The San Francisco call., 1910-04-28
RELATES STORY
when REFUSED
AID in TROUBLE
Under Promise of Immunity the
Leader of BunkOmen Makes
Astounding Confession
Recites Details of Meetings and
Dates in Alleged Conspiracy
to Betray City


his command TO save the men with
whom he had conspired.
It was only when he thought he saw
the way clear to throw over the dis
credited bunkomen and at the same
time to save himself. contends Abbott,
that Flannery finally allowed the open
break with Abbott TO occur He had
previously sought 10 make sure that all
Ihc documentary evidence which might
prove his connection with the gang had
been destroyed, and to do this Abbott
SAYS he sent Attorney James Cochrane
10 search Abbott's trunk and room at
p 40 Polk street. The search was un-
productive but Abbott had craftily re-
% tained possession Of tlannerY's tele-
gram Of November 3. and also of an
envelope bearing Flannery's address in
The latter's own handwriting. These
We're among the documents produced
Yesterday.
FBNAI. BREAK WITH ABBOTT
Believing finally that nothing re-
manned 10 prove his connection with
-.the case, and thoroughly angry over
Abbotts continued efforts to induce
him to aid in procuring the latter's
bail, FlannerY allowed the open rup-
ture TO occur last week at his own
home Giving Abbott a violent tongue
iashing, threatening to choke him and
ordering him out of his house Elan
merry gave the gambler to understand
that all was over between them. 1t
WAS this interview which one of Flan-
uery's family interrupted. fearing that
physical violence was about to occur
and il was this interview Of which a
part was overheard.
The day following his election from
Flannery's home Abbott returned to
san Rafael. gave himself up and was
placed in Jail. He maintained silence
however, until his wife. who had been
ina Seattle in vs. in attempt TO raise
ban money for him. returned TO San
Francisco Abbott had promised. when
urged TO ms Ike confession, that he
would do just what his wife said, and
DE made good the pledge
Joe, tell the truth" was his wife's
plea 4 can't have you dragged down
with these men. For my sake, tell
everything"
Abbott needed no further command.
He promptly related the whole story
OF the sordid affair in detail TO District
Attorney Boyd and Sheriff Taylor, and
ii was this same story that he re-
peated yesterday before the grand jury
with the promise of immunity.
Though offered the same promise Of
complete immunity given to Abbott.
Frank MacSherTy has refused 70 con-
p fess. Frank Hazel, the third member
Or the notorious gang. jumped his
$4,000 bail a week ago. and is fUgi-
tive from Justice. MacSherry how
ever is in the county Jail at San Ra-
facL and was called before the grand
jury yesterday and asked TO testify.
His answer was characteristic of the
stand he has taken from the time Of
his capture, but even at that amounted
10 a practical admission if his guilt
REFUSES TO BE "saUEALER-
You can send me to the penitentiary
for i years if YOU want to- answered
MacSherry ia response 10 the final de-
mand FOR his testimony, but 1 would
rather serve Is years than be
squealer. I'd rather be a convict than
walk tho streets "A free man and have
people point me ont and sa 7 squeaIed.
J. know 1t looks bad against me, and
haven't any doubt that you'll get
me.
well. my game has always been this
kind I've taken what I could get FOR
., i good many years. and ! knew that
some time my DAY would come. It's
come now, I suppose, but if / have TO
pay the penalty I'll go to the peniten-
tiary like man, and not buy my free
dom like that squealer. That ends il.
VIII not testify under any conditions
that you may name
on the staff of District Attorney Lang
don Of San Francisco. and man close
" identified with the graft exposures
and prosecutions in this city, was in
san Rafael yesterday in consultation
with District Attorney Boyd. Harrison
went to San Rafael as legal representa-
- tive Of the Good Government league, |
which took up the poolroom case inn |
mediately after the Sausalito raid. and .
although he was not admitted TO the /
grand jury room at any time yester- /
day. acted in advisory capacity with /
Boyd.
WRITING EXPERT CALLED
Theodore Kytka. the handwriting ex-
pert, was called as witness to iden- !
tify Flannery's handwriting and sig /
nature on the telegram Of November /
10 Abbott also TO identify Flannery's |
handwriting on the addressed envelope /
which was made an exhibit in the case. |
John p. O'Brien. local manager for the 4
Western Union telegraph company, pro- /
duced the original copy Of Flannery's /
telegram from the company's old files. |
and this was compared with the type |
written copy OF the message received /
by Abbott at Seattle and hidden by him |
when Cochrane, at Flannery's sugges-
tion, searched his personal effects
Mrs Abbott also testified before the |
grand jury concerning those phases of |
personal observation and with which 1
she has been connected, while Hazleton !
also told of his several conversations |
with Flannery in an effort to induce 1
the latter to intercede in Abbott's be-
half William Israel, who has admit
ted having introduced MacSherry to |
Supervisor Pistolesi OF Marin county. |
WAS also called before the inquisitors. |
but added nothing TO the unsatisfac- |
tory testimony he gave at a former !
hearing
KNOWN ALL OVER WORLD
The history of Abbott and his col
leagues is the history of one Of the
most notorious gangs of swindlers in
the country. Abbott has operated in
Paris and other European cities and
in the west has been located at diff
ferent times in Reno, Seattle and San
Francisco, where he was for time
the head of George Cole & Co." A
concern which dealt in tips on the
races. He is well known TO the gam
bling and racetrack fraternity through
cut the country, as are also MacSherry |
and Hazel.
Abbott accordfnc Ia his STA