The San Francisco call., 1905-03-01
Report Says Head of Chief
of Police Must Fall Now
That Mayor Has Failed to
Name a New Commissioner
TWO HOSTILE MEMBERS
HOLD DISMISSAL POWER
Board Hears Three Chinese
Gamblers Give Testimony
and Takes Adjournment to
Attend Fight at Pavilion

The fight at the pavilion interfered
with the progress of the trial of Chief
Whitman last night, for at $3.50 o'clock
the Police Commissioners suddenly an
nounced an adjournment to this even
ing. Only three witnesses were ex-
amined, and these were Chinese who
gave testimony as to the existence of
gambling in Chinatown. Their credi
bi1ity was shaken severely in the cross
examination, however, and it was
made clear that personal enemies of
the suspended Chief had been active in
bringing the witnesses forward.
But the most important development
was the circulation of a story that all
hope for Whitman had been blasted.
He is doomed to lose his station at the
head of the department, it is said.
Commissioners Drinkhouse and Rea-
gan will not yield in their animosity
/ and their votes constitute a majority.
DR.. Poheim, the president of the
board. is understood to be favorable
to the Chief. He voted not guilty a
few nights ago in the case of three
patrolmen of the Chinatown squad, and
the evidence adduced against Witt
iiAoiA 10 dOOQl lilC
The failure of Mayor Schmitz thus
far to appoint Police Commissioner
to fill the vacancy caused by the re-
moval of Hutton is regarded as having
sealed the fate of the Chief, whose
offense is that he did not stop the
fantan and lottery games in China
town. 1t had been expected that the
name of the fourth member of the
board would be given out last Monday
evening at 5 o'clock. Alexander
O'Grady. it was thought, would be the
man. The programme was that he
should take his seat that evening when
the trial of Whitman began.
HOPED FOR TIE VOTE.
Poheim and O'Grady were looked to
by the friends of Whitman as disposed
TO be fair. Without majority vote
the Chief could not be removed.
But there was no appointment of a
commissioner. Herbert Schmitz, the
Mayors brother, is said to be clamor-
WittmanI on charges of incom-
potency and neglect of duty, was
allowed to go ahead with three COM
missioners, in which number Reagan
and Drinkhouse hold the power. 1t is
apparent from the manner in which
they are conducting the trial that they
are keenly bent on making out case
against the defendant.
An ugly report is abroad that Com
missioner Reagan is bitter in the
prosecution because Chief Whitman, re-
fused to promote young Reagan. his
son, who was appointed a patrolman
some months ago, to a position in the
upper Office as detective. The pay is
better and the duties easier. While
the charge is vouched for. Whitman re-
fuses to be interviewed at the present
time and verification is lacking.
In the event of Wittman's dismissal
there will undoubtedly be a hot con-
test in the courts. The Chief has a
stenographer employed to take all the
testimony adduced before the commits
sioners. 1t is contended that the COM
missioners had no authority under the
charter to suspend him when the
charges We're filed. Question is also
raised as to the right of the board to
prefer the charges and to act the part
sitting of prosecutor, While at the same
time in judicial capacity. Supreme
Court decision in a case that arose in
the Health Board is, said to be parallel,
and holds that the accuser cannot sit
in Judgment.
The commissioners instigated the
prosecution of Whitman by a formal