The San Francisco call., 1905-03-14
WHITMAN
/. BEGINS DEFENSE
High Compliments Are Paid
to the Record of Accused
official for Efficiency
HEARING is CONTINUED
Reputation of the SO-Called
Educational Society" As
sailed by High Officials

Chief OF Police whitman. chdf Sco
! with incompetency and neglect of duty.
commenced his defense before the
Board of Police Commissioners last
night. Many witnesses testified as 10
the Chiefs efficiency and the con-
sensus OF opinion was that Whitman
was not only the best executive police
! official San Francisco has ever had, but
! that he was the superior of any oft1-
I cial in a similar position in the United
States. High Government officials at
; tackled the reputation OF the so-calleo
| Educational Society. whose members
seem to be taking an active interest in
| the prosecution of Whitman. and old
policemen, experienced in Chinatown
matters, gave estimates Of the number
| of men that would be required to sup
press gambling In that section. An ad-
| journment was taken until this even
| ing.
]. r. Howell, whose term as Police
Commissioner expired at the beginning
| of this year, said that Whitman was
competent Chief and an honorable
man; that he never neglected his duty
and that the San Francisco Police De-
partment did not have an equal In the
country. Inspector of the Chinese Bu-
reau Charles Meehan said that the Ed
ueationa1 Society had a bad standing
| with his department, and that IL had
tried to smuggle Chinese women into
the country unlawfully. Nose Gunst.
ex-Commissioner, complimented Witt.
man highly and told how this depart
ment compared with that OF other cit
les.
George A. Newhall, former chairman
Of the board, said that Whitman was
the most capable Chief this citv has
ever had. He said that the Chiefs abil-
ity had been praised hx police officials
of every large city. and related the
compliments paid to the Chief by both
President Mckinley and President
Roosevelt. Newhall never knew Witt
man to neglect his duty. Charles L.
Field, W. Frank Pierce. H. d. Love-
land Colonel Frank W. Summer and
George B. Clark all testified as to the
efficient manner in which Whitman
handled the crowds during the knights
Templar conclave held in this city last
September. Sumner mentioned the dec
oration from King Edward, which was
presented the Chief by the Earl of Eus-
ton.
w. H. Barnes and z. II. Black had
the same to say of the Chief in re-
gard TO the Odd Fellows parade. Rea-
gan asked Summer if he believed Witt
man to be capable Of suppressing
gambling in Chinatown. Sumner re-
piled that if the Chief is as successful
in closing games as he is at handling
crowds the former must be out Of
existence. Jesse d. Fuller and ]. w.
Harris of the G. A r. and Rufus p.
Jennings, chairman of the citizens
committee during the visit of President
Roosevelt, both testified to Wittman's
ability in restraining crowds and pre-
serving order Achilles Roos said that
Wittman's reputation for ability
among the citizens of the city was OF
the best.
rIo-+ III Hyo.4L Ty~,4o5 cx~4.- -.
missioner Of immigration, said that
the reputation of the members Of the
Chinese Educational Society was bad
and that they were, for the most part,
considered highbinders. Thomas Cub
bins gave the society the same reputa-
ton and said 1t had a poor standing
among the better class of merchants.
DR.. Gardner then interpreted Witt
mans proclamation to the Chinese re-
garding gambling. telling them that
any one who collected blood money
and promised police protection was an
impostor
Detective Edward L. Gibson saw
gambling only once. but knew that it
was going on in the district. He ad-
mitted that it was suppressed at pres
ent. but said it would take a large
squad to. stamp it out entirely. Ser
geant Christensen said that twenty
five men could keep the ground floor
? clubs closed, but to prevent the Chi
nese from gambling in places of Sc
clusion at least 100 men would be re-
quired. Corporal William NJ Ross
who is in the section now, said that
the Chinese fear Cook and that they
attempt to gamble just as soon as the
| sergeant departs for his home Ross
also testified to having raided a game
of fan-tan in the rooms of the Chinese
Educational Society on February s.
Sergeant irc,
at least eighteen men to stop gambling
on the first floors where 1t was known
to exist and many more If an attempt
was made to stamp 1t from the dis
trict. Before an adjournment was
taken until this evening Attorney
Kahn announced that the defense
would require two more sessions to
complete its testimony.
The following communication has
been spread broadcast throughout the
city:
You are urged to join forces with the Out
door Art League the Women's Council the
Oeeanside Improvement Club and kindred
sociations to protest against chanting saloon
licenses to any new resorts on the ocean ooule-
ward.
Wednesday night. March 10. at the Hall Of ,
Justice for action on another license BE there
to protest against this new resort Help Us
10 fight for good associations along the great
Fight with us to keep this highway clean
and pure for our mothers. our wives our
children Keep the ocean beach for all good
San Franciscans. not for transients to ca
'oH Re in person at Hall Of Justice. Kearny
street. between Clay and Washington. at I:15 ,
ynn -, are nterested-alI San Francisco is.
Help us! Help yourselves! Come and lend
your pEssenes and xqsss ovrNT Y aesss1ary SuR
ID. H. BIGGS. President.
ID DEwARD MORCHus. Secretary. 1886