The San Francisco call., 1907-06-28
sONNT TAGS MOVE
AGA|NS ST OMAN
IS REPUD|AT[O.
Graft Prosecutors Declare
Jurors Action Was
Individual
DO NOT INDORsE IT
Make No Request of Police
Commissioners to
Gust Chief
LANGDON TELLS WHY
Asserts Grand Jury Will
Ask No Favors of
Schnitz' Men
LANGDON TELLS WHY

Grand Juror Sonntag's action in
proposing to the police commissioners
some weeks ago that Chief of Police
Dinan be removed from Office through
the medium of an extended leave of
absence and that his place be filed
by the appointment of Colonel Viii
helm of Governor Gillett's staff has
been repudiated by the graft prosecu-
ton, and if any such action is taken
by the police commission 1t will be
without the sanction of either the dis
trict attorneys office or the grand jury.
Admitting that Sonntag had for
mally proposed this action to the
members of the police commission in
his presence District Attorney Lang
don declared yesterday that sonntas
had acted solely on his own initiative
in the matter and that both himself
and Foreman Oliver OF the grand jury
had informed the police commission
that Sonntag's plan was not indorsed
by either the district attorneys Office
or the grand jury as whole.
The publication in The Call yesterday
of the fact that Sonntag had asked the
police commission to act in the Dinan
case brought out the full details of a
difference of opinion existing between
himself and the other members of the
grand jury and the graft prosecutors
concerning the best method to be
adopted in replacing Dinan with a man
considered more competent to handle
the affairs of the police department.
Sonntag's proposal that Dinan be
given an extended leave of absence
was made at secret executive session
of the police commission called to In
vestigate charges made by nonunion
carmen arrested after the Turk street
riots several weeks ago that they had
been msused by members of the police
force. The session was held prior to a
regular meeting of the commission and
Langdon, Sonntag and Foreman Oliver
of the grand jury were present, Sonn-
tag representing the police committee
of the grand jury. The matter under
consideration brought Dinans name
into the discussion and 1t was then
that Sonntag arose and declared that
Dinan should be removed from office
for the good of the police department
and the city as whole He sug
gested the extended leave Of absence
and mentioned the name of Colonel
Wilhelm as the man who should be
selected to MI the vacancy.
Langdon at once took the floor and
informed the commission that he did
not indorse Sonntags proposal and that
in making 1t the latter was not speak
ing as a representative of tho district
attorneys ONCE. Oliver followed him
with similar statement in behalf Of
the grand jury. sonntag was naturally
chagrined at this unexpected repudia-
ton of his suggestion and the affair led
to the immediate breaking up of the
meeting. Nevertheless, the matter was
discussed further by the police COM
missioners and President Leahy was
selected to propose the leave Of ab-
sence to Dinan. He was 10th to carry
this out and the fact was partially re-
sponsib1e for his resignation, which
was handed in day or two later.
When asked yesterday If Grand
Juror Sonntag had voiced the senti-
ments of the graft prosecutors in pro-
posing Dinan's removal and WilheIm's
appointment to the police commission,
District Attorney Langdon said:
That matter came up at an executive
meeting of the police commission at
which Sonntag and Foreman Oliver Of
the grand jury and myself were in at
tendance, but Mr.. Sonntag expressed
only his individual opinion in making
such a suggestion and did not speak
with any authority froz, either my
office or the grand jury. I at once told
the commissioners that the proposal
was not sanctioned by any authority
from my ofice and Mr. Oliver stated
n