The San Francisco call., 1904-11-12
WILL DISBAND
GRAND JURY
Kerrigan So Announces on
the Receipt of Lilienfeld's
Resignation as Foreman
ALSO THE BODY'S WISH
Wakefield Baker Urges That
Owing to Discord Steps
Be Taken to End Sitting

Presiding Judge Kerrigan refused
yesterday to accept the resignation OF
Alfred Lilienfeld as foreman of the
Grand Jury, forwarded by Judge Law
lor, for the reason that the court con-
templates an early disbanding of the
inQuisitorial body and deemed it best
that he should continue to serve as
the presiding officer until the final ad-
place a week from next Thursday. He
told Mr.. Lilienfeld to inform the jury
that the court desired it to terminate
its labors and make it's report within
two weeks.
1t was given out by Judge Kerrigan
that his reason for bringing the Grand
Jury to a close was to inaugurate a
new system of service. 1t is his pur-
pose to call another at once to serve
the rest of this and the first two
months Of next year 1t is to be then
disbanded and another impaneled to
serve the remainder Of the half of the
fiscal year. Judge Kerrigan wishes to
arrange the sittings of grand juries so
that one of the two will begin its ses-
sions at the opening of a fiscal year
and the other adjourn at its end. The
law provides that there shall be two
grand juries during the year.
Under this arrangement each pre-
siding Judge, who serves in that hon
orary capacity for one year at a
time, will have the impeachment of
two inquisitorial bodies. This largely
was the end Judge Kerrlgan had in
view when he informed Lilienfeld that
the present jury should bring it's Ia
bors to a close at as early a date as
possible. The idea has been approved
by District Attorney Byington and
Judge Lawlor, who will be the next
presiding Judge.
Before the Grand jury adjourned on
Thursday evening Wakefield Baker
moved that steps be taken to have it
disbanded at the meeting next Thurs
day. He believed that the discord
among it's members had created a sit
uatior in which it was impossible to
accomplish any further good work. He
felt that he had done his duty, for his
efforts were the best he had to put
forth. though they were not altogether
successful
The members favored the sugges-
tiUn of disbanding, but some of the
committees protested that they could
not have their report ready by next
Thursday, and it was decided to post
pone adjournment for a week from
next Thursday. 1t is presumed that
Foreman Lilienfeld communicated this
fact TO Judge Kerrigan, who was guild
ed by it,
Lilienfeld rendered his resignation
because other jurors in insulting fash
ion made ill-founded accusation
against him that he had given infor-
nation TO the press. Those who voted
against the prosecution of the Elec-
tion Commissioners were indignant
that their names had been printed, and
they place the responsibility on the
foreman.
William Broderick was indignant on
Thursday because Lilienfeld had sub
penaed witnesses in case without
consulting any other members. Secre
tary Welch had refused to send out
subpenas in another case because he
knew the foreman had new matter
for consideration that would occupy
the entire afternoon. There was much
acrimony over such phases, and after
adjournment Lilienfeld's disgust i'm
PEELED him to ask to be relieved of the
foremanship.