The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-10
Foreman Andrews of Grand
Jury Declares That the
Mayor Made Statements
That Are Entirely False
JURORS MAY INDICT
TWO OFFICIALS TO-DAY
Results of Investigations
of TreaSurer's Office to
Be Given to Them and
Several May Be Accused

Foreman Andrews sharply denied
yesterday that he knew Of Defaulter
Edward ]. Smiths crookedness before
the former Tax Collector fed the town
and that the news was told him by the
Mayor. The allegation made by the
Mayor that he knew that McCabe had
made the annual accounting is branded
as an absolute falsehood by Foreman
Andrews. Following is the jurors let
ter in full:
SAN FRANCISCO, May Q, 1905
Hon. E. z. Schmitz. Mayor OF the City
and County OF San Francisco-Dear Sir: Your
communication OF May g. which. according
20 notation on the back OF the envelope, was
left under the door OF the Grand Jury rooms,
Mills building. on Saturday evening. May g.,
1905, at $50 o'clock. did not reach me until
1I:15 & m, May s. 1905.
take decided issue with you IN your state
nent- 7 beg 70 advise you this morning,
long prior 70 the transmission OF your letter
q proper accounting was made. T. z. Atkin-
son. expert accountant. by my direction.
GiEtinE therein"
This statement is absolutely false Dir. At
kinson did not assist in the settlement to
be fled with the Auditor and the Treasurer.
Such is the testimony Of all who participated
IN the preparation Of the official figures. The
settlement was not made in the morning
long prior to the transmission OF my letter to
you" In fact the settlement was not made
until $3.50 O'Clock later Saturday afternoon.
Your Office apparently knew absolutely moth
ing OF the settlement TO be made until John
r Smith. the cashier Of the Tax Collector
office, acting in conjunction with Douglas
Young. the Grand Jurys expert called II 10
the attention OF Mr.. Kesne. your secretary,
al about II O'Clock on Saturday morning.
Mr. Kesne evidently realized the Importance
OF the notification for he stated that ne did
not know where you were, but would use
every possible means TO communicate with
you Il seems exceptionally strange to me
that "a settlement TO your satisfaction early
on Saturday morning was Effected. when as
3 mater Of fact the clerks were not detailed
lra nm rs
Some Of them were compelled TO go without
their luncheon in order 70 finish said settle
before the close Of Office hours
SAYS STATEMENT is FALSE.
In reference 10 your insinuation that 'ff
when you discovered some months ago the
irregularities OF the Tax Collectors olnee you
had been equally ready 70 notify me thereof
instead OF concealing the same from me- so
that Mayor Schmitz might not have the op-
portunity Of appointing his successor, the city
would have been saved very large sum Of
money and the community would not have
been plunged into the shocking horror OF
learning by his flight the extent and character
o. the misconduct OF q trusted public servant.
long Heretofore known TO you to have been
this statement is also false take II for
Franted that Il emanates from one OF your
confidential agents whose business career per-
Gonslity and character is known TO many and
OF which I presume you are personally &C
ousinted or otherwise am sure he would not
And furthermore. the Grand Jury. and par
ficulsrly its foreman. has never been IN pos
session OF any facts information of the
Irregularities Of the Tax Collectors office. ex-
eept that which has been published from time
70 time IN the newspapers
The Grand Jury has been for some months
and Is now investigating the o-called dunn
mics upon the payroll OF the Tax Collectors
office running as far back as 1902. It is
task consuming much time and involving con-
siderable labor. and has been submitted to
Mr. Kytks the handwriting expert, some six
weeks ago. for his opinion and report Mr..
Kytka is still working on the matter, assisted
BY Detective Thomas Gibson.
TELLS OF INVESTIGATIONS.
The Grand Jury also investigated the in
junction suit OF J. Silver, preventing Tax Col
lector Smith from disrissing him
pl0ye from his office. This suit apparently was
3 mutual one between Smith and Silver. and
Smith undoubtedly intended to let IL go by
default The Grand Jury, after consultation
with the city Attorneys office. Mr. Brobeck
acting forced Mr. Smith into submitting his
ease 70 that Office that It could be properly
presented and contested before Judge Sloss.
n the meantime investigation upon the part
Of the Civil Service Commission and the Grand
Jury developed the fact that /. Silvers exam
fnstion papers were crooked, resulting in the
dropping OF his name from the civil service
list and the suit from the calendar.
II is q source OF much pleasure and gratih-
cation 70 me 70 note and accept your marked
and sincere appreciation of my kindness in
publicly calling attention TO Mr. McCabe's IN
toxicstion." Mr.. McCabe being your temporary
sppointee, pending the appointment OF q sue
moved
Section ?. chapter /. pages 81 and 80 Of the
charter, states:
The Mayor shall vigilanty observe the
official conduct OF all public officers and the
manner In which they execute their duties and