The San Francisco call., 1908-03-20
MORE POLICEMEN
UNDER SUSPICION
Graft Probe Goes Deeper Into
State of ROttenness
Among Officials
One Hundred Men May Be Inn
pIicated Before Investiga=
ton Is Completed

In probing the graft and dishonesty
in the police force yesterday there was
uncovered a state of rottenness never
before suspected and the probabilities
are that the final outcome will see
nearly 100 policemen implicated.
Proof positive that policemen of the
Bush street station had been grating
was brought to light through an ex-
animation of the books of a lodging
house of questionable character at 971
McAllister street. The house during
the months of January, February and
March of last year was owned by j. d.
Samuelson, the accuser of the nine
men now under suspension, and his
brother.
On the sheets of the cash book dur
ing those months was found a regular
list of entries showing where amounts
had been paid to policemen. as Samuel
son explained. for protection. Acting
on the evidence supplied by the books,
Chief Biggy and Captain Gleason, who
now is in charge of that district. be-
gan an investigation. Chief Biggy
stated yesterday that a half dozen men
were under suspicion.
MANI
According TO the entries. sums of
different denominations were paid out
regularly each week. Following is a
complete list of the amounts: January
II, 81, January 81, So; February 5, 81
and $5; February 16, IS; February 90
s5; March !, 81; March 5, 81; March S,
81; March 10, $40; March u, $40, and
April 6, $40.
All the entries were made and the
money passed by Samuel Samuelson,
brother to j. d. Samuelson. The former
has since died. The entries are con-
sidered to show also that others than
patrolmen were sharing the profits.
The entries of 81 each. it was learned,
were paid to Jim Healey a special
policeman who acted as a watchman
and earned the money honestly. The
IS entries are supposed TO represent
the bit handed to the patroIman on
the beat; those of 81 to have gone to
corporal. while the $40 pieces were
paid either to the sergeant or to spe-
cial detailmen, of whom at that time
there were a large number. whose duty
it was to raid houses of i'll repute.
CONSERVATION reigned in the ranks of
the Investigators, when under several
of the entries designated policeman"
was the entry--Biggy, $75." A hur-
ried investigation showed that the
amount had been paid to John Biggy,
owner of the house. At the time the
entries were made Chief Biggy was not
at the head of the police department
Chief Biggy denied relationship to the
man whose name was entered on the
books
SPIES HARD AT WORK
For more than a week the spies of
Chief Bggy have been working in
Commercial street. While Biggy de-
clined to explain their presence in that
portion of the city it is understood that
among the file of complaints they have
strong evidence of graft.
Biggy's Investigators are also throw
ing their searchlights in the district
along Third and adjacent streets. Greek
gambling houses innumerable are said
to have flourished for months in this
district. In one or two of the larger
places the gambling has been carried on
openly.
The charges against the seven patrol
men and two sergeants, which were
prepared by Chief Biggy, were sub
mitted for the inspection of President
of the Board of Police Commissioners
A. d. Cutler yesterday and will be
filed with Clerk Skelly today. They
will be read at the meeting of the
board next Tuesday, and the accused
men will face trial on the following
Thursday. All of the men have Sc
cured counsel and will fight the case in
the civil courts if necessary
SO far the men have shown a dispo-
sition TO base their defense on disrating
Samuelson's testimony and have
actively been engaged in digging up
their accuser's past record
Samuelson, a short time ago. was
given permission by Chief Biggy to
carry concealed weapon, it being rep
resented that he was in personal dan
ger. Since his name was connected
with the expose of the graft scandal he
has been afforded the protection of
private detective, furnished at the ex-
pense of the police department.