. This was at 7:50. After maxi
ing numerous inquiries he finally
found Ellis in one Of the Chinese thea
tiers and delivered him the message at
s.25. He knew nothing Of the contents
Of the envelope.
Commissioner Hutton then took the
stand and told Of sending the messen-
ger to find Ellis He said the envelope
contained instructions TO Ellis to meet
him at the corner Of Powell and CLAW
streets that they might visit the gam
bling houses together. Ellis met him
at $3.50 and they visited several places.
but found them all deserted. A pecu-
liar circumstance connected with this.
however. was the fact that a short
tine before the note was delivered to
Ellis the streets in Chinatown were
practically deserted. but when the two
started TO make the rounds the streets
were filed with "chattering Cinnamon,