The San Francisco call., 1905-04-01
Blame IS Shifted to
Judges in Many
Instances.
Light Fines Nullify
the Detectives
Efforts.

The Police Commissioners Joined the
Grand Jury In conference last night
and were taken to account for the
many instances of failure on the part
of the department to enforce the law.
They were ready with explanations,
some having lit and others not, the
Grand Jurors thought The principal
matter taken up was that of the pool
rooms over a hundred of which have
been allowed TO do fiourishing busi-
ness. The difficulties of making sue
cessful prosecution were set forth at
length by the members of the board
and Acting Chief Spillane, blame be-.
ing laid 10 the Police Judges, but the.
upshot of the discussion was that a;
vigorous campaign against the gam.
bling resorts is now to be made by the:
police, aided by the Grand Jury, which
already has much evidence in its pos:
session. @* 8: @.sjz4=
The conference was held.>in Judge.
Lawlor's courtroom at the Hall of JUS:
tice The first inquiry made of the
Commission was concerning the case:
of Policeman Mcnamara, whose only
punishment was a reprimand for allow
ing Mrs. Berlin to escape from him
after he had arrested her in a place
where pools were sold. She is friend
of Mayor Schmitz. The Commission
ers said that they had deemed the
reprimand a sufficient penalty, not re-
garding the policeman's conduct as
fragrant
MOONEY TAKES BLAME.
The board disclaimed all responsible
ity for the arrest of member of the
real estate firm with which Juror
Rowes is connected for displaying ito
blame for this strange action, that bore
the earmarks of spite work.
policeman McMurray was taken
from the Grand Jury assignment and
Detective Braig detailed instead, be-
cause it Is the policy of the board TO
give the more competent men the
easiest posts of duty" was President
Poheims strange explanation OF the
recent transfer.
The Commissioners said the Police
Judges, by levying ridiculously small
fines. made it impossible to wage q
successful campaign against the nu-
merous places where liquor is sold
without a license. The board promised
.. to notify the jury the next time such
an offense is called to its attention. that
some vigorous measures might De
taken against the courts.
Acting Chief Spillane informed the
Grand Jury that two patrolmen we're
detailed to try to stop the sale of lot
terry tickets The Commissioners again
shunted blame to the Police Judges,
who. they said, would never impose
salutary fines on offenders.
RESORT PROTECTED.
| The Grand Jury demanded an ac-
Counting Of the fact that Pratt & Tier
news notorious deadfall was permitted
to have piano playing and carousing
crowds through the night. But there
was no explanation of the immunity
the disreputable place seems to enjoy
from the police. The board promised to
instruct Captain Duke to bring the re-
Sorts managers up with a round turn.
The Grand Jury has collected evil
dence against many saloons where
pools are sold, and President Poheim
announced that if the proof was pre-
sented to the board the liquor licenses
would be revoked. Foreman Andrews
will start the crusade at once. 1t was
agreed that the board and the Grand
Jury should work together with all
vigor to stamp out the poolroom evil.
Acting Chief Spillane told at length
what has been done by. the police. The
structures made on the attitude of the
Police Judges toward the offenders
were severe The Grand Jury decided
that it would call the Judges into a
conference that will be held this morn
ing at 10 o'clock.
An indictment was returned by the
Grand Jury against A1,s-fewsY ates, the
bellboy who robbed room of several
thousand dollars worth of valuables at