The San Francisco call., 1905-02-28
WITTMANS TRIAL COMMENCES
AFTER PLEA OF NOT GUILTY
Hutton Says Chief Was Not Remiss
His Efforts to Suppress Gambling.
Police Board Will
Offer Mass of
estimony.

The sensational and much talked Of
trial Of Chief Whitman of the police
force was begun before the. Board of
Police Commissioners last night, the
star witnesses for prosecution and de-
fense being present, with Congressman
julius Kahn representing the accused
Chief
There were several interesting fea-
lures. the most attractive being the
many bouts between Congressman
Kahn and Commissioner Reagan, who
was Questioner for the board.
The defense at once announced ready
and the defendants manner was
challenge 10 the prosecution to do its
worst. Early in the procedure Kahn
made the point that much of the COM
missions evidence. as set forth by Rea-
gan, was irrelevant, referring 10 pc
riods not covered by the charges. In
one case the commission was forced
TO Withdraw its charges for the .rea-
son thus set forth.
Former Police Commissioner Hut
tons testimony was of unusual inter
est both because of his former aggres-
sive attitude in reform movements and
because he sMore that. in his opinion,
Chief Whitman had done all in his
power to suppress Chinese gambling.
The trial viii be resumed tonight,
and il is believed that it cannot be
sions Of the board
CHIEFS MANNER DIGNIFIED.
The bluff Chief of Police came be-
fore the commission in manner un
bended for the trial.
Wait a minute, somebody wants to
see me outside" he spoke up as Presi-
dent Poheim called his name. A ser
geant had just whispered the message
in Wittman's ear.
The board puffed complacently at
its cigars while the Chief had his
brief interview in the corridor.
On his return Secretary Boyne read
the three typewriter pages that set
forth the charges Of incompetence
and neglect of duty. On conclusion,
Poheim asked tersely, Your plea ,"
and with equal brevity the defendant
answered Not guilty"
The trial started with the pace of
a prize fight
4 wish TO offer in evidence that
part of the charter which prescribes
the duties Of the Chief of Police"
came sharply from Drinkhouse.
NO objection" was Kahn's prompt
reJoinder.
THE secretary will read said the
president, swinging has gavel ner-
vously.
Waive the reading yielded the at
was eager for expedition.
But the waste of words was to
come. Reagan offered a communica-
ton TO the board, written by former
Commissioner H. w. Hutton on March
10, concerning the prevalence of
gambling in Chinatown. Objection
was made that the charges against
the defendant covered the period be-
toWeen November Z and November
2s, and that a communication bearing
on conditions in March was irrelevant
Furthermore, Kahn said Hutton was
witness and could give his testi-
mony. The communication was with
drawn.
MAYORS LETTER PRODUCED.
Then Reagan produced a letter
written by Mayor Schmitz in March,
1903. calling attention to the existence
Of fantan and lotteries in the Chinese
quarter
Has no relevancy to the case at is
sue, but We will make no objection"
remarked the Congressman.
Next was read a letter from the
Mayor dated April 81, 1903, af er his
investigation of police aff..rs in
Chinatown, in which he said he could
lay bare no evidence of corruption of
the department He had ascertained,
however, that the statesmen COL
sibly for police protection, and strin-
gent measures were urged to stamp
out this practice. The Mayor sug-
gested that the statesmen" might be
arrested for obtaining money by false
pretenses.
The first witness was George w
Lee, Deputy County Clerk. He had
bundle Of afidavits filed in the effort
TO dissolve the injunction the gamblers
had obtained restraining the police
from interfering with them. The affi
davits specified the locations of the
gambling clubs.
The first affidavit was that of Ser
geant Coogan, who was in command of
the Chinatown squad during March
and April, 1903. On cross-examination
he said that at that time the games
were going at full blast at the many
places he designated.
Did you try TO stop those games?"
asked Kahn.
It did"
Did you succeed?"
No, could not stop the gambling"
Reagan had a newspaper clipping
that suggested the following query:
Did you ever tell a newspaper re-
Porter that the Chief of Police told
you your work in Chinatown was satis-
factory"
I told the reporter that the Chief