The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-03-07
Dismissed Women Clerks
Accuse Postmaster
OF Persecution
Official Says They Lost Jobs
Rifling Packages Of
Mail Matter

prepared by Postmaster Arthur G.. Fisk
of this city to the charges recently filed
against him by Miss Mary Joesten and
| office searcher clerks. who were dis
missed from the service April 3, 1911,
lunder charges of having violated their
trusts by removing mail matter from
the Office and rif1ing a package of mail
/ .Action by the United States senate
upon the recommendation of the presi-
dent that Fisk be reappointed, which
was sent to the senate January "a for
/ confirmation, will not be taken until
the matter is thoroughly heard before
a subcommittee of the senate commit
tee on postoffice affairs, which has the
case under considerations.
Women to Be Heard
Influential friends of the two young
women in this city are incommunica-
tion with the Washington authorities,
and word recently received from Sena-
| tor John D. Works gives them the
assurance that an opportunity will be
/ given them to present their evidence
fully.
1t was stated last night by Eugene
| Conlon grand knight of the San Fran
! cisco council of the Knights of Colum-
bus. that the use of the name of THAT
organization in connection with the
matter was wholly unwarranted.
1t had been stated that prominent
members of the order. fellow knights
with J. j. Joesten. brother of one of
the young women, had petitioned Sena-
tors Bourne of Washington. O'Gorman
of New York and Works of California
to see that the accused former em-
ployes of the postoffice were given a
cnance to present their case, and also
had filed protest against the con-
nrmation OF Fisk's reappointment.
Not Before Knights
| This matter has never been before
the Knights of Columbus of this city
in any FORM said Conlon last night,
nor is there any way in which 1t
could be brought before that body.
We have absolutely no interest in the
case and have no quarrel with POST
master Fisk in this or any other mat
ter We have not looked into the
merits of the case, nor do we purpose
doing so. as it is distinctly none of our
affairs.
several members of the order sent
| a telegram to certain United States
senator's, but did so without the least
sanction of this council. The request
made in tile telegram has since been
withdrawn"
Alleges Injustice
Both Miss Fitzgerald and Miss
Joesten still maintain that they were
dismissed in dishonor from the service
without the slightest cause and only
/ to provide a means for Postmaster Fisk
to meet the charges that were TO be
made by Miss Joesten with reference to
advances made toward her while alone
with the official in his Office at Seventh
and Mission streets.
The Joesten girl claims to be the
victim of persecution at the hands of
Fisk. condition which, she says. fol-
| lowed the incident in which she re-
pulsed him.
affidaxits that are on file in Washing
ton with having invited Miss Joesten
to accompany him in a covered auto
mobile to a French restaurant for din
ner and having, upon the rejection of
his invitation, caught his clerk about
l.
ALLEGES PERSECUTION
The affidavit states that this indignity
hiving thrown Miss Joesten into =
highly nervous state. Fisk used eyery
effort to cause the girl to promise not
to mention the matter.s This was in
April, 1909. Miss Joesten promptly
told Miss Fitzgerald and confided the
secret to her sister and several clergy-1
men.
"From the moments of that incident
untilI was discharged" said Miss Joes-
ten last night, Postmaster Fisk per-
secuted me- Previous to that time he
had been very nice to me--particularly
nice. AS a matter Of fact he gave me
the appointment as searching clerk
ahead of my sister, Bertha. even though
she was ahead of me on the civil serv-
ice list and he had never seen me be-
fore. He always wanted me to leave
my desk in the general office and prom
ised me place in his private Office.
MADE ADVANCES, SHE SAID
HE sent for me five times and on
each occasion made these hidden ad
vances. Once he asked me my fathers
business. When told him that father
was an .optician he said that he In
tended visiting him to have his eyes
| treated. He never came. He also
promised to place my sister In a posi-
tion. never knew his object until
| that April day.
After he insulfed me. Fisk sought
| to get rid OF me. He also set about
to secure the dismissal OF Miss Fitz
Gerald, the only ono in the once /
made my confidant.
"He says that he never knew We
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