Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-06
SUIT REEVES
SCANDALS OF
VISORS
SCHEMES TO SELL WATER
PLANT RELATED
Former Railroad Commissioner VIII.
son Testifies at Trial of Croth-
ers and Older for Libel
ing TeVis
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO. March 5.-The
cross-examination of former Super
drew NJ. Wilson and the testimony of
Charles d. Marx, professor of civil en-
gineering at Stanford university; Maj.
Charles H. McKinsley. U. S. A. en-
gineer corps, and Andrew NJ. Hunt,
U. S. A., retired, the three engineers
appointed by Mayor Schmitz shortly
after the fire to examine into the vari-
Gus projects for an adequate municipal
water supply, occupied the day in the
trial of r. A. Crothers and Fremont
Older, charged with criminally libeling
w. S. Tevis.
James l.. Gallagher, chairman of the
finance committee of the boedling
board of supervisors, was called to
the stand shortly before court ad-
journed. When court convened in the
afternoon Assistant District Attorney
Cook announced to Judge Dooling, sit
ting for Judge. Dunno in the present
trial, that he wished to enter in the
record the name of Attorney r. p. Hen
shaw, manager of the Bay cities Water
company, to assist the prosecution.
Upon cross-examination Wilson adj
mitted his introduction to President
Tevis of the Bay Cities Water COM
pany, which occurred on Fillmore
street shortly after the fire. was merely
a casual meeting and that nothing was
said with reference to the Bay Cities
project. then before the supervisors;
neither did Ruef ever tell him that
Tevis would pay money if the deal was
put through.
The three engineers testified to their
appointment and subsequent resigna-
tion because the supervisors did not
wish to give them sufficient time to
examine the five projects submitted to
them. and sought to eliminate all but
one-the Bay Cities scheme-which
they declined to examine because they
could not make a comparative report
with other projects.
Would Not Term II Bad
Assuming that the data admittedly
prepared by competent engineers was
correct. neither one of them would say
that 1t was "an inadequate and pol
luted supply" one of the charges made
in the alleged libelous article.
Gallagher told of frequent confer
ences with Ruef regarding the acaui-
sition of a municipal water supply;
that while Ruef urged the Bay Cities
project and prepared all reports and
resolutions adopted by the supervisors
with that Jobiect in view, Ruef said
he wanted "the best scheme and the
most ADEQUATE supply in quantity and
quality put before the people to vote
upon"
GALLAGHER cOrrOhorated former Super
visor Phillips testimony Yesterday that
Ruef had stated to him that there was
"big money in it for the board If the
Bav Cities property was ultimately ac-
ouired by the city The witness said
Ruef always argued that the Hetch-
Hetchv scheme could not be placed be-
fore the people because of the opposi-
tion of the secretary of the interior,
who declined to grant a permit for the
use of the waters of Hetch- Hetchy val
lev and Lake Elsinore for municipal
purposes.
It developed from Gala sher's testi-
monv that Ruef practically wrote or
prepared all the resolutions and reports
adopted. and suggested such action as
was taken hv the boodling board in al
mast all matters.
Ev-Mavor James ID. Phelan and
Ma~e1on Manson an eneineer. viii he
catIaS nv the dafAnee tomorrow after
tho d'~ert and c~oss-examination of
COLA oher &c concluded.
n was statnd bv sorne members of
eounsaI for tho two deferaants that
the tria1 win not ha friShed before
the latter part of next week.