The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16
Evidence i'm Parkside Bribery

taking program? Always.
Q.-And they were taking program
from Schmitz? A-Yes, sir
Q.-So there wasn't any question
where he stood on that thing? A-Oh,
no; they were taking program, both of
them. An instance of that can be cited
in that saloon on Fillmore street be-
tween Geary and Post or Geary and
O'Farrell There is a place there run
by man by the name of Clarke. It
was the Fillmore street people; we as
sured them that no more saloons wougd
be granted on Fillmore on account o.
the ladies shopping on it. And the
spoke to me one evening and said
How about that license for Fillmorc
street?' / said: Il am against it
And they said: 'Why?" I said: You
promised these people you would not
grant any more licenses and 1 am not
in favor of it" So went off, and after
that Shortridge came to my Office
and said: Won't you stand in for that
license for Clarke on Fillmore street;
the man is friend of the mayors and
a friend of Ruefs. I said, No, I won't
stand for it. We promised wes would
not give any more licenses on Fillmore
street, and we ought not to do it,
Then Graney came down: What are
you going to do with the license on
Fillmore street? I said: What do you
want to know for? He said: I want
to know if that's the way you are go
ing to handle the thing. The follow
ing night Of the meeting of the board,
my wife was sick and I didn't show
UP and they passed it that night, two
to one.
Q.-Didn't they ask you to stay
away that night? A--No.
Q.-Sure of that? A--No. 1t came
before them and when the board was
present-that thing had been hanging
for a month, but the first time that 1
wasn't present they passed it,
Q--Creswen was against 1t? A.
Yes. sir.
Q.-What did the board ever at
tempt to do with the chief of police nj
regard to closing up houses of prosti-
tuition, those large houses like the $40
Jackson street. Did the mayor ever
speak to you about that either way?
A.-Never.
Odd the board attempt to do
anything? A-That, as far as re-
member, they told him to. close those
places or Captain Martin-the commits
sioners told Captain Martin to close
the places up.
Q.-620 Jackson? Ayes. sir
(Which commissioners told him?
A.-Creswell, I think, the board told
all of the board am not positive as
to that.
On regard to Dinan, Mr.. Umbsen,
what were your reasons for thinking
he was not proper person for being
chief of police? A.-Friends of mine
had told me that he was crooked.
Q.-Do you know of any particular
transactions? A--Dr. Huntington told
me that Dinan had held up friend
of his for some large sum of money.
He didn't want to volunteer. the entire
statement of it, but DR.. Huntington is
a personal friend of mine.
Gle was formerly of Sacramento?
A--Yes, sir; and he said to me, "Umb-
SEM want to say, too, 1t was
through DR.. Huntington 1 consulted
with him and for that reason after 1
got on the board. he said that Dinan
held up friend of his, l think, for
$500 And, oh. well. 1 didn't like his
lax manner of handling the office.
Q--Did he say why he held him
up? A--No. He said: mo, the man
will get in trouble and 1 can't do that"
On number of occasions K said-well
there was one occasion that 1 know
Of I was told by young friend of
mine who had a machine and he said
to me, do you know where I took
Dinan last night. / said no. He said:
l took him to one Of these houses of
prostitution and he stayed there two
or three hours I thought as chief of
police he should not openly and noto-
riously visit those places and be
guest there.
o.-Did you understand from Dr.
Huntington that this hold-up was
blackmail? A--Yes, sir.
Douglass S. Watson. 271O Scott street,
called.
Mr.. Heney: Mr. Watson, we are in
vestigating an alleged bribery or an
alleged attempt to bribe the board IF
supervisors in the matter Of the fran
chise, trolley franchise, on Nineteenth
avenue, the Parkside realty company
applied for, and if you feel that your
evidence might have a tendency to in
criminate yourself, it is your right and
privilege to decline to testify. If you
are willing to testify, on condition that
your evidence may be used against
yourself, If it has any such tendency.
we would like to swear you. Al will
be sworn. (Sworn.)
Q.-Perhaps we will shorten the
thing by asking you to tell all you