The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-25
POLICE JUDGES
QUESTIONED BY
GRAND JURORS
InquisitOrs Begin Investigation
of Bail Bond System, Fines
and COntinuances
Night Court Suggested as Only
Remedy for Practice of
Sleek SE1ysters

again brought TO bear upon the dark
shadows Of police court administration
yesterday three OF the police judges
being subpoenaed as witnesses before
that body and questioned as TO the
scandals and quasi charges Of corrup-
ton and fraud which have arisen time
and again and which are based on the
peculiar infiiction Of justice issuing
from some Of the police court benches.
Primarily among the objects of the
investigation Of the grand jury was
the profitable industry worked through
the channels Of bail bonds.
The jury has before il 2 mass of data
gathered by Harry McKannay, secre-
tary 10 the mayor. and this, together
with the records Of the court, while it
may not be OF sufficient strength to
warrant an indictment, will at least
disclose the workings OF the mysteri-
Gus push" politicians and doubtful at
torneys who make sleek living off the
pockets Of the unfortunate beings fall
ing into their clutches.
The three judges who were exam
med were Judges Deasy, Weller and
Conlan. 1t was to Deasy that the
grand jury turned for some enlighten-
ment on the evils. asking his advice as
10 the best method of eliminating them
from the peoples courts of justice.
What in your opinion is the great
est evil surrounding the police court
al PRESENT." he was asked. He an
swered with perfect candor.
The system OF balls and the strong
. political organization which is the out
growth OF IL"
BONDSMEN IN WAITING
Judge Deasy explained to the jury
the condition Of affairs which has been
palpable to those whose business has
taken them around police courts for
years past. He told Of the band of
politicians. saloon keepers. Migrants
and shyster lawyers who flourish on
this industry. He pointed out that, in
many instances. before a prisoner was
brought 10 the police station. bonds
men who had never seen him before
were waiting at the desk ready with
his bail. The question, therefore, arose
naturally as 10 how these bondsmen
became aware Of the arrest, the only
possible answer being that they de-
pended upon the police to inform them.
In this manner the bondsmen secured
business and the second natural ques-
tion arose as 10 what the Informing DO
hceman got for his services.
Deasy admitted that the bonding of
prisoners was perfectly legitimate in
itself. but explained at great length
that out of this there had grown a
guerrilla political army. strong at the
polls and INSCRIPTIONS in attaining an
end. To destroy its strength. he said.
would mean the destruction Of the sys-
TEN Of balls.
How can this be done?" he was
asked.
BY night police court, such as New
York has installed" he replied. Let
the prisoner be brought TO trial when
he is arrested. II innocent let him be
released. and if guilty let him be pun
lshed. 1t is an evil which is common
10 every city in the United States. but
until II is removed il Will hamper the
workings Of justice"
The examination OF Judge CouIan was
totally different IN character He was
not asked for any advice as TO the best
method OF eliminating evil from the
police courts. The grand Jury did not
want his opinions from a standpoint of
morality or justice Different. far diff
ferent tactics We're adopted He was
asked 10 explain the system of continu-
snces in his court From the mass Of
data gathered by Harry McKannav
there was chosen the case of Tony
Bronzini, whose case was continued %
times, taken under consideration for a
month and quietly dismissed. Others of
? similar character were there. some
OF the members OF the grand Jury. fully
aware OF the system employed in court
by which case OF a favored criminal
is continued indefinitely and then
dropped when the prosecuting witness
worn out by fruitless appeara nces in
court. refuses or forgets TO attend. were
merciless in their questionings. This
TACT seemed TO irritate the wise Judge.
ANARCHIST ON JURY
There's one fellow on that grand
jury he said later, who is an an
arcnlsJ lie IS the man who is creating
al the trouble. One Of these DAYS btS
name viii be known, and one or +,-o
things about him also. There is moth
ing 10 all this questioning and trouble
tolo the grand jury how cases bsnnar
70 ne continued repeatedly. I nointa5
out that such cases were those in which
the prosecuting witness was laid nm an
the hospital from the effects of an as
sauit and pending his recovery the cosa
against the man charged had TO be con-
tlnued until he was able to annear ~
court In some instances the nart,, o.
sauited on getting well did not sbow
up. ana there was nothing left for tba
court nut TO dismiss the prisoner
ten you the majority of the yaay,-
oers OF the grand jury are lsupbing
al TINS affair Many Of them thonzb3
me afternoon was wasted. The vvboIe
ming was worked up by that anarchist
lhen again ] was asked about tbe
system OF bailing prisoners Non,
nave no right to prevent a partv han
ing another out That is ali non1,--
cock. The law gives a man accnsed 20
an offense the privilege of being bai,ed
out and II he can end a bondsnas,,
willing to put up the necessay|- ~
he has 2 perfect right to make nee oS
the privilege. u
The question Of police court s,a.
was another subject taken mn h. -
grand jury One OF the matters ;ntS
which the grand pury is prohine ts
why but per cent Of the casas -
police court are convictions II 3s
brought face to face with the realise
ton that the commbnity is spefdine q
vast sum in its various police ana i,Sdf
cial channels for the suppression s-,d
punishment Of crime and that the snas
from the wrongdoers. which ane g.
pected TO cover a reasonable nort;o,
OF this expenditure. aggregate sums
riciculOusly disprOportionate to the
number Of arrests made. They arc
seeking enlightenment on the peculiar
ity shown In the fines of the police