The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-03-29
ONLY ONE FRISCO SUPERVISOR r
HOLDS OUT.
END STILL FAR OFF
With Conclusion Of Telephone Bribery
Investigation Attention WilE BE
Given to Other FeIoniee-M Morgan
May Be innocent.

San francisco, March 23.-No in
dictments were returned today by the
grand jury for graft or bribery, and
only six witnesses were examined: A.
B. Cass, president Of the Home Tele-
prone company, Of Los Angeles. who
was subjected to further inqniries as
to the accounts Of that corporation
and the fund Of 100000 said to have
been sent to San Francisco by certain
of it's officers for use in bringing SUI
pervisors to grant the Home company
the competitive telephone franchise
in this city, which was finally awarded,
after, as claimed by the prosecution,
approximately $4,000 in bribes had
been paid to the supervisors by the
rival company to insure their voting
against the award; J. N. Martin Of the
Adams-Philippine company Of Los An
.geles, who, with ]. S. Torrance,
brought to San Francisco in an auto
mobile the 100000 which was also
paid by the Home Telephone company
for its franchise, $25,OOO to the city
and $4,000 to the relief fund; George
Beanston, Of the bookkeeping depart
ment of the Pacific States Telephone
company, who was further questioned
as to his familiarity with the accounts
Of that corporation, insofar as they
were affected by the bribes alleged
to have Deen paid; John A. Mallon,
statistician Of the Pacific States Tele-
phone company; J. s. Torrance OF
Los Angeles, one of the brokers who
handled the bonds and securities OF
the Home Telephone company Of that
city, and Percy G. Morgan Of the
California Mine Producers, associa-
ton. who was member Of the execu-
tive committee Of the Pacific States
Telephone company at the time the
supervisorial bribes are alleged to
have been paid.
Morgan May Be Innocent.
When questioned at the close of the
grand jury session as to testimony adj
duced, Assistant District Attorney
Honey said, among other things, that
of his own knowledge Mr.. Morgan was
in the east from November Of 1905 un
til April OF 1906, an absence covering
the bribery period; "and," he added
stit is only fair to state that is was
possible for an absent member Of the
Pacific States executive BOARD to be
wholly ignorant of the paying Of these
bribes, for this board was not board
Of audit, but rather a board which
discussed policies while such disburse
ments as these payments were ap
proved and made by others.''
MT. Heney stated that subpoenas t
appear before the grand jury Saturda.
were served today on officials Of tn
Western National bank and the Unit
ed States National bank Of this city
He would not say to what they woul
be expected to testify. I'VE hope,
GlSAAA
States and Home bribery deals Sa
urday and to turn to the investigation
of other felonies next week. 1t is in
possible to even intimate at this tim
how long these investigations wi
last"
He added that all five members c
the Pacific States Telephone con
pany's executive board have been sui
poenaed to come before the inquis
torial body. All of the witnesse
from Los Angeles were finally excuse
today, and it was stated that the
would at once start for home. Thes
included, besides those named, Pre-
ident William Mead of the Centr
bank and Vice President w. G. Pa
terson of the First National ban
both of whom were twice called befo
the grand jury during their stay her
Seventeen Have Confessed.
Thus far Supervisors Charles Bo
ton, M. w. Coffey, D. g. Colema
Sam Davis, K. j. Furey, ]. L. Gall
gher G. ]. Harrigan, ]. F. Kelly, T.
Lonergan Max Mamlock, P. NJ. N
Gushin, r. P. Nicholas, J. ]. PhilliI
L. A. Rea, w. w. Sanderson, b.
Walsh and A.. M. Wilson-17 Of t
total is comprising the board-ha
confessed to the grand jury their
ceptance of bribes. The only sup
visor who has not confessed in
change for promise Of immunity
George F. Duffey.
Indictments charging Vice Pre-
dent Louis Glass of the Pacific Stat
Telephone company with bribery
nine of the supervisors in the. sum
$4,000 each-Boxton, Coffey, Colem'
Lonergan, Mamlock, Nicholas, Philli
Walsh and ALREADY have be
returned and the statement may
authoritatively made that the gra
jury is now prepared to indfct Gil