The San Francisco call., 1905-02-23
THREE BOODLERS
PREPARE TO FACE
TRIAL FOR CRIME
That No
Subterfuge Can
Save Them.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, Feb 22.-Boodlers
French, Wright and Bunkers are pre-
pairing for trial, having abandoned
ment, which at first promised so muc i,
will avail aught. Emmons. who lies
at the point of death as the result of
an operation for appendicitis, naturally
has not been told that his associates
have abandoned hope of escaping trial,
and he will not be for some weeks to
come, should be survive.
After Attorney Morehouse had COM
pleted his argument on behalf of the
accused, they were highly exhilarated
at the prospect of going scot free, but
they did not count on the fact that
reply to their argument that they had
committed no crime was to be ma lie
by the prosecution. When this reply
did come their counsel saw that their
defense had crumbled and that ther,
Was nothing left to do but to get ready
to convince jury that the accused are
inno cent.
In answer to interrogations by
Judge Hart, District ATTORNEY Sew
mour made the point that it mattered
not whether the Legislature had the
power to investigate corporations or
not; that the acceptance of a bribe on
the part of any member of the Legis-
lature from any corporation might in
fiuence the vote of such member on
this very question, as vote might be
called on a resolution to determine
whether or not the Legislature should
delegate to itself the power to investi-
gate corporations. The District At
torney also cited authorities esta blish-
ing the fact that the Legislature has
in relation to corporations what is
known as visiting" powers, which in
clude the right of investigation of any
organization it has directly or indi-
rectly created.
The point was also raised by the Dis
trict Attorney that there were various
bills before the Legislature bearing di-
rectly on building and loan associa-
tions and that the acceptance of a
bribe, on the part of a member for
specific action on any phase. of the
building and loan association ques-
tion would tend to influence such men,
ber in his consideration of all phases
of the question to come before either
or both houses.
The trend of Judge Hart's questions
and the direct manner in which they
were answered and supported by au-
thority by the District Attorney dis
PEELED all of the high hopes that had
Deeen IdlSeQ Dy MOrenOuSe argument,
and counsel for the defense practically
admitted that they were beaten. That
they expect that the court will over
rule their demurrer and order the ac-
cused to plead next Saturday is made
plain by the statement of one of the
counsel for the defense, who said to-
day:
Judge Hart will probably overrule our de-
murrer. Though he has given no intimation
other than what may be gathered from his
questions are prepared for an adverse de-
cision. But we will go to the Supreme Court.
however and although this action our
part will not delay the trial. We have hopes
of ultimate victory on the points raised in the
demurrer alone. 49,
Tomorrow morning Attorney George
D. Collins will argue his motion to
quash the Indictment against French.
This will give the court time in which
to investigate the authorities submit
ted in all of the cases before Saturday,
wI1en he will hand down his decision.