The San Francisco call., 1905-02-06
READY TO TRY
SERGEANT ELLIS
Grand Jury Report Said to
BE Prepared in the China
town Gambling Cases

This evening the Police Commission
ers win meet to try Police Sergeant
Thomas Ellis for alleged completely in
the plot to blackmail gambling games
in Chinatown and furnish funds for the
sack" that is supposed to be hanging,
at certain periods Of the week, within
easy reach of the hand that rocks the
Chinatown cradle and tries to rule the
little political world at San Francisco.
A summary of the situation is not
necessary, but the aftermath promises
TO be interesting and may be presented
in concrete form in the following fore
cast:
Sergeant Ellis will be tried by the Po-
lice Commissioners, and the report of
the police committee of the Grand
Jury viii be taken under consideration
by the board. But the Police Board
viii be the judges Of Ellis fate.
The jury report, however, is not in a
very satisfactory condition and has lost
much of its force. At least, this is the
belief of many, because of the devia-
ton Of the grand jurors from the orig
iHal path of investigation. The first
plan would have included an effort to
show that Chief of Police Whitman
was equally responsible with members
of the Chinatown squad in giving in
formation" that insured the Chinese
gamblers of immunity from raids of
those who might undertake a reform
movement on their own account.
Eilis viii, of course, make the defense
that he is not guilty. The rank and
fle of the Police Department are with
him. SO many patrolmen and sergeants
have been accused from time TO time of
knowledge Of the mysterious sack"
that repetition Of the tales have made
them callous. and they refuse to listen
to the old-time cry of wolf" Ellis
made no confessions that implicate the
Chief, but he is said to have told the
Grand Jury that he always stood in
a position TO obey orders and supposed
that these orders were given with hon
est purpose. The sergeant and Police
men Heinz and O'Brien have been
singled out as the scapegoats, and as
IL is expected that the police commit
tee of the Grand Jury will make some
sort Of q report this afternoon to al
low the commission to go ahead with
it's work of investigation, the supposi-
ton Is that the trial will proceed with
out interruption
Heinz was used by ex-Police Com
missioner Hutton to get evidence that
money has been passed to members of
the Police Department by denizens Of
Hinekley alley and other notorious
places On the tenderloin. Hutton has
prepared evidence to show that Ellis
notified the Chinese gamblers Of a pro-
posed raid, but there is doubt as to
whether certain other members of the
Police Department were not the 60
betWeens, and the evidence is believed
to be incomplete. Ellis has been noti-
he'd TO be ready TO make defense to-
night and has engaged an attorney.
There is much speculation as to
whether the administration will take
any hand in the fight. but it is reported
that powerfulinhuence has been brought
TO bear to show that Ellis is one of
the most reliable men in the service.
In this the friends of ex-Chief of Po-
lice Lees are said to figure.
Captain John Seymour, ex-chief of
city detectives has been trying to rib
Ellis up to standing by the Grand Jury.
which seems to have in view the un-
doing Of the Schmitz administration.
Captain Seymour has no particular love
for Chief Whitman. so the gossips say.
and has not overlooked a little counter
investigation that may crop up at the
last moment and upset deal of pres
ent-day speculation
Ellis report to the Grand Jury to a
certain extent bears out the charge of
corruption, but gives no possible clew
70 the men who have profited-if ever
laxrf he 1.,aft. - 81,
gamblers.