The San Francisco call., 1904-12-24

Developments in the police scandal
yesterday seemed to point to a con-
spiracy within a conspiracy. While
there has been circumstantial evidence
to show that some sort of corruption
fund has been collected in Chinatown
and that some sort Of tribute is levied
on the women Of the under world, there
has thus far been little to show that
any one high in authority in civic ad-
ministration is involved.
Opportunity to arrive at an intelligent
investigation Of the alleged bribery of
police in the districts mentioned seems
to have become hopelessly entangled in
the meshes of misinterpreted law and
the nets spread by disgruntled persons
TO trap the unwary object of their in
divhdual wrath.
This much was learned from Sergeant
Ellis yesterday:
II have not made any statement in
eliminating Chief Of Police Whitman.
or any other head Of the police depart
ment.
Il have not told Captain John Sey-
nreur, ex-chief Of detectives, that had
evidence incriminating the Chief and
members Of the administration.
II am simply defending myself
against what 1 think are unjust accusa-
tions. do not want to involve any
one; 1 am not looking for trouble, 1
only want to get out of It."
To further complicate matters the jur-
isdiction of the police committee of the
Grand Jury has been questioned.
Friends of men who have been sum
moned as witnesses have called atten-
tion to the fact that the committee,
acting Independently Of the main body,
has no legal right to subpoena wit
nesses or hold out a witness, as they
did In the Ellis case. Rooms have been
engaged by the Grand Jury in the Mills
building. although quarters are provid-
ed for that body in the City Hall. This
is said to be unusual.
The members of the Grand Jury, on
the other hand, say that they have i'm
portant work before them and that it
is necessary for them to meet at some
down town office that can be easily
reached from their respective places of
business. They decline to explain who
is paying for the rooms-the city or
public-minded citizens.
SERGEANT ELLIS POSITION.
Sergeant Ellis is much care-worn and
almost Frustrated. Yesterday morning
he was told to report at the Harbor
Police Station, but the Grand Jurymen
took the position that he was not SUBJ
ject to the orders of the Chief of Po-
lice so long as he was a witness before
that inquisitorial body. Here is where
the question of the police committees
Jurisdiction was brought up, and it
was contended that under legal circum-
stances the sergeant should be at his
post of duty and not held in the back
ground at the city's expense Late in
the afternoon the sergeant appeared at
the Harbor Station and greeted his
comrades of the force there. Much
sympathy is felt for him, as he is sup
posed to have been annoyed by the
friends to say something that would
substantiate charges brought by Hut
ton.
II cannot talk" said the sergeant, Il
am now on my way to the City Hall
and am under orders to keep quiet
The sergeant did not care to say any
thing about his conversations with
Hutton or any other of the Police Com
missioners. He would not, of course,
divulge the questions put to him by the
committee of the Grand Jury. He is,
as The Call has already explained, SIM
ply on the defensive and has not made
any charge that duplicates his supe-
riors.
The mystery now is-who has been
attempting TO turn the opportunity of
bringing the Chinatown Investigation
into a farce?
HUTTON is WAITING.
Police Commissioner Hutton may be
able 10 tell something about the in
vestigation instigated by him some
weeks ago. but for the present he will
take no steps in that direction Until
the Grand Jury is through with its
probing he will remain to all visible
signs. passive. For the present the Po-
lice Commissioners will have to pass
the matter over. as 1t would not be
legal for them to question witnesses
that have been told to appear before
the jury to answer queries put to them
concerning police affairs. After the
Jury finishes with its witnesses the
Police Board may see fit to resummon
them.
At an adjourned meeting Of the Board
of Police Commissioners yesterday
afternoon the Sergeant Ellis matter
was casually mentioned. Commissioner
Drinkhouse asked his associates on
the board what action they intended
taking regarding Ellis alleged confess
sion, whereupon Hutton spoke up and
said that he had been informed by
District Attorney Byington that the
commission would be in contempt il ii
attempted to compel Ellis to testify
before it while he was a witness before