The San Francisco call., 1905-08-05
MANY INMATES
MAY NOT VOTE
Grand Jury Foreman Finds
a Long List of Ineligibles
at the County Hospital
TO MAKE REPORT TODAY
Twenty Five Indigents in
Almshouse Are Said to
Be in the Same Category

These patients have no right what
ever to vote" declared Foreman An
drews of the Grand Jury yesterday after
an exhaustive examination of two score
of the registrations of inmates of the
City and County Hospital. ."And If they
do SO there will be some lively prosecu-
ton for. fraud" he added
During the fnvestigat ton II developed
that large number of the men had been
put on the hospital payroll and that they
had registered, although they had not
lost their distinction of being patients
Many Of them are being treated for dis
ease, and since the law reads that a pa
tient is not permanent resident of a
hospital about seventy-four men are un-
questionably not entitled to vote
To-day at 10 O'Clock the report of Fore
man Andrews will be handed to the
Grand Jury, and 1t will undoubtedly take
steps to check the bold scheme to stuff
the ballot-box.
AS a result Of the instructions Of DR..
Ward, president of the Health Board.
Superintendent McQude showed none of
the hostile spirit yesterday which he dis
played Wednesday, when he refused to
allow Foreman Andrews to examine the
patients. He explained that at that time
he was only delaying the investigation
because Of his own stubbornness, and
could dictate to the Grand Jury. He as
serted on Wednesday that he would stall
the examination till the last but yes
terday he was in a most accommodat ting
mood.
Foreman Andrews and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Harris were not stopped
at the gates and told to vamos, as had
been promised. Instead they met Nc
Quaide in his office and then called for
certain men to appear and be examined.
The willy superintendent was slightly ruff
fed at first at the instructions sent him
by DIR. Ward to show the inquisitors
every courtesy, but he tried to relieve his
feelings by telling bluntly that he handed
Andrews "a pretty brick on Wednesday.
IF you had any sense Harris, you
would have seen that my actions Wednes-
day were only a bluff said McQuaide.
81 knew that 1 had the cinch on you and
told you only what l chose"
"Wait till you see what we do to-day"
said Andrews, land then you can judge
whether we were bluffed out Wednes-
day"
WARDS ARE VISITED.
A visit was paid to the various wards
where the desired men were stationed,
and in every case but one the men
claimed to have registered on the request
OF some one" although they did not
call the place their residence. Every pa
tient called upon said that he would leave
the place as soon as his condition war
ranted 1t. In the cases where the men
were paid for the work 1t was held by
Attorney Harris that they were not resi-
dents when they intended to remove
upon the expiration of their illness. All
through the list the men were found to
be inmates through sickness, which fact,
according to the law, makes them in
competent to vote.
The following men were examined by
Foreman Andrews and Attorney Harris,
each of them having registered during the
last month with the Intention of voting:
Joseph Bresa, 1865 Broadway, is
q patient. He works in one of the wards.
although he does not claim the place as
a permanent residence, therefore, he is
incompetent
w. H. Devlin. patient, is from the city.
He said he was asked to register by
some one" He said he would leave
the hospital when he recovered. He has
no right to vote
A. B. Conroy, patient is from the Bo-
nanza House, and has been at the insti-
tuition only short time. He intends TO
vote, although he is going to leave when
he RECEIVERS.
Robert Gibson, patient. from the city,
declared himself an unpaid, permanent
resident with the intention of leaving. ;"
He is thought to be disqualified.
Michael Kelleher patient on the pay
roll, registered and began to receive pay
during July. Although not a permanent
resident. he intends to vote.
Pat Shea, patient, has voted for several
years, although not permanent resident
because he will leave the hospital when
well and does not call it his home. He
is paid for working.
John McAulif, patient, claims the right
to vote, although he is not a permanent
resident
w. Hayes, patient, works in the build
ing but receives no pay and claims the
city for a residence.
w. Fitzgerald, patient, is not on the
payroll and is not a permanent resident.
yet intends to vote.
J. M Harris, patient, receives IS
month, but is ineligible because Of his
residence being In the city.
NO RIGHT TO VOTE.
Because the men are able to walk
around does not entitle them to vote"
said Attorney Harris, land because some
others are more fortunate In being put
on the payroll a discrimination cannot
be made in their favor. These men have
no legal right to cast a ballot in the
true sense of the word and will be pre-
vented"
Twenty-Five indigents were declared in
competent to vote, after the investigation
at the Almshouse by Foreman Andrews
and Expert Young of the Grand Jury
Yesterday morning. 1t has been the GUS
tom to vote these men Notwithstanding
that the only time they are not in con-
finement is when they come out to reg
lister or vote They are in confinement
as though in prison and are governed
by the same laws, which makes their
right to vote null
The condition of affairs will be reported
TO the Grand Jury and decided by them
whether the fndigents may vote If they
are not eligible they will be challenged
bv representatives of the Grand Jury at
the polls. 1t was learned that family
nride made some of the Almshouse in
mates give fictitious name on registra-
ton. Each of these cases was exam
ined.
Cannot Reinstate Dismissed Policemen.