The San Francisco call., 1905-03-23
Three Men Accuse Him
Of Asking False
Testimony
SuTTeRdeTs Himself to
the Sheriff and
Gives Bonds.

When the announcement was made
yesterday morning that Frank A.
Maestretti. president of the Board of
Public Works, had been indicted by
the Grand jury on a charge of subor-
nation of perjury it created a sensation
IN political circles. The jury brought
in the indictment shortly after II
O'Clock in Judge Lawlor's court. Six
hours later Maestretti surrendered
himself TO a Deputy Sheriff and was
Immediately released on $4,000 bonds.
furnished by the Aetna Indemnity
Company.
That the members Of the Grand Jury
had long been planning this move was
Indicated by the course Of events. Five
witnesses were examined at the morn
ins session and then the indictment
was returned. Foreman Andrews and
Jurors Rowes and Speck asked TO be
excused from voting on the ground of
biased opinions. and their requests
were granted by Judge Lawlor.
The Indictment of Maestretti was
largely brought about by the testimony
Of Charles L. Merrill, an election Off
Ger Of the Thirty ninth Assembly Dis
trict, VINO was on duty at the time
that Charles Wyman Illegally voted
the name OF s. II. Mann. 1t was taken
as substantiaticn Of what had already
Rt-Ia- llECl u AACAl lDl0 AlC nlCLlOClC
OF the Grand Jury that Maestretti came
10 him and asked him TO swear he did
not see Wymal vote more than once
and thus clear the latter Of the serious
charge hanging over his head.
The testimony Of w. II. Podd and c.
M. Silberstein. already given, was in
keeping with What Merrill said and
convinced the jurors that they were
justified in indicting the Official. Fair
fax Wheelan. the man who made the
first investigation of the illegal voting,
was also present and again told the
story Of how the stuffing was car
ried on
MERRILL TELLS HIS STORY.
The Grand Jury had been planning
70 have Merrill appear before it and re-
late just what he knew about the case
He finally consented. and when he un-
bosou1ed himself before the fnquisi-
torial body yesterday morning it
thought there was nothing for il to do
but 60 ahead and act promptly, which
II did.
After hearing the stories of Macs
fretti's alleged attempt TO secure false
testimony. as told by Podd and Silber-
stein, the jurors called on Merrill for
his version OF the affair. He told a
story of how Maestretti had called on
him 2t his residence when Charles Wy
man was arrested and asked him to
testify at the trial that Wyman did not
vote more than once at the primary
election.
"BIaestretti was in the company OF
another man when he called at my
house" said Merrill. THE stranger
rang the bell and when my wife open
ed the door he tcld her Maestretti was
outside and wanted TO talk to me on a
very important matter l came outside
and met Maestretti on the sidewalk.
when he made the proposition to me-
He told me that Wyman was in
danger Of going to San Quentin. and
said. We viii have TO get together
and save him. Things look bad for
him. and our testimony is all that will
keep him cut of Jail. ] want you to
swear you did not see Wyman vote
more than once Ak the primary election.
VIII you do ity
Merrill said he would do as Maestretti
asked. for, he testified, he really did
not see Wyman vote more than once.
He said Maestretti went away satisfied
and told him he would fix everything
all right and that there would be no
further trouble.
THREE JURORS EXCUSED.
The stories told by Podd and Silver
stein are practically on the same lines
Conffnuad IN Pa0e o Column q