The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-10
JURY ASKS
THAT EVIL
BE UNDONE
Cunningham Admits Murder of
Girl and Contractors
Are Blamed
COrOner's Investigation Reveals
Systematic Imposition
Upon TOiIers
Labor Leaders, Legislators and
Public Officials Join
in Inquiry

JAMES EDWARD CUNNINGHAM
was formally charged yesterday
y with the murder Of Carolina rBasch.
The coroner's jury, which listened to
the testimony in the Brasch case,
made this accusation a part of its
report on the inquest.
Gray Brothers, manufacturers, we're
denounced by the same jury for their
system of wage check payments to
their employees. This was made just
as important a portion of the verdict
as the allegation of deliberate homi-
eide.
Cunningham, the laberer, must stand
trial for his life for the killing Of the
young girl who represented to him the
barrier separating him from the money
which he had honestly earned by the
hardest kind of manual toll. The
employers of the murdered girl, the
real oppressors of Cunningham and
his kind, have only to face an out
ragged public sentiment and the pos
sibility of law which will bring to
an end their practice of making men
slaves.
Murderer Tells Motive
Step by step Cunningham yester-
day morning led the eight members
OF the coroner's jury over the scene
of the tragedy in which he played a
terrible role. Calmly and deliberately
he pointed out the relative positions Of
himself and his victim when the fatal
shot was fired, and just as calmly he
recited every detail of the murder.
Then he told Of the motive for his
crime. He was determined, he de-
clared. to secure the money that was
due him for his labor or else to find
satisfaction in the death of one who
refused him.
That was the sum and substance OF
the testimony relating to the crime
itself. There were many details but
they all eentered around the main re-
cital of facts fully proved. The re-
mainder of the great bulk OF testimony
taken yesterday had to do with the
wage check evil.
Harry Gray Of the firm of Gray
Brothers. attempting alone to defend
the system of which his company has
been an exponent, was met at every
turn with denunciations from jurors.
lawyers. labor leaders. Iaboring men,
legislators. supervisors and business
men, The mask was torn away from
the face of the system and existing
conditions were shown in all their hide
BUSINESS.
In the end the coroner's jury coupled
with it's verdict several strong recon-
mendations for an immediate revision
of the laws to make such a system or
wage slavery impossible. The Iegisla-
ture was asked to take action to this
end at its next session. the bar ascot
alton was petitioned to lend its assist
ance in the framing of an adequate
statute. and the boards OF supervisors
of the various counties OF the state
were advised to pass stringent ordi-
nances at once to tide over the time
until the tcSlSidtuEo tOOtQ act
View Scene of Crime
The inquest began at o'clock yes
terday morning, when the members OF
the coroner's jury we're taken to the
Wells-Fargo building at Second and
Mission streets to view the scene OF
the murder of the young woman book
keeper. Cunningham. closely guarded
by Detectives MeQuaide and DriscolL
led the jurors through the corridors
of the building and the Offices of Gray
Brothers. explaining as he went his
own movements on the day OF the
Brasch shooting Curious crowds
swarmed about the building while the
official examination was being conduct
ed. but in the face of the many ac-
cusing eyes turned toward him. Gun
ningham never WINGED.
Here was where J stood by khia