Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-21
.SCHWEGEL'S TRIAL
PROVES LIVELY
FIGHT OVER INSPECTOR. THREE.
coRNERED
Many Interests Involved Before Civil
Service Comnnission-Cle leans
ing Of Restaurants Hin
dered, Is Charge

In the trial of Restaurant Inspector
Nicholas Schwegel yesterday before the
civil service commission on charge filed
by M E. Sayles, a discharged inspector,
the underlying motives back of the fight
now pending were made clear.
The brewery interests and Royal Arch,
the Liberal alliance and restaurant men
are in a three-cornored fight, in which
Schwegeps retention in office is the real
issue.
Sayles, who made the charges, has the
backing, it is stated, of certain interests
which are working for Schwegel's re-
moval because of his painstaking work.
These interests have, it is said, ferreted
out evidence which was used in yester-
days trial.
The administration, the health depart
ment and Schwegels friends are pitted
for the defense in this contest, which
after an afternoon and night hearing was
taken under advisement shortly before
midnight by the civil service commission.
Wash Dirty Linen
The trial was notable for many reasons.
witnesses called each other harsh
names.
Schwegels business record was opened
up, following fire which he sustained in
Pasadena when operating furniture
store
The political Vaccinations for indorse-
ments of the Liberal alliance were ven
tilated.
Councilman Ed Clampitt of the Second
ward was dragged into the controversy.
One restaurant owners wife called In.
spector Schwegel a thing and other
names.
Other convicted restaurant owners made
uncomplimentary illusions against the Of
fetal who caused the courts to fine them
for running unclean eating houses
The chairman of the commission asked
questions reviewing the action of the
health board in dismissing an employe
which under the charter it had legal
right to do within the first six months
probationary period
One witness said there were 1900 in San
Quentin no worse than Schwegel, and the
latter started to ask him about house
of ilI-fame in which 1t was alleged he was
interested when Chairman Haynes inter-
fered.
Sayles States Case
Sayles told of the incidents that led to
the case on trial
He said Schwegel approached him near
the city hall, told him that 1t would be
we'll for him to drop out temporarily
from the eligible list of three, as the list
of inspectors would be increased later,
and that If Sayles or Cooch got out of the
way he (SchwegeD would easily get his
cherished appointment as chief inspector
and the obliging eligible would be taken
care Of Only three men had passed the
examination Sayles being first and Cooch
second.
Cooch made a mysterious getaway.
SayIes intimated that someone high up
had furnished him with transportation to
hurry to New York, and be slow about
getting back.
sayles said he got this rumor from
Cooch's mother. And now Mrs. Cooch is
missing.
Under the heading of mcompetency
Sayles said Schwegel paid particular at
tention to ignoring saloons and going af-
ter restaurant owners.
Then he told of Lips & Codrick's saloon
on Fifth street, where the kitchen where
free lunch was prepared was located next
to the toilet. Schwegel never prosecuted
these people.
Rope in Soup
Sayles blithely told how soup was made
in an East Fifth street restaurant. and
one near by out of chicken heads and feet,
scrapings of chickens and other waste,
and how piece of rope sixteen inches
long was found in the soup kettle.
Then he gave it as his opinion that
Schwegel did not proceed against restau-
rants where Sayles had made discoveries
pSSouoO AC 1So4 GU II WOQlQ QeLTdCL ITOTu
his own credit to let Sayles' work stand
out prominently.
Schwegel cross questioned Sayles at
this point, and more testimony was
brought out from both.
Schwegel told how Sayles ap-
preached him, gave him a card indi-
eating that he was working for slot
machine and volunteered to step out
of the way as he remarked that
Schwegel's work was highly thought of.
There was no necessity. witness
said, of his making deal with
Sayles, as he had occasion for believ-
ing from compliments he had re-
ceived that the health board favored
his preferment on account of his work
while holding the emergency position.
Schwegel admitted that he believed
the first man selected would be chief
and on that account he was anxious
to be the first man called to a perma-