Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-29
MUCH MONEY USED DURING
GLASS REGIME
SENATOR LukENs APPEARS AS
WITNESS
Tells How Oakland councIImen Were
Entertained While Fight Against
Home Concerns Admission
to Oakland Was On

ator Russell Lukens was witness today
in the trial of Louis Glass for bribery,
and was subjected by Assistant District
Attorney Heney to an examination which
could not have been more severe had he
been placed on the stand by the other
side.
Lukens was preceded in the witness
chair by Benjamin Pendleton and Eugene
T. Thurston, jr., who were members Of
the city council of Oakland in the fall
of 1905, when the Home Telephone COM
pany was seeking rival franchise in
that city against the effort Of the Pacific
States company to maintain Its monop-
oily. Pendleton and Thurston testified to
hospitalities extended to them by Agent
Halsey of the old company, and Lukens,
who was in its employment as a lawyer.
but no testimony was forthcoming of any
improper offers being made to them.
Senator Lukens testified in substance
as follows: tT had been for three years
representing the Pacific States company
in Oakland and was paid an annual sal
ary. When the Home company applied
to the council for competitive franchise
Mr.. Halsey asked me to take up the mat
ter specially in an endeavor to defeat the
applications, and did so. For this spe-
cal work presented bill of $1,000, and
II was paid promptly.
The Home company proposed to install
an automatic system The system In use
by the Pacific company was the manual
or central station and switchboard ex-
change system. The members of the
council wanted to meet some one who
could explain to them the relative merits
and demerits of the two systems.
think it was L, but / will not swear It
was not Mr. Halsey, who suggested and
gave luncheon at the Bohemian club,
where Councimen Pendleton and Thurs
ton met Mr. Glass, Mr.. Halsey and one
or two others.
At Lukens' Expense
The luncheon was at my expense. No,
did not collect the amount Of the bill
from the company. When 1t was pro-
posed, Jointly by myself and Mr.. Gerstle
of the law firm of Thomas, Gerstle, Flick
G. Reedy, he representing the Home COM
pany and I the Pacific, that the two
companies pay the expenses of a commit
tee of the council to Los Angeles to in
vestigate the dual system in use there,
the council agreed Our share Of the ex-
penses was between $500 and $400.
gave my check for that amount and af-
terward collected the amount from the
company do not remember whether or
not the check that was sent me was
signed by Mr.. Glass. received from Mr.
rangement with the council"
Mr. Heney wanted to know how much
Senator Lul1ens received from the Pa
ciic States Telephone company as an
annual salary. Mr.. Delmas objected that
the question was "prying and improper"
The objection was sustained.
Changes Statement
Senator Lukens denied that he had
learned of "any improper pressure being
brought to bear upon Councilman Thurs
ton to vote against the Home company's
application, at the request of Halsey or
the established committee" but after he
had glanced over a typewritten statement
previously dictated by him to Heney's
stenographer, he modified the denial. He
said he had learned that Thurston had
complained that his employers would dis
charge him unless he voted against the
Home companys application, and the
witness said that in discussing this with
Halsey, ne warned the latter that Thurs
TONS mind must be kept clear of any
such idea If am to accomplish anything
for you, and Thurston must be made to
understand that the company was not
responsible for any such threats" The
last witness of the. day was William A.
Beasly, an attorney of San Jose, who tes-
titled that at the request of Halsey he
had allowed his name to be used as a
bidder for telephone franchise to fore
stall the Home company's application.
Mr.. Heney announced that the prosecu-
tion will conclude tomorrow.
Henry t. Hanley, paying teller of the
Wells Fargo Nevada National bank, was
the first witness called at the morning
session of the trial. His testimony was
identical with that given yesterday by
other bankers in support of the claim
by the prosecution that checks of the
W. a.
company required the signature of either
Louis Glass or e. j. thinner during the
period of the alleged briberies. Henry T.
Scott was recalled to identify his sigma
ture on various company vouchers. Dur
ing his examination Heney and Delmas
engaged in the first good natured badt-
mage since they became opposing figures
in the bribery graft prosecution. Heney
complained that Delmas was wasting
time. Delmas replied:
''Yes about three weeks time has al
ready been wasted here
yes" said Heney, "and two of them
were wasted in the cross-examination of
witnesses"
"Quite true" agreed Delmas, "of wit
nesses whom we did not cross-examine at
ALL"
Possibly one witness did escape that
way" retorted Heney. 'and he escaped
because you were afraid to cross-exam-
Inc him"
..My dear man." laughed Delmas. II
was no more afraid of him than I am OF
YOU"
'.You don't have to be afraid of me.
am not testifying" sad Heney.
Breeze Before Storm
But all this. as was proved a few
minutes later, was merely a breeze before
the gale. Last night when Chief Counsel
Pillsbury was on the stand Delmas In
troduced in evidence certain vouchers OF
the telephone company showing the pay
ment monthly to Ruef OF the sum Of
$l2b0, ostensibly as an attorneys fee
but really-the prosecution olaims-to buy
his influence with municipal officials.
The obvious intent of the defense was
to suggest to the jury the idea that the
telephone company was the victim Of
extortion rather than the voluntary
briber alleged In the indictments against
its officials. Some of these vouchers bore
the approval signature Of President
Scott and still later ones, similarly ap-
proved and signed. were for lesser month