The San Francisco call., 1906-11-24
HOLDS SECRETS OF BROTHEL

street, IN Wnlcn he Keeps the ACCOUNTS
of his masters.
HOLDS SECRETS OF BROTHEL
Lastreto, who claims to be an attor-
ney, besides attending to the legal busi
ness of the owners of the municipal
house." is their accountant and cashier.
All of the details of the operation of
the establishment are known to him
the same as the details of reputable
enterprise of law abiding men might be
lzHown to man who kept their books.
Lastreto took the surprising position
that the records in these books were
privileged condolences between an at
torney and his clients and that they
could not be produced in evidence with
out violating the sacred code of profess
sional ethics.
Heney finally had the matter referred
to Superior Judge Murasky, who will
give a ruling on the point at issue on
Wednesday. AS a lawyer Heney re-
sents an attempt to construe the ac-
counts of a house of prostitution as
coming within the professional pale re-
ferred to by Lastreto, but his position
as prosecutor precl1ded the obtrusion
of this view into the matter and re-
suited in referring it to the court for
settlement.
PARTY GOES TO COURT
Heney, together with District Attor-
ney Langdon and the members of the
Grand Jury, adjourned the graft inves-
tigation when Lastreto raised this
point and went to the court of Judge
Murasky- Special Agent William
Burns accompanied them. Automobiles
were used in the trip from Native Sons
Hall to the Temple Sheriff. Israel, and
great interest was aroused on the
streets by the caravan as 1t swept past.
Foreman oliver had with him the in
dictment for perjury returned by the
Grand Jury against Max Adler, the
French restaurateur. Rumors of the
finding of this bill against Adler were
around before the Grand Jury left Ma
tive Sons Hall, and the crowd about
this place quickly swelled as the Jurors
filed out.
There goes an indictment by auto
mobile" some one in the crowd shouted
If the comment impressed any of the
jurors who overheard it they did not
display the fact The Indictment re-
turned against Adler was first dis
posed Of by the jury, and the point
raised by Lastreto was then taken up.
RED LETTER DAY
The testimony of Captain Martin was,
however, the principal matter that oc
cupied the attention of the Grand Jury
and others interested In the graft in
XSSllRaI1On. he lOOOy VI tiC Idiitl
Jury room was resplendent with brass
buttons and blue uniforms. A squad
of police sergeants and a patrolman in
full uniform gave the all-day session
the appearance of an official ceremony.
Captain Martin wore civilian dress. but
made up for this deficiency by the
startling nature of his testimony.
When he emerged from the jury room
he wore an expression Of quiet salts
10 IN inst
far he had gone in his testimony. This
point worried Chief Dinan. The Chief
and Martin were in conference last
evening, but neither would speak as to
its purpose.
Lastreto was the first witness called
in the investigation into the disorderly
houses.
"Who are the owners of the resort
at e20 jackson street?" he was asked.
Joseph 7Alexander, Joseph Michel
and George Maxwell he replied.
Weren't you a partner?"
"No l was their attorney"
Were Ruef, Schmitz and Chief Dinan
interested?"
mo. They had nothing to do with
it,
Were not certain sums paid to the
administration or to the police to per-
nit the place to keep open?''
Not to my knowledge.
why was your place allowed to run
and a similar resort at 712 Pacific
street closed?'
Il guess the other violates the law.
What became of the profits?''
The earthquake ate them up.
ADMITS HAVING RECORDS
where are the books?'
They are in my possession" replied
Lastreto.
When can you bring them into
court?f'
II can't bring them, because the mat
ter in them is confidential between at
torney and client"
You acted as bookkeeper and
cashier for the proprietors. did you
not?''
Yes, kept the books, but they con
tain privileged matter.I
Lastreto was then excused.
Heneys desire to get the books is
explained on the theory that they con
tain absolute proof that large sums