The San Francisco call., 1910-10-29
GRAND JURY To
PASS ON San
MATEO BRIBERY
San Francisco Inquisitors Will
Begin Graft Investigation
Today
Three Confessions Will Be Used
Against Alleged Courthouse
Furniture BOOdlers

ial scandal viii be investigated by the
San Francisco grand jury. beginning
this morning.
With the confessions of three men
es a base upon which to work, Deputy
Attorney General Raymond Benjamin,
District Attorney Charles n Fickert
and Assistant District Attorney z. A.
Lane viii proceed against the alleged
ooodlers, including beside the super
Visors. District Attorney Joseph Bullock
OF San Mateo county. Bullock has been
kept busy during his term in office in
evading grand juries. The gaf is now
brought nearer to him than ever be-
fore.
URGE GREENS ELECTION
The good government organizations
OF San Mateo- county, while they were
not involved in the act of exposing
Bullock and the supervisors whom he
advised IN their corrupt bargaining. viii
he able TO press the cause gainst the
Bullock faction Of San Mateo county
with renewed vigor. Bullock, defeated
for the republican nomination for dis
trict attorney by Kenneth NJ. Green
has been throwing all Of his influence
IN favor of Franklin Swart. democratic
nominee FOR district attorney. This
morning the San Francisco grand jury
win determine whether the San Mateo
graft cases may he investigated in this
county. where. ii appears, the graft
deals were planned and the money
passed. II the venue, however, is es-
tablished in San Mateo county, then 1t
will be necessary to have in office there
district attorney Independent OF Bull
locks influence. Therefore the election
Of Green viii be urged with redoubled
vigor.
In the possession Of District Attor-
nev Fickert and the office of Attorney
al g. q
Charles Marshall. outside man for the
II. :. Crocker company of this city;
Jesse Marks. a former saloon keeper of
this city and professional go between
in bribery transactions. and former
Supervisor Carl J. Coburn of the fifth
district Of san Mateo county. living at
Pescadero.
MARSHALL CONFESSES
Marshall has confessed to the author
tiles al that he knows of the deal
through which the II. S Crocker COM
pany secured the contract for SIS. 200
worth Of furniture for the new San
Mateo county courthouse at Redwood.
Marshall stated that he handled several
thousand dollars in the transaction,
which he described as 'holdup game"
practiced by the supervisors. This
money. he said. was given to Jesse
Marks TO distribute Marks in his turn,
has admitted distributing the money.
Carl J. COburn. former supervisor has
admitted receiving money from Jesse
Marks July 4,-1906. Just after the San
Francisco fire, and also he has admitted
rece3Eing a check from DIR. d. E. Black
burn, his successor as supervisor from
the fifth district in San Mateo county.
The attorney generals office has the
check for s42s.50 which was paid by
Blackburn to Rogers in the last trans
action.
Others involved in the graft expose
are Joseph Francis of Halfmoon Bay,
supervisor from the fourth district;
Joseph Debenedetti. his father in law
and predecessor in sfice from that dis
trict; James Casey. supervisor from the
first district, living at Colma: Julius
Eikerenkotter former supervisor from
san Mateo township. and John H. Cole
man. supervisor from San Mateo IT
IS not known that Coleman received the
money that was set aside as his share
Supervisor p. II. McEvoy of Menlo and
former Supervisor g H. MacBain of
Menlo were the honest members of the
board during the two terms covered by
the graft
PRESIDENT MAKES DENIAL
While Charles Marshall has confessed
to the attorney generals office his part
in the bribery Of officials. or as he de-
scribes IT, the holdup by the officials,
the president Of the II. S. Crocker COM
panv. c. II. Crocker. denied yesterday
all knowledge Of the criminal transac-
tions save what he had read in the
newspapers.
4 was greatly astonished to learn of
this affair" said c. n. Crocker You
may be sure that il ! had had any sus-
piciOn the money was used to secure
that contract in San Mateo / would
have told Charles Marshall to drop it,
How did Marshall secure the money
n 70 neS
asked.
Il don't know that any money was
paid he answered.
But the supervisors have admitted
receiving the money and Marshall has
admitted making payments through
Jesse Marks"
Il don't know anything about Marks
] don't know him. I don't know where
the money could have come from. if
there was any money" Crocker insisted
Mr. Marshall is, of course. allowed his
legitimate Xpenses-traveling ex-
penses money for entertainment Of Gus
toners. and such normal expenses that
come in the course of business. An eXG
pense bill Of $4,000. of course. would
have been brought TO the attention of
the board Of directors of the company
and would have been rejected by them.
II Mr. Marshall got the money he might
have secured it from some of the con-
which we did not have to I'LL the con-
tract"
SALARY NOT LARGE
Was Mr. Marshalrs salary such that
he could afford TO pay out Of it $4,000
TO attract business? Was his salary
in excess Of $6,0OOz'
No" replied CroclCer. "It surely was
not in excess of $4,000"
Did he work a salary or on
commission basis2"
"On a salary. He also held stock in
the company. About the time of the
fire he SOLD some Of his stock could
not tell how much He has means
independent of his salary. But if he
had come TO me and told me that the
firm was being held up in San Mateo
county ] would have told him TO drop
the whole thing. I understand the
supervisors in San Mateo county are
fine bunch of holdup men, but I knew
nothing Of this deal"
How much has the firm received
from San Mateo county on the con-
tract for furniture?" crocker was
asked
"As am informed s12,50o, half of the
contract price, though more money may
have been paid in later. If il is true
AFateo COppfU has drawn