The San Francisco call., 1908-08-22
.BIGGY DEFENDS
A DIVE KEEPER
Chief Appears in Peculiar Ca
pacity Before the Police
Commission
Man Who Violated Regulations
by Admitting Women Is a
Former Ruef Henchman

The spectacle of Chief of Police
Biggy openly appearing before the
police commission in defense Of one
of Abe Ruef's best known neutenants
of former times and battling to pro-
tect the violation of commission regu-
lations relating to saloons was the
unusual occurrence that marked the
meeting of the police commission on
Thursday night
The case that brought Biggy into
the limelight as counsel for a defend
ant who is known as keeper of some
of the most disreputoble dives of the
Barbary coast district was that of
Joseph Brockmann, manager of a sa-
loon at Bartlett alley and Pacific street
A license with an express stipulation
that no females should be allowed in
the place was given for BTockmann's s
saloon in March. and month ago an
application for alterations was made.
These alterations were to consist of
a side entrance and Il storeroom, but
three weeks ago Brockmann opened
typical tenderloin cafe, with all the
appurtenances of such places, includ-
ing a big cafe sign over the Bartlett
alley door. a piano, tables and some
entertainers" Then he announced a
grand opening Police Commissioner
Sweigert was one gTho attended. He
found the place full OF women. gathered
in from the dives of the Barbary coast,
and ordered Policeman Cameron TO
make a report The trial was begun
a week ago before the commission and
ended Thursday night
BIGGY DEFENDS BROCKMANN
From the time that Brockmann ap-
peared Biggy was the most active ma n
in his defense before the police COM
mission. Next to attempting to mini
mize the testimony concerning the num-
Der of women found in the joint,
Biggy's chiefest concern was to draw
out of the witnesses all the testimony
that favored Brockmann's claims Off,
cially appearing as prosecutor before
the commission, Biggy jumped to the
defense of the accused and fought va
liantIy for him. Sweigert was forced
TO call the witnesses TO prove the
charges against Brockmann, and Biggy
gave each Of them a grilling cross ex-
animation
Thomas J. Davis, q Market street
merchant, who accompanied Sweigert
on the night he visited Brockmann's
place, testified that at least 20 women
were in the saloon ar the time he was
there, and Sweigert himself substan-
tiated this. Helen Gray, woman OF
Bartlett alley. told of being in the place
on the opening night for two hours
and half, and said that she saw not
less than Il women from the resorts of
the district in there at the time. She
also testified that Brockmann was the
real owner of one of the most notorious
brothels of the district, Of which she
was at one time an inmate.
CHIEF ARoUsEs swEIGERT
Against this testimony was that OF
the proprietor himself, who told the
commissioners that he had simply s'in-
vfted a few friends and their wives"
into the saloon on the night in ques-
ton, and OF Policeman Cameron, who
said that he saw only two women
there when Sweigert sent him to in
vestigate. Biggy brought this out with
a flourish, and so open was his defense
of Reufs old time underling and as
sistant that Sweigert was forced TO ask
Chairman Cutler whether Biggy was
appearing for the prosecution or the
defense.
1t was proved beyond doubt that
Brockman's reputation was of the
most unsavory kind. and that the
charges against him were true from
beginning to end. The police commits
sion had to find him guilty, and so 1t
did Then ii went to Biggy's assist
ance and as punishment for the vio-
lation OF its rules ordered Brockmann
to appear before his defender and be
reDrimandedi