The San Francisco call., 1910-09-28
HALSEYS
IN HANDS OF
Jurors TODAY
After Three and a Half Years
of Delay Case Is Tried in
Three Days
Doodle Supervisors Tell of Their
Duty" to Those Who
Bribed Them

The fate Of Theodore V. Halsey.
agent for the Pacific telephone and
telegraph company, charged with brib-
ing former Supervisor Max Mamlock.
will be placed in the hands of the jury
today. thereby bringing to a conclusion
IN less than three days a case which re-
duired three and a half years to bring
to. trial.
The prosecution rested yesterday.
. The defense. with the declaration that
the proof Of the state did not warrant
a denial, contented itself with charac-
ter witnesses, the last of whom will
testify this morning. Halsey will say
nothing in his own behalf.
As the case stands now the issue is
between the statements of the super
.visors who said they received bribes
from him and their further statements,
from which might be drawn q deduc-
tion that the transactions were extor-
tions rather than bribes. One way or
the other Halsey's acquittal or convic-
tion depends on the testimony of the
supervisors. for they were the only
witnesses Of note, the others being put
on the stand either as character wit
7nesses or to settle the preliminary
points.
SUPERVISORS EXCUSED
Fred B. Nicholas and Daniel G. Cole
man We're the only other members of
the Doodle board to testify. Assistant
- District Attorney McNutt came TO the
conclusion that if the jury believed
one it would believe the lot and vice
versa their stories being identically
the same. differing only in the pecu-
liarity Of the moral point of view with
(which each regarded the transactions
OF shame.
In cross examining them Bert. Schles-
: .!ager rose TO heights Of delicious sar-
?. casm. Nicholas had testified to receiv-
sing $4,000 from Halsey to favor the
Pacific telephone and telegraph COM
b .pany. and then refusing to stay put ac-
..cepted $500 from the Home company,
voting for the latter.
And like a man of honor" quoth
Schlesinger. I suppose you returned
the $4,000 TO Mr.. Halsey?"
II did not" said the witness.
Dear me. dear me- murmured
Schlesinger with a panied look. then
I suppose you returned the $500 TO
the Home telephone company
Mr.. Schlesinger. I did not
All. how surprisingi Now, Mr.. =
er-NichOlas. is il not true the Pacinc
telephone and telegraph company sent
you a mass Of printed arguments why
the franchise should not be granted to
the Home telephone company
"A lot Of it," said the witness.
WITNESS Is AMUSED
I suppose those were not. in your
opinion, legitimate arguments?" The
witness smiled.
Boxton's famed speech was again
brought up. Coleman testified to hear
ing BoxtOn at a dinner declare that
..'all blessings flow from the city faith
ers and that there could be neither
lights nor streetcars nor telephones
unless the city fathers wished And
we ain't in business for our health"
You. see, explained Coleman, Il was
an employe Of the Pacific telephone and
telegraph company | was paid sl5O
month 10 report to Halsey such infor-
nation from the committee rooms Of
the supervisors and such places as
+: thought would be to the interest of the
p COMPANY I remember BoXton's speech
because I considered it my duty to re-
port At to the telephone company"
COleman's air Of virtue as he said the
word duty was so marked that the
courtroom snickered with delight and
Judge Emmett Seawen gazed at the
dutiful one with a look Of supreme
wonder.
He testified. like Nicholas, to receiv-
ing IS 600 from Halsey with a promise
Of IS, 900 more when the vote was cast.
Also he received $500 from the Home
telephone company, which he did not
return On one point both witnesses
agreed. and that was that they would
have signed anything and done any
thing Ruef wanted them TO.
MURDER WAS BARRED
"Of course" said Coleman in modi-
fication of his subjugation. I'VE would
not have committed murder or any
thing like that
."Oh. Of course not" said Schlesinger,
Just few little things like perjury
and the like. I understand perfectly"
The testimony regarding Ruef's dom
inance was brougkt out in questions
regarding the affidavit which the su-
pervisors signed to uphold their totter-
ing consciences when the public press
was pounding them daily for their
acts. In il one and all religiously
swore that the press reports were
false. and a few other things Of the
like ilk. declaring that to their knowl-
edge no crimes had been committed
and no bribes received.
You were in sane frame of mind
when YOU signed the affldavit?" said
Schlesinger TO Nicholas.
"Of course" replied the witness with
some spirit.
AND now many crimes had you COM
nnitted when you signed the affidavit in
which you said no crimes had been
committed by members of the board?e
OH guess I was like any other
man."
DRUM AND EATON TESTIFY
The prosecution finished its case with
the testimony Of Frank G. Drum and
F. w Eaton. officials of the telephone
company, who testified that Halsey
made arrangements for the hiring of
the temporary offices where the money
was paid to the supervisors.
The first of the character witnesses
was Lieutenant Governor Warren Por-
ter. who said he had known Halsey for
is years, and that he had a good repu-
tation. Others who said the same were
Senator c. III. Belshaw, Judge Hiram
Tuttle of Santa Clara county, r. H
Won Dorsen. a local oculist, and nuner-
Gus electricians and employees of the
telephone company, who had known
Halsey when he worked among them.
The defense will conclude this MORN
ing with character witnesses, who will
testify as to the reputation of Max
Namlock and the other supervisors
In order to save time, Judge Seawell
began preparations for his Instructions
10 the Jury last night. 1t is expected