The San Francisco call., 1904-12-04

I with the gambling games in China-
/ town. Those who have made the spe-'
/ cific charges again failed to appear.
They sent word that they would tell
what they know in an executive ses-
sion of the Police Commission, and
agreeable to this exaction the board
J adjourned to 2 o'clock Monday, when
the testimony will be heard behind
closed doors.
Several witnesses were before the
J Commissioners yesterday. Evidence
of a vague nature was adduced tending
to implieate members of the China
town squad. The incriminating testi-
mony was that of two Chinese, and
while it appeared to be fairly well es-
tablished that every fantan table paid
a tribute of $5 a week, ostensibly for
protection from the police, there was
nothing to show what became of the
money. 1t looks as if it will remain
for the newspaper owner and his
managing editor to establish any
clinching proof of corruption if the
trouble that Commissioner Hutton
stirred up by his unexpected visit to
Chinatown and call on Sergeant Ell
lis is to be fathomed. The demand
for a star chamber hearing indicates
that nothing will be accomplished
ultimately but to emphasize the prob
ability, which has long been mat
ter of almost common knowledge, that
there are levies and rake-offs in
Chinatown and that to expose the cor
ruption is impossible.
R. A. Crothers and Fremont Older
were again represented yesterday by
Thomas Hickey as attorney. The
Commissioners had adjourned from
the day before that the newspaper
men might change their minds and
obey the subpenaes served on them.
But they were not in sight at o'clock
and without a comment concerning
them the board went ahead with the
investigation. When all the witnesses
in attendance had been heard the call
was made late in the day for Older
and Crothers. Hickey responded for
them and announced their willingness
to testify If they could do so behind
closed doors.
A. Ruef entered a strong protest to
to represent the municipal officials,
himself and others who had been ac-
cused, he said in reply to Hickey.
The debate between the lawyers
waxed warm. Hickey declared that
the only purpose of asking for an ex-
ecutive session was that the publish
sonaI attack by Ruef. The latter was
hot with the retort that it was mere
ly desired to take advantage of an op-
portunity for garbling reports of the
proceedings.
Commissioner Howell explained
1 that the stenographer would take
down the testimony offered and the
record would be available to meet
any unfair play. There was much ex-
cited discussion, but the matter was
finally adjusted in somewhat indef-
mite way. No one is to be present
but the Commissioners and the stem
ographer when the newspaper men
testify and Ruef is somehow, it was
assumed, to have protection from in
justice to himself or his clients.
ELLIS EXPLANATION.
Commissioner Hutton is still bent
on ascertaining how the Chinese
learned of his presence in Chinatown
Monday night directly after his note
was delivered to Sergeant Ellis, who
was then in command of the police
squad. The sergeant protests inno-
cence and gives a plausible explana-
ton. Lieutenant Anderson and some
him to take them through Chinatown
at the very hour Hutton sent his note
by the messenger boy asking the SER
geant to meet him. The Chinese like
ly took fright, he adds, at the ap-
} pearance of the lieutenant, and Hut
ton might not at all have been re-
sponsible for the great excitement
f, that he thought he created.
J Ellis says the note was given him by
! the boy at $3.50 o'clock, when he and
Anderson were temporarily separated.
He made a hasty attempt to find An
derson that he might excuse himself,
and failing to do this ran to the corner
Of Powell and Clay streets, where he
met Hutton. He claims he did not
; speak to a single person after receiving
the note. and better to escape observa-
] ton chose the broad streets, avoiding
: the alleys. He knows he was followed
every step of the way by Chinese and
white spies. 1t is his opinion that the
! presence of Lieutenant Anderson dis
| turbed the gamblers, as word was
: spread around Chinatown that a cap
] tain of police and a number of detec-
tives were visiting the quarter to close
down the games.
Commissioner Hutton was the first
witness called when the Investigation
was resumed. He began by raising a.
doubt as to the truth of Sergeant Ellis
statement that it took him five min
utes, though he ran all the wax, to
reach the point where the Commission
er was waiting for him last Monday
night. The messenger who delivered
the note found the officer in front of
the Chinese theater. Hutton testified
that yesterday morning he walked at
an ordinary gait the distance the SER
geant ran. and did so in three and a