The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 8, 1901, Page 2

. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1901. PHELAN CONFESSES TO THE POLITICAL CONSPIRACY I[N WHICH HE AND THE EXAMINER WERE PARTNERS Hearst’s Newspaper Demanded the Position of Chief of Police and Absolute Control of Police Administration—Mayor Was Ordered to Leave the Fire Department as a Mammoth Political Machine in Possession of Sam Rainey and to Defeat Superior Judge Daingerfield The secret is out. Mayor Phelan has confessed that for services rendered he agreed to bestow important and wvaluable political favors upon the Examiner, that one of these favors was the control of the Police Department by the E This startling admission was made yesterday by Mayor Phelan at the ¢ inquiry info the affairs of the Police Department. The Mayor declared that he found his agreement to barter away the gifts of his official position a very and anine: legisla difficult one to keep. ntinuing Mayor Phelan cerned, then declc secretary of the Sam Rai- the depart- ach between the Examiner widened. | was insatiable. Tt | attels for 11 they » says the Ex that he serior now for him ' was the mors of cor- pers nst th m that et me of name ' o fered a bribe to your . - s he was directed. The | se was given as WONg appearance in turned to a olitical partner, the Ex- ussion the thought uniercurrent in this The Exam- of sngthened by n Webber, who ’ a special pros s; unfortunately, absent ) cxamination of Mayor I » nducted by Assemblyman w you believe,” asked w the Examiner is inspire | »us motive in this matter?” st certainly do,” replied the Mayor. xaminer attempted to run Ban o and failed. It was not in the of an elective officer and had no It therefore exceeded tions, which I conceive to be the p of the news. It suppressed news tured what it was pleased to ews. It is now secking to vent its on the Police Department.” ce we have entered into this discus- | wspapers,” sald Knowland, “will us what were your relations with Examiner?” PHELAN CONFESSES THE POLITICAL CONSPIRACY Fxposes the Greed of the Examiner to Rule the Vote Machines of the City. “From the time of my first candidacy for Mayor,” said his Honor, “the Exam- iner was very friendly to me and espoused We got along very well to- until after I was elected Mayor r the charter. The Examinér then ted favors, and I was ready to grant them within reason. The Examiner want- | ed several things. It wanted particularly fo b e Influence in the Police Depart- ment d presented Frederick L. Esola as its candidate for Chief of Police. “l was willing to give the Examiner people what I could in reason and in con- sistency to the public good. When I was elected Mayor under the charter the Ex- | aminer assured me that Chief of Police Lees must be removed and that Fred | la must be his successor. The candi- | dacy of Esola was bitterly opposed by the | other newspapers, and while I was will- ing to do much for theExaminer, I was | not ready 1o go that far to éblige it. The | Examiner was very much disappointed | when Esola did not get the place. | “Then the Examiner people insisted that | George Maxwell remain as secretary of | the Fire Department in order that Sam | Rainey, with whom the paper is friendly, | might retain his power over the depart. ment. 1 insisted that for the good of the | service Maxwell be removed. When this | was done the Examiner declared that I revelation of a s ared t/ x | énraged. vaminer was exacting. It acted as if it had bought something and it demanded the delivery of its purchase. Its managing editor de- ¢ position of Chicf of Police for his friend, and Mayor Phelan says he him had it not been for public - clamor and the opposition ¢t deal, @ th vhich was shameful to all con- at the Examiner insisted that George Max- there can be no doubt of it. he made a compact with the Examinér, and by the terms of that compact his offi- cial” sheet' expected him to do dishonorable things. And in this confession Mayor Phelan contradicts some of the most important public utterances he ever made. well be retained as secretary of the Fire Department, in order that its friend, Sam Rainey, might not lose control of the department as a formidable political machine. Again the Mayor could not grant the importunities of his newspaper partner and again he was subjected to abuse. mained at his heels demanding payment for what it had given. It asked of Mayor Phelan that he use his official and political influence to de- feat Judge Daingerfield for the renomination for Superior Judge, but the Mayor declined to interfere. These are the reasons which he gave yesterday for the attack upon the Police Depariment and himself. The public has suspected that such a compact existed between Mayor Phelan and his newspaper associate, but now Mayor Phelan has confessed A! LAIRD SEMBLY- LOQKED r "vi‘.‘{.‘m 4¢ The LAw ON LOOKE THE SIDE SAD AN LonELY, PosSSI18LY HOMESICK QLCUPATIONS - SAID COMMISSIONER NEWHALL ~"TM 2 AS SEMBLY MAN “NO SABE" SAID QWON G JiMm Svou CLATCHEE AssEMBLYMAN SCHIMIG Undaunted, the Examiner re- - raigg KnNnowLAnD DIP THE QUZZING = that for favors granted honey from Chinatown. a favor was because its representatives told Chicf Sullivan that they believe Mahoney to be dishonest and hoped some day to prove it. As far as the main, ostensible purpose of the investigation is concerned ab- solutely no progress*was made yesterday. The investigators are as far now from establishing police blackmail in Chinatown as they were in the beginning. A Chinaman swore yesterday that he once offered a bribe to an agent of Mayor Phelan, but the agent refused it and the matter was dropped. That is as close as the investigators have got to a proof of official bribe; CHAIRMAN EX~ POLICE COMMISSIONER DR MSNUTT TRIED ‘TO EXPLAIN - ATTEMPYING TO WYPNOTIZE A WITNESS MAYOR PHELAN PRESUMED - THAT THERE WAS aiwayy A PREsUMPE IMPRESSIONS, SERIOUS AND OTHERWISE, OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE PULICE. J_ iner people sent to me and asked me to]| *“T do not. T know nothing of the matter | dence, but hoped to see the money pass. opposed to it, Mahonev was In the same | cember 272" A.—*“I cannot remember. use my influence to defeat Judge Dainger- | except from what 1 have read since its | That s all T know of the affair. What | position and fhere the matter ended. Dr | Dr. McNutt is a friend of 11 al- r field for the mnomination of Superio Judge. This I refused to do and this ex pl s why the Examiner has been ham- mering away at us ever since. however, should not deter us from accept- ing favors even from the devil and 1 am here as well as you to learn what I can.” “Did you make a compact with the man- aging editor of the Examiner,” asked Knowland, “to make sla Chlef of Police?" “There is no truth in the story of a compact,” said his Hon “It was derstood that 1 was to grant favors to the Zxaminer and Esola was its candidate for Chief of Police. The managing editor and Esola were close friends, but I had given no promize and made no compact, it was simply understood th: <ola was to be promoted. When opposition was made to his promotion the Examiner was We were begged to make him Chief of Police if only for a day. We were told that he would resign the next day, but we could not afford to do it. | Other than this there was no compact be- tween the Examiner and me.” “Do you believe there is corruption in Chinatown?" asked Knowlanu. “I do not,” was the reply. “Then you would be surprised, Mr, Mayor, if proof w given of police cor- ruption in Chinatown?"” “No, sir, 1 would not be,” replied the Mayor. “Chinamen will attempt tc bribe everybody who may.be of advantage to them. That is why we wanted to estab- lish the licensing plan. We wanted to | protect the public and police as well as keep the Chinese in subjection. We | wanted these offenders to know that they | do not have to pay the policernan on the beat. The plan was simply tentative. I share the general impression that Chi- nese are great bribers and policemen are human. There may be some bribery in Chinatown and we want to get at it.” ““Then you believe that there is bribery of police in Chinato *“No, 1 do not sa t. 1 have no more gpporiunity of knowing than vou have. I have Himp!i; as a foundation common ru- mor upon which you are acting.” ““Have you ever received any informa- tion that bribes were being given and taken in Chinatown?’ “1 have not. Th: place has been con- sidered a danger spot and should be looked after. There were some ngwepaper rumors, but no proofs that wefe worth presenting. We had a general bellef that where men had power to break down doors and arrest people indiscriminately there was alw%s some danger of them roached.” being ap) " Wny 4id you refuse to appoint Esola?” “Simply because of the public clamor and the noise of the other newspapers. It was not a fight to a finish with us—the commission and myseclf. We realized that Esola was not a big man, had a poor edu- cation and had served in a small capacity in the department. We saw that if chosen Chief of Police his every act would be misconstrued and so we let him go.” ““When you were reorganizing the Police Department wag there any suggestion that _"(;apllln Wittman be reduced in ank? 5 ““There was some siiggestion of that sort from the Examiner, but from no one else, 1 believe.” “Do you remember that scandal once had made 2 bargain to retain Maxwell, | Wa8 around his name?” This, however, was not the truth. “On the Saturday preceding the Monda on which the convention met, the Exam- “I do, but I have forgotten the connec- tion, “Do_you know whether or mot he was then vindicated?” This, | currence | oc | “Do you believe that an officer who | been under suspicion should be in- tr ted with ble duties?"’ £ we dids replied the Mayor, | “most of us, I think, would be hit."™ | METHODS OF POLICE IN THE CHINESE QUARTER Chief Sullivan Was Asked to Believe Without Proof that an Officer. ‘Was Dishonest. | “Do you know whether or not any of | the officers of the department have bc- | come rich in their service?” “I have never heard any member of the department accused of being rich.” “Do you or do you not know that Chief Sullivan was given power to put ensging plan into operation without ng authority from the commis- do not know. I think you might get testimony from the commission.: I ave been informed that Chief Sullivan has arrested every malefactor. This is, of course, a part of the plan, and a most important part, but it is not the whole plan. Under the entire plan we would have to receive the cd-operation of Po- lice Judges and even of the arrested pec- ple_themseives. - “Is the Klan in operation now?" “‘No. The police are arresting every offender and all of them will get their turn. If the Police Judges do their duty punishment will be given. The essential feature of the plan is of course elimin- ated; the pelice have no agreement with the Police Judges." The inquiry then turned to the Sullivan property in Chinatown. ayor Phelan declarvx that his brother-in-law, Frank J. Sullivan, owns a tenth interest in_ the property, which has not been favored by the Board of Public Works more thau any other in Chinatown. The property, being in the heart of Chindtown, is sub- ject to the conditions of Chinatown, but there is no gambling on the premises. There is one Tottery place, the Mayor s informed, The income is only $1120 a month. The property is-leased to a Chi- nese who has only to pay his rent and Mr. Sullivan has only to spend his share of it, which would be only $100, as he has only a tenth Interést in the property. “Do you think the lease of property for immoral purposes would be void on the score of public policy?" “Certainly, If specified in the lease. Otherwise it would not be so.” At this point Mayor Phelan was ex- cused. The investigators were as far as ever from a direct frail leading to a sub- stantiation of the accusations of bribery in Chinatown. N T. T. Willlams, business managersof the Examiner, was the next witness. He tes. tified thai he had received information that Sergeant Mahoney was collecting money from Chinese. “I consulted,” he said, “with the managing editor. We be- lieved that Chief of Police Sullivan is an honest man. We invited him to a confer- ence, told him what we thought and what we expected to prove. He said he wanted to catch the offender and would do every- ihing in bis power. I told him there could be ns question of police corruption, and I vofaryad to Ather instanees where it had been detected. Chief Sullivan went away . and we belleved that he intended to go fendG uR tue oatter. “We believed that Mahoney was corrupt. Any man with twenty or twenty-five as- sistants could stop gmbun if he wanted to do so. In asking Chief Sullivan to meet us we felt we were dealing with an hon- est, square man, and If he were put on the track of wrongdoing in Chinatown he would stop it. We did not have our evi- the police did can best be told by Mr. Robert.” Mr, Willlams was followed on the wit- stapd by Police Commissioner New- —_—— VIGOROUS DEFENSE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT Commisllonerl_kepudlnto Attack and Express Confidence in Integrity of tha Various Officers. Mr. Newhall somewhat sorrowfully de- clared that he has various occupations, He said that he is a Police Commissioner and a farmer. What necessary assocla- tlon he has established between the two he did not announce. He then related gomething of his efforts to induce the various newspapers to indorse the pro- posed plan of licensing gambling and social vice. He declared that the Chron- fcle agreed without reservation, the Ex- aminer accepted the proposition with a reservation against gambling, and The Call, through its manager, had no ob- Jection and practically gave sanction, al- though the manager declared that he must consult the proprietor before giv- ing final answer. “Did the Police Commission,” asked Knowland, *‘ever give to Chief Sullivan any implied or direct power to go ahead and test the plan which because of il- legality had been abandoned?” ¢ commission gave no such author: _““How long have you been a farmer, Mr. Newhall?” asked Schillig. “All my life,” was the reply. “Do you still believe that the Police Department s honest?” I certainly do.” “Do you_ belleve that the laws of the State are being violated in Chinatown?" ““Most assuredly do. far as gambling and the social evil are con- cerned the laws are being violated. But the police are doing their utmost to sup- press gambling. 1 have made several in- spections of Chinatown and feel that the FPolice Department is doing its best in the matter. I believe that the proper and responsible method for conducting this investigation is before the Police Com- mission. If the Examiner were honest and not prejudiced against the depart- ment, and had legitimate charges to make, it would have presented its accu- satlons to the commission.” *‘And do you believe that the Police De- partment is above reproach?" 2} b;lleve that it is absolutely above re- proach.” Commissioner Newhall then told why he had voted to elect Sullivan Chlet of Police. Efforts had heen made to get an army officer, but without success. 8ulll- van is admittedly a man of absolute in- tegrity and sincerity of purpose and for that reason was elected, he ha'gnx of course ‘the capacity=to master the details of the police administration. Newball was then excused and ex-Police Commissioner Dr. McNutt took the stand. . McNutt was asked the which by uestioa petition has ¥ b_elpnuu ‘amiliar and somewhat tiresome. The committas i8 seeking to discover whether or not the plan to license me was unoffi- clally indorsed by the Pclice Commission. Several witnesses have testifiled most em- ghuucmy that when the plan was aban- oned as illegal absolutely no effort was made to revive it either officially or un- o%clllli;. Dr. McNutt testified as the others had done that the commission de- u‘r‘::lnad to have nothing whatever to do wi . He declared that if the Chief of Police had decided to go ahead with the plan he would have to do 80 at his own risk. Judge Wallace, the witness said, was alsy McNutt's impression, however, was that | the plan was going to be given a trail with | or without the commission's appro When the plan was presented to the P lice Commission Mayor Phelan presentel the plan and Captain Wittman describel the workings of it. Dr. McNutt had no was excused. Qwong Jim, the Chincse to whom Mayo! Phelan referred, was placed on the stand but he became so tanzgled and unsatisfac tory in his testimony that a recess w: taken in order that an interpreter might be found. i gt HOW THE PHELAN PLAN MET ITS SUDDEN DEATH Police Commission Would Not As- sume Responsibility of Killing Crime by Illegal Acts. The afternoon session important data in the investigation of the methods of the Police Department in deal- ing with Chinatown affairs and the soclal evil. Judge Wallpce, one of the Police Commissioners, testified that he thought that Chief of Police Suilivan was honestly trying to do his duty, and that the Com- missioners at no time decided to do any- thing but what was perfectly within the law. Qwong Jim, a Chinese, who acts as inspector of electric and gas lights in Chinatown, caused hearty laughter b his evasive questions when detailing how he approached Agent Darby of San Jose, who represents Mayor Phelan, in the proposi- tlon to secure immunity from the police in this city’s Mongolian quarter, and Dent ' Robert, managing editor of the Examin 160 the’ cat ot of the bag by bluntly t tifying that after search for a ‘'scoo) decided_to run Chief Sulllvan and the Police Department, and the -Chief spoilel the “‘scoop” by giving the everunfi papers the information that Sergeant Mahoney had been removed from command of the police squad in Chinatown. While the commission was at lun¢h a deputy sheriff searched for Rev. Dr. John . Gardner, the Chinese interpreter and United States Chinese Inspector, attached to the Chinese Bureau maintained by the Government. When the commission resumed work in the afterncon Qwong Jim was not present and the commission decided to examine Judge Wallhce, one of the Police Commis- sloners. k i Judge Wallace could give but lttle in- formation to the committee. He did not remember if on December 27 last, or at a subsequent meeting of the Police Commis- slon, the question of licensing Chinese gamblers and the regulation of the social evil was discussed. " The Judge stated that he had read of the matter in the Mrl.lhut it l;ll‘fl made no particular im] ssion upon him. P here had been some talli said Judge Wallace, “of getting the laws gt . I myself thought that it might a better plan for the authorities to have the power to regulate or prohibit the evils. 1 made some remarks on the sub at the meeting of the Commis- sione™, but made no speech. I stated that it was lmfmslbh to stamp out the social evil and it would be better for the lice to have the power to regulate it. ihile my ideas were expressed, 1 stated that we had no power to do this and that we must obey the laws in every r- ticul 1 told the Ma{n\- and Chief Sul- livan that we could only obey the laws. No vote was taken on the matter at any of the meetings of the commission."” Mr. Knowiand—“Did you have a conversation with Dr. MeNutt about De- To Prevent the Grip Laxative Bromo-Quinine removes the cause, * | produced some | ne and ways talk to him when I se m. [ Jid you tell Dr. McNutt at any time that if Chief Sullivan wanted to try | sponsibility having done s Judge Wallace then told of how A-—“1 don’t rem he question of the Judge's as one of the Police Comm that he, the Judge, had fold the hat if 4 better man could be found not wish the appointment. this plan he could do so on his own re- >mber Mayor further material testimony to offer and | Phelan had called on him and discussed appointment ssioners and | Mayor he did The Judge could not remember if at any | meeting of the Police Commission it was | decided to | regulating social evil Judge V Mr. give a trial to the pi Chinese 3 llace in reply to questlc Knowland said_that | power to regulate gambling and the | evil. “1 realize,” sald the Judge, “tha { it is better for the police to | power t under supervision. hav common sense. Qwong Jim was the next witness and he never even relaxed his fe: Qwong understand his purpose to ‘no e “o talking about Chi be” when it nese gamblin, Gardner, who speaks the Celestial (nnlx{u@. SR o ‘When asked thro he understood the administered to him in the Qwong Jim said no, and Chairma land caused a hearty laugh by s “Well, swear him again.” The oath, which has no sons of Confucius, w and Qwong Jim was examination, but not evidence could be secured from him. ficlent was, however, secured from learn, what every bling exists in Chinatown. The more importent part amination of Qwong Jim we: B of the house where I do busi S T have been his t or . abo years. Q.—Did_you telephone to Mr. Da: come to San Francisco? - meaning Jose to find Mr. Darb; wanted to see him in Q.—When was that? A.—About one year ago: and tell an Francis to San Fra A.—Beca isco? Mcri Darby could identify him. A in Chi in Chinatown. .—What reference was made police? to see Mr. Darby. who_knew th heécause they wanted Mr. Darby the Mayor and hava the Mayor ma police_more lenient. Q.—Did you tell Mr. Darby that you' to secure | | would pay him $200 per month { police immunity in Chinatown? gambling and lan of the ons by he favored an amendment to the Penal Code by which, in large cities, the police could have the social t it is | | impossibie to prohibit these subjects and the | concentrate them and have them | 1 I have but few sug- | ns to" make on these questions, but hink that they ought to be treated with o calle atures when some of his answers brought rounds of laughter from every vne in the room. nglish, but it suits comes g and 80 he was questioned through Rev. Dr. cts of ugh the interpreter if canctity of the oath morning n Know- aying, to the as then administered put through a rigid the slightest direct . Suf- him to one knows, that gam- of the ex- as follows: Q.—Do you know Mr. Darby of San ose? A —Yes, I do. He is the rent collector there. ienant for about ten by to A—I telephoned io'my partner in San him I co. Q.—Why daid you scnd for him to come he knew a partner of mine who desired to land in this country and Were there any other reasons? Well, we talked about the condit inatowh and the doings of the mvns | to the A.—We talked about the polic: shiey had been breaking down d'oob::‘-“ d some Chinese came to me and asked me yor, to see ke the Out of a Renomination—Sensational Developments in the Legislative Inquiry The investigation of the Assembly Committee has thus degenerated into a bitter controvérsy between the Examiner and Mayor Phelan. D. 1_1. .Rof'rrt of the’ Examiner added to’ this phase of the affair yesterday by admitting that and the paper he represents are antagonistic to Chief Sullivan not give exclusively to the Examiner the news of the removal of Sergeant Ma- And the only reason that the Examiner demanded such because he would 1 y or bla®&mail. ' A.—Yes, I made that proposition on be- half of Lo So, who kept a number of fantan games, since y we could not get y from the police by injunction. you know of money being used to secure immunity from the police? A.—I never heard of it. That can be te who have more mon .oud laughter.) Q.—Ho you know that? A.—Because there are head men among the Chin zamblers who control things. Q.—Do the ad men raise money for immunity? A.—I don't know of any particulars Q.—Do you know of such things being done? A.—I don’t know it so that I can testify to it. I never saw it with my own eyes. I cannot testify to what I have not seen. on the streets )t Tem: spoke of it. rts freely made among the the people wh Were rey A s. the matter was freely discussed in Chinatown. Q.—Whom were you to act for in the matter of seeing Mr. Darby of San Jose? A—F > weeks ago. (A lowed this reply.) - QWONG JIM REVEALS METHODS OF BRIBERY A hear ty laugh f. | He Lets the Investigating Committee Into the Secrets of Fantan and Chinese Trickery. In response to further questions Qwong Jim said that h )t proposs to sea Mr. Darby fc s int ts b ies those of I witness t t on ace lish he f their deali with t “I oft the Chinese with their at Dunne. When peopls were arrested their friends asked me to see Dunne. I never made the same pro- that 1 did to Darby. I ing fm- g jealings with Dunne to get reduced for gamblers ar- rney for Chinese? t he was attorney Lo So make the proposal for you ; want you to make the one else? t he did. ibmitted tre fol- you present a same propos: dos A—1 dc lowing questic ago on T ¥ night in a gambling- house on Ro: alley when the Police Commissioners visited the place?" A . I was not there Qwong Jim was then questioned by Mr. Wright, and in reply the w s sald that Lo Se had died tv asked where Lo 8 ago. When was buried the witness ¢ ‘u‘-."x a _round of laughter by saying that shipped to ¢ not nagme the of Lo So were sent Further quest ness that si partners of gambling So's body had heen but the witness could on which the remains home. eicited from the wit- e the death of Lo So the Te running the So had an interest. ny partners are there? rty. ou get the nnot; ist fof us? too much for me. run? ontrolled four or five. in the others. , Wwho is running the four or five gambling places now? A was taken seriously il He had Q.—-Who runs he other places, in whic! Lo Se¢ had an intere p places. The there are. the and-gas lights. Q.—Are you not manager | clubs formerly run by S A.—No, I am not. If t ren inte 1 want me to do any talking In English they send gor me " Q.—Do you ever act in the matter ef squaring ‘things with the police? ‘A.—1 have no power to do so. Q.—Are Lo So's friends friendly to the police? A.—They cannot speak English. Q—Have you ever seen the police those places? A.—Yes, they came dressed as Chinese and broke down the doors. Q.—Is_there any plan betwéen the po- lice and the Chinese gamblers by which the police. arrest the gamb once month, fine them. and it Is understood that no other punishment will be in. fllcted? No, I do not know of it Q—Is it net a fact that bodies of Chi nese are not sent ck to China until a year after their d®ath? ” A.—That is true if the bodies have b buried, but not so if the bodies have no been buried. Q.—Whom do you work for? A—I work for the new gas cc the Equitable. They pay me a g a I have a business in San J took the pesition for the salary work for the Chinese. If any of t want me to talk with white men I do so. Thf*‘ witness was thefl excused until this morning. Louis Lock, officfal Chinese interpreter, testified that he had recelved a letter from Mayor Phelan on November 23 last asking for a statement of all cases in which he (the witness) had appeared in the Police Courts. J. A. Boyle, a reporter fo iner, told how he had hear bling_was carried on_} that Police Sergeant B ing bribes. Th;_\;t p i\‘dl’;"t‘!;dhl:hlnn(f he ¢ Chief Su 5 or | had informed O G Chief replied that believe it 'mfl,'x’f{' Rulben, managing editor of the Examiner, then took the stand. He made mervous witness and lgoked indignant A hen some of his ansWers caused a i He testified that laugh in the in the Exam- d hy w#s accept- courtroom. had a_ conversation with ?:fu“‘:‘\i‘luhsn and that Mr. Willlams of the paper was also present "I teld Chief Sull sald the wit- c«:fi;uiued on Page Four. " To Cure a Cold in One Day. Take Laxative Brome Quinine Tabiets Al eists refund the money I it falls to cure, R Grove's signature i3 on each box. Me. ¢ <