Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-31
PROBE DEEP IN
BRIBERY SCANDAL
FRIENDS RALLY TO SUPPORT
OF MAYOR EMO
Accused officials Of Long Beach Main
tain That Their Arrest Is the
Result of a shrewd Po-
itieaI Game

Although District Attorney Fredericks
cannot fail to convict Mayor Rufus A.
Emo of Long Beach of accepting bribes
In connection with the building Of the
pavilion Of that place, Mayor Emo
is the victim of political enemies and
declares he will be able to prove it
when the proper time comes.
1T consider this to be dirty, low-down,
political work. a result of the machina-
tions of my enemies" he said yester-
DAY. II am innocent and confident that
later developments will prove my inno-
cence, but that does not relieve the
cloud that overshadows me as a result
of the publicity given the charges. L
am making a thorough investigation
and believe will be able to trace these
charges back to the persons who orig
mated them"
Who he suspects or who his political
enemies are the mayor refused to say
II feel l have the citizens of Long
Beach back of me-" he continued, for
since early morning / have been busy
answering telephone calls and have re-
fidence. Later I held an informal re-
ception at my home, and at my office
there was a steady stream of visitors,
all with hearty handshakes and prom
ises to see me through my hour of
darkness"
Assured of Support
Although the finger of scorn pointed
at him from one direction these assur-
ances of confidence kept up the courage
of the accused mayor and he took his
arrest in a philosophical manner. He
arrived at his office at o'clock in the
morning, his usual time, and found a
number of persons prominent in Long
Beach politics and society awaiting his
arrival.
They greeted him cordially and as
sured him they did not believe a word
of the charges. DR.. II. G. Craven was
the first to grasp the hand of the mayor
and II. II. Jackson followed him. At no
time during the day did the mayor ap-
pear to make an effort to keep out of
sight, and he was a central figure in
groups that gathered about the prin-
cipal Long Beach streets.
Losee Says Politics
Trustee Losee, who was arrested with
MdyOG GIllO ana WHO Is accused OF nav
ing accepted $1,000 in bribes in connec-
tion with the building of the pavilion,
was not SO readily accessible yesterday.
He remained at his home until late in
the morning and it was noon before he
appeared at his office, 12 Pine street,
Long Beach, When he was seen he
was even more reluctant to discuss the
case than Mayor Emo had been. He de-
Clared he believed politics to be behind
the movement, but maintained that if
he made charges against those whom
he suspects they would double their
efforts in the present case.
j. Il. Shrewsbury chief of the Long
Beach fire department and prominent
in the politics of that place, said he did
not believe the charges against the
accused men could be made to stick.
But if they are correct" he added,
II am anxious to see the guilty persons
brought to justice. 1t is said that
checks were passed by Mr.. Corbaley of
the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific company
to Trustee Losee. That checks did pass
between them there is not a shadow OF
doubt, but / happen to know of one in
stance where the transaction was en-
tirely legitimate and the result of the
friendship Mr.. Losee holds for the
young engineer. Mr.. Corbaley once had
occasion to borrow money to carry out
contract on which he was working,
and Mr. Losee cheerfully loaned him
the money.
IF it is on any such information as
this that the charges of accepting a
bribe have been brought against Mr..
Losee those who have brought them are
on thin ice."
Trustee D. NJ. Cate asserted he knew
nothing of the case except what he had
read in the papers.
"If they are correct" he said, 81
hope the guilty ones will be properly
punished"
Favors Investigation
He minated that this was but the
beginning of a campaign against sus-
picious circumstances in connection
with Long Beach officials and that
there might be some grounds for action
If proper investigation was made.
After District Attorney Fredericks
had finished with Mayor Emo and Trus-
tee Losee he sent for Marshal George
W. Neece and Trustee r. S. Oakford,
whom he questioned closely.
Neither the marshal nor the trustee
would discuss the session with the dis
trict attorney.
Trustee Oakford asserted he had been
unable to give the district attorney
much satisfaction as the case was all
new to him, although he was chairman