The San Francisco call., 1910-02-09
GRAND JURY Sits
BAIL BOND GRAFT
Inquisitorial Body Delyes Into
Questionable Methods in
Police Courts
Charges That Saloon Keepers
and Officials Split Fat Fees
Denied Vigorously

The grand jury made exhaustive
inquiry yesterday into the bail bond
scandal, heard long list of witnesses
and adjourned without returning in
dictmentS The evidence was largely
of negative nature. but il bore more
or less directly on police court methods.
There appeared to be a disposition to
direct the inquiry more particularly
into the conduct of Judge Wellers
and Judge Conlan's courts.
A clash in the grand jury room be-
tween Judge Conlan and Luke Fay,
one of the inquisitors, was narrowly
avoided There is feud of long
standing between the two. When Fay
sought to put questions to Conlan the
latter declared that he would not sub
NIT to his Interrogation.
novel point was introduced during
the hearing when Judge Shortall rec
commended to the grand jury that
whipping post be established for wife
deserters.
In this way, and only in that way.
can the evil be corrected" said the
Judge. IF we send a man to Jail by
way of punishment his family suffers.
The whipping post, / believe, would
do more to bring these husbands to
sense of their obligations than any
thing else
SALOONS WAX RICH
The inquiry yesterday was intended
to develop the intricacies of the bail
bond transactions. 1t has long been
the practice for a few of the saloons
near the hall of justice to control this
business, gaining their profit in fat
fees. 1t had been charged that the
saloonmen worked in harmony with
certain members of the police force
and with the encouragement and as
sistance of certain police judges. 1t
was to this matter that the entire
afternoon session was devoted.
Efforts were made to fasten the
charges on McDonough Brothers, the
liquor firm opposite the hall of justice
in Eddy street. Witnesses specially
questioned were Frank Barris, pro-
fessional bondsman. and Ike Willis,
who acts as messenger and agent about
the police courts. Sergeant Clarence
Coogan recently transferred from the
post of prison keeper. was also ques-
toned as to the activities of McDon-
ough Brothers. 1t had been generally
understood that Coogan had been
shifted because of his opposition TO the
pl dCllCtS OF the A1CDOnOuSnS. he IOlQ
the grand jury, however, that he had
no specific knowledge that would as
sist it
SIFT POLICE COURT METHODS
The first part of the session was
devoted to the police court methods.
County Clerk Mulcrevy was the first
witness. He was asked in regard to
the activities of George McComb, for
some time clerk of the Justice courts
and now facing charges of irregulari-
ties.
Judge Shortall was next called and
spent more than an hour on the stand.
His attention was called to his dismis-
sal of the charge against James Feenan,
who had been accused of falling to pro-
vide for his family. Feenan is an en-
ploye of the gas company. Shortall
explained that he had released Feenan
upon the promise of the latter to con-
tribute $35 a month to the support of
his child. 1t was in connection with
this case that the judge urged the
whipping post as more efficacious than
the prison
Combinations can not be helped"
said Shortall. 1T depends on the in
dividual case, but we proceed as quick
ly as circumstances viii allow. AS to
the question of bail, we follow the law.
The use of the small book is not
SdncllOned Dy law, as you Know, but
it is for the public good, so it is main
tanned. AS to our working hours, you
gentlemen are mistaken when you as
sumo that we are on duty only from
10 to H."
DENIES FORCING BAIL
Sergeant Coogan was asked if he
had ever had occasion to interfere with
outsiders endeavoring to force bail
upon prisoners, with special mention of
McDonough Brothers. He said he had
never been specially troubled in that
regard.
Frank Barris testified that he had
ample means of his own and was in
the business on his own account. He
denied that he was the agent for Nc
Donough Brothers. He denied also that
there was an understanding by which
the police courts, certain policemen and
the bondsmen worked together.
Judge Weller was questioned along
the same line, as was Judge Conlan.