The San Francisco call., 1904-09-16
GRAND JURORS
TAKE A HAND
Registrar Adams Subpenaed
to Bring Rosters Showing
Forgeries at Primaries
Is TO APPEAR TO-DAY
The Move Thought to Be to
Aid Merchants AssOcia-
tion in Getting Evidence

The Grand Jury Is now bestirrIng
itself ia regard TO the frauds at the
recent primary election. II will begin
an investigation this afternoon By
caIlug Registrar George P. Adams
Before Il with The records o. the pre-
.Irets II which the stufing Of votes
IS alleged 10 have taken place.
IL is understood that the Grand
Jury is cooperating with the Mer-
chants Association, which instigated
the arrest Of Charles Wynlan on
Wednesday and promises 20 institute
several more prosecutions N the I'M
mediate future. Registrar Adams has
refused 10 allow photographs 20 be
taken Of the rosters in his possession
and as these are very important as
evidence Il is believed that the step
taken by the Grand Jury yesterday
was 20 have the records preserved in
some manner, so they can be used IN
The courts when the cases Of the Mer-
chants Association come up for trial.
The jury was in regular session yes
terday afternoon and sent a subpoena
for the Registrar, but he was not in
his Office. None OF his deputies had
a key 70 the storeroom in which the
rosters are kept and an adjournment
was therefore taken 10 this afternoon
al 3 O'Clock. with instructions 10 the
bailif 10 hunt up Adams in the mean
tine and serve the subpoena on him.
The Merchants Association regards
the Registrar IN the light OF purpose
IL thwarting their efforts. but Adams
explains that he feels il beyond his
authority 10 permit phOtOgraphing Of
the records. He insists that an order
shall first be obtained from the Board
OF Election Commissioners, who are
Ia control Of the Office and Of which
he is only the secretary.
SEEK GRAND JURY'S AID.
II was decided by the prosecutors to
seek the Offices OF the Grand Jury. be-
fore whose drastic power Il is expected
Adams VIII yield up the rosters. Just
what il viii do with the records
whether il Will have them photo
eraphed or nOt-is not known, for its
members are yet 20 determine this
point.
IL is by no means certain that a ma
5ority OF the grand Jurors Will sanction
the making Of Photographic copies
while the records are in their posses
son. No objection was offered yester-
day 10 the issuance Of a subpoena for
the Registrar. but il is said that pro-
test against the Photographs might
arise from those who are not
disposed 10 act the part Of assisting an
outside organization in a movement
ihat falls more properly within the
scope ~ the Grand Jury itself Again,
some of the Merchants Association
Tepreseu-st tives do not hesitate TO de-
clare that there are some members of
The Grand jury who are more eager to
apply a coat Of whitewash than do any
thing else in connection with the oper-
ations II the gangs Of ballot-bOx stuff
fers.
ROSTERS TELL OF FORGERIES.
The evidence TO be furnished is very
important in that the rosters contain
the forgeries Of names OF bona fide resi-
dent citizens whose names were voted
while they were vet at their brea kfast
tables by the suffers. who began as
soon as the polls opened TO proceed
from precinct TO precinct in carrying
on their criminal work. The drug
tends. who for the most part consti-
futed the gangs of suffers. proved very
awkward with the pen, and in compari-
son with the genuine signatures Of citi-
zens the proof Of forgery is easily es-
tablished.
The Merchants Association declares
that il II can be assured Of the produc-
tion Of the rosters in court, or photo
graphic copies Of them, il viii at once
proceed with the arrest Of many Of the
men who participated in the frauds.
some Of them men OF high station, Of
fcially and otherwise. The fear is ex-
pressed that the records viii be de-
stroyed, however, for the law makes
destruction Of records the duty Of the
Registrar as soon as the conventions
are over for which delegates were elect
Cd al the primaries. The resort TO the
Photographic method OF preserving evi-
dence having failed thus far, the only
hope OF the prosecutors TO go into court
with their cases in the shape they
would desire them TO be lies with the
Grand Jury