The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 30, 1903, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1903. SCANDAL IN CIVIL SERVICE BOARD le, the some price mys- members of ugh none of patd any Blake- < office » put him h had put proposi- . work was Moran had s action, king that nced dur “ommis The lef and Mershon g the investiga- oner had resigned of resignation was cknowledged ir it reet.” The letter April 29, 1903 the other prepaired” Re- ADVERTISEMENTS. foods are as good as anybody wahts —and money back if you don’t like them. a clericel error. 1y put back he taken off d the result of the sarent when Mayor Schilling’s Best| DEVELOPS EVIDENC Mayor's Investigation Shows Examination Questions Were Offered for Sale—~Mershon Resigns HE investigation begun yesterday into the civil service scandal Mershon developed that questions for the examination for promotions in the Fire De- | partment were offered for sale. Mershon must confront another serious charge, that of having raised the markings of a civil service contestant. Hoping to escape facing the issue he sent in his resignation, which was promptly accepted by the Mayor. William Blakely is being sought for to supply the missing link in a gigantic conspiracy to discredit the merit system. E OF CORRUPTION involving Commissioner De~nn~?s SULL/IVA CHIEF FIRE ~N s or THE PEPRRTIVENT « | INSTIGATOR OF AND PARTICIPANTS IN INVESTIGATION INTO THE | VIL SERVICE BOARD INVOLVING PEDDLING CORRUPTION IN OF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS BY COMMISSIONER MERSHON. n and within half an sent the following i after Its rece to Mers} s resign: reply 318 Waller street One of the sensations of the = when Captain George Bailey and itenant William Miskel of the Fire Department t fied that Lieutenant Gill bad told them of the questions to be asked after had laid off from duty and interviewed Mershon at the latter's men that the ques- ), but both denled request. Gill tolc tions would cost the INeutenant Walter Gill himself and Boynton both testified as to an individual | unknown to them, who had approached them and offered to sell the questions for the examination It was proven that when the Civil Ser. viec Commissioners met last Saturday to make up the questions, Smith, a close friend of Mer- shon and a bartender employed by “Jack McNamara, called Mershon out of the | meeting-room and handed him four type- written sheets containing the questions afterward adopted by the commission. The questions were the same as the list andad to Hoseman Frank Dougherty by liam Blakely, whose evidence is anxiously looked for. Blakely, in tele- phoning the information to Dougherty, implicated Commissioner Rogers in tha2 peddling of the questions, but the latter denles the accusation. There was considerable contradictory evidence in the investigation, which only tends to plunge the participants in the | scheme decper inio the mire. While the | testimony of Captains Bailey and Nichols and Licutenant Miskel was clear that Lieutenant Gill had spoken of a confer- ence with Mershon, and that after it he | divulged some of the questions, Gill de- | nies that he had any conversation with | Mershon about the matter. Gill got be- | hind the mysterious stranger in the en- deavor to shield himself and Mershon | and woefully contradicted himself re- | garding the evidence that he had told certain firemen that the questions could | be had for $is0. | Again Alfred Davis, a hoseman, swore |posl(h'r-ly that he had not been In Mc- Namara's saloon for two weeks past and that he had never copied any questions in the place. McNamara, on the otner hand, swore that Davis had copled the questions after he, McNamara, had taken them from Mershon's coat pocket while | the latter was playing shuffieboard. In this McNamara was corroborated by his bartender, and when Davis was con- fronted with this evidence he sald he dfd copy the questions, but did so at Me- Namara's home and not In his saloon. Mayor Schmitz says he will not an- nounce Mershon’s successor on the Civil Service Board for a few days. He says | he proposes to be careful in his selection, as he intends to appoint a man under whom he has confidence the merit system will be upheld. James D. Brown, agent for typewriters, is seeking the position. He resides in the Forty-third District. ik 5.5 McNAMARA REFUSED LICENSE. The Board of Police Commissioners at a meeting held last night refused a liquor license to John E. McNamara, who is In- volved in the civil service scandal re- cently unearthed. This action will close McNamara's place and put him out of business. | investiga- | t they had pald any money for them. | The matter was passed upon quickly by | the Com: oners. Mc |rresent when the case s Chief Wittman made a short state- | ment, sayin the saloon man was irvolved civil service scandal. Chairman Newhall suggested that the li- cene There being no objec- {tion this action was taken, Friends of McNamara say the commis | sion acted hasti and without preper i Namara has always con y place and is known as . " His frank confession to r in his favor. F iriends say he should not be made to suf- | fer for the culpability of another man. | During the trfal of Patrolman Frank | Tuite by the commission Attorney Coffey, Tepresenting the defendant, became in- velved in a squabble with Chief Wittman regarding the propriety of questio: ask- | ed by the head of the department. te, |11 is alleged, was a from his beat arly an hour half, which fact was sworn ant Bush. Tuite contradicted Bush in some of the testi- mony and was asked If the sergeant had perjured himself. Coffey objected to the word “perjured,” whereupon a dispute arose and the attorney told the Chief he was as good as he w During the wordy war that followed tsble and started to leave the room. { Chairman Newhall prevented him from |leaving and the trouble was finally | straightened out. Tuite was found guilty | and fined $100. | Officer Michael Murphy for belng absent from his beat and Officer John R. Lewis was dismissed from the force for being intoxicated on the after- inoon of April 18 and beating, without provocation, H. J. Cassedy, employed at 15 Turk strect. The trouble happened at Market and Mason streets and while the officer was in civilian’s clothing. was fined $100 ADVERTISEMENTS. “My _Sons,” said a great business man, “are my | partners and ‘they need all the | strength and courage I can give them,” and he forthwith paid for a $1,000.000 policy in The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Not without the most care- ful investigation, howgver, extend- ing over six months. He was con- | vinced by just such facts as led the President of a National Bank in New York tomake the curious and shrewd provision in his will, which is contained in “A Banker’s Will.” Write for it and also for the account of the $1,000 000 policy, “The Largest Annual Premiums.” This Company ranks Frrst—In Assets, Firsi—In Amount Paid Policy-holders. Firsi—In Age. Tue MutuaL Lire INSURANCE Company oF NEw York, RICHARD A. McCURDY, President. Nassau, Cedar, William and Liberty sts., New York, N. Y. STANLEY 'y Mutual Life Building, San Cal Tuite tossed his star on the secretary’s | HE investigation into the civil gervice scandal began in the Mayor’'s office at 10 o'clock yes- | J terday morning with Mayor | | Schmitz presiding. There were present | Chief Engincer Sullivan of the Fire | | Department, A. Reuf, the Mayors| | attorney; Civil Service Commission- | ers Rogers and McCarthy, Chief E { aminer Moran, besides a number of wit- | nesses including firemen who told their stories on the witness stand. The inquiry began with a statement by Fire Chief Sullivan as to how Frank'| Doughert No. 2, had | informed* a list examination. Sulli- im thz the questions for the van said: 1 told Doughe that he had to go ahead and he replied g5 of 1 and would have more the mext day. He exhibited the paper. which I turned over to Chief Ex- Moran. Ho told me he got the ques nd of his. to tha rooms of the Civil S ing of the the boys were nof that T would not me he thought it w the questions out me on the Thursda o, him information rega questions he | desirea to_put the nation, I toid him then that some of the questions were too difficult for firemen to answer i Captain George Bailey of engine 10 wa | the next witness examined. He said: | I heara that Li | tenant Miskel that n the mora- | Moran that a_square deal and Moran told | iven a il had told Lieu on had telephoned | come to see him lay before the ex morninz Gill told code would ba used him to get a da Gill laid off Frid: amination me that the the questi | me $150 | Captain N him partly what wo In the examination. PRICE ASKED W.S $150. “Did he say to whom the $150 would be | paid?” asked the Mayor. “No he did not,” replied Bailey. Captain Frank Nichols of testified: | | | i 8 l Lieutenant | truck 1l told me tie day before the we He 2150 ervice was on the mind while the examination th did not tell me th I told him re. 1 thoughi ¢ n- 1t | Lieutenant William Miskel said: B Lieutenant Gill and asked him if oing, that Is, if thers ing the exam on had met there was anything ould be used fons would co » st $150, but did not | to whom the money was to be. paid. | 1 did not pay eny money, but I thought it | we did not have the quesfions we would not be in it with those having the liat, Lieutenant Gill testifled as follows: The proposition to seil the ques The man t Morshon had as r of telling any one th to see him. Mersh, to lay off and e ver ked me to call This statement was so utterly at vari- ance with the testimony of other wit- es that the Mayor cautioned Gill that he was under oath. “Did you see Mershon or any told you that he came from asked the Mayor. AGENT SEEKS FIREMEN. A fellow came to sce me last Thursday night, replied Glll, “who sald be would meect me and give me the questions if I < willing to buy them. He was dark omplexicned, smooth faced, half feet high and about I went to meet him at 1 streets on Friday betwee but he did not put in do mot remember anj Miskel about a mone “Now, lleutenant,” asked the Mayor, s it not a fact that ¥ou toil Miskel th on ne who department code and they could be had for $1507"" “I don't remember abou* the $150, | Giil. “I might have said the que | were for sale. The stranger did me what the questions would cost. When pressed further by the Mavyor, Gill said he might have told Miskel some- thing about $150, but he was so muddled up at the time he did not remember. Lieutenant Walter Boyrton of Truck § testified: At-T:30 o'clock Wedn ions tell ay evening my door DR. PIERCE'S REMEDIES. THE TRYING TIME | In a young girl's life is reached when | Nature luil er uncertain across the line which divides girlhood from womanhood. Ignorance and neglect at this critical period are largely responsible lo; much of thei & i after misery of womanhood. Not only does Nature often need help in the regular establishment of the womanly function, but there is almost always mneed cf some safe, strengthening tonic, to over- come the languor, nervousness and ‘weakness, com- monly experi- enced at this time. Dr, Pierce’s Favorite Pre- scription establishes regularity. It is a strengthening tonic, sQothing the nerves, encouraging the appetite and inducin, restful sleep. It contains no alcol neither opium, cocaine or other narcotic. «1 wish to tell you the benefit we have received from using your remedies,” writes Mrs. Dan Hall, of B icad, Green Co., Wis. "Two T8 ago m{‘ daughter’s health began to fail. E‘erythin. that could be thought of was done to help her but it was of no use. she began 5 complain she was quite stout ; weighed 170, the picture of good health, until about the of fourteen. then in six months sh e down het weight was but 1. She kept an up. thinking ti xre e dh munt he. Triends il said. You wi lose your ' T said I fear T shall. I must or, that only for ‘ Favorite ] dat wcd(:‘ve been in her grave oday. she had taken one- Otic, making. only teo she recovered, Btes (et he s nwwectl s cam e s o Dr. Pierce’s Common Sense Medical Adviser, in paper covers, is sent frez on of 21 ome-cent stamps to pay expense of only. ufin. 3 R. V. Pierce, N. Y. Mershon?” | usideration,” | the questions were to be taken from the | s have the name—* any imitation which may be Hich CLASS DRUGGISTS AND — OTHERS.’ The better class of druggists, everywhere, are men of scientific attainments and high integrity, who devote their lives to the welfare of their fellow men in supplying the best of remedies and purest medicinal agents of known value, in accordance with- physicians’ prescriptions and scientific formula. ~Druggists of the better class manufacture many excellent remedies, but always under original or officinal names and they never sell false brands, or imitation medicines. They are the men to deal with when in need of anything in their line, which usually includes all standard remedies and corresponding adjuncts of a first-class pharmacy and the finest and best of toilet articles and preparations and many useful accessories and remedial appliances. The earning of a fair living, with the satisfaction which arises from a knowledge of the benefits conferred upon their patrons and assistance to the medical profession, is usually their greatest reward for long years.of study and many hours of daily toil. Figs is an excellent laxative remedy and that it gives universal satisfaction, and therefore they are selling many millions of bottles annually to the well informed purchasers of the choicest remedies, and they always take pleasure in handing out the genuine article bearing the full name of the Company—California Fig Syrup Co.—printed on the front of every package. They know that in cases of colds and headaches attended by biliousness and constipation and of weakness or torpidity of the liver and bowels, arising from irregular habits, indigestion, or over-eating, that there is no other remedy so pleasant, prompt and beneficial in its effects as Syrup of Figs, and they are glad to sell it because it gives universal satisfaction. Owing to the excellence of Syrup of Figs, the universal satisfaction which it gives and the immense demand for it, imitations have been made, tried and condemned, but there are individual druggists to be found, here and there, who do not maintain the dignity and principles of the profession and whose greed gets the better of their judgment, and who do not hesitate to recommend and try to sell the imitations in order to make a larger profit. Such preparations rup” and of some piratical concern, or fictitious fig syrup company, printed on the package, but they never have the full name of the Company—California Fig Syrup Co.—printed on the front of the package. should be rejected because they are injurious to the system. they find it necessary to resort to misrepresentation or deception, and whenever a dealer passes off on a customer a preparation under the name of “Syrup of Figs” or “Fig Syrup,” which does not bear the full name of the California Fig Syrup Co. printed on the front of the package, he is attempting to deceive and mislead the patron who has been so unfortunate as to enter his establishment, whether it be large or small, for if the dealer resorts to misrepresentation and and deception in one case he will do so with other medicinal agents, and in the filling of physicians’ prescriptions, and should be avoided by every one who values health and happiness. Knowing that the great majority of druggists are reliable, we supply the immense demand for our excellent remedy entirely through the druggists, of whom it may be purchased every- where, in original packages only, at the regular price of fifty cents per bottle, but as exceptions exist it is necessary to inform the public of the facts, in order that all may decline or return If it does not bear the full name of the Company— California Fig Syrup Co.—printed on the front of every package, do not hesitate to return the article and to demand the return of your money, and in future go to one of the better class of druggists who will sell you what you wish and the best of everything in his line at reasonable prices. Syrup of Figs”—or “Fig sold to them. They all know that Syrup of The imitations In order to gell the imitations an asked me if I was going 1 said I was and he would bell rang and a to take the examination. told me that for a stipulated sum he dark man with a smooth face high. . “I took the examinaticn Aifred Davis of Engi ¢ jons | had were from E e reports and I did not get any questions from anybody. and before the examination tore thera up and threw them into the fire.” “Is it not a fact?’ asked vou copied the ques iven you by ‘Jack’ McNamara?" r,” replied Davi ou not see a list of the questions Namara's home or any olher continued the Mayor. BLAKELEY HAD QUESTIONS. *“*Nobody showed me any questions and I never copied any,” answered Davis. was not in McNamara's saloon or in his | house between Friday and Sunday. 1 have not seen McNamara in the last two weeks."” “l heard the questions were out,” said Hoseman Frank Dougherty of Engine 2, “as it was common talk among different people. I recelved a message friend of mine o said that he wou questions for me. Dougherty name of his friend, as it into trouble, but on being assured he wodld be given protection. he said the man was William Blakeley | in Superior Judge Dunnc’s court | ‘Blakeley gave me the questions at Corbett’s saloon,” said Dougherty. ‘‘ie said he would try to see Commissioner ! Rogers In the morning and get more ques- tions. 1 did not pay any money for the questions, as Blakeley is a friend of mine They did not help me much in the exami- | nation.” At this point the Mayor picked up the copy of the questions given up by Dough- erty to the Chief and found that they were exactly similar to the list which Mershon had allowed to be taken from his coat pocket. The Mayor asked Dough- | erty if he was sure that Blakeley had stated that he would se: Rogers, and | Dougherty =aid he was. Chief Examiner Moran toll how Mer- shon had appeared late a: the meeting of | the Commissioners last Saturday morn- | ing. Moran said: MERSHON EXCITED. He seemed to be greatiy excited and said he had left the Chief's rule book and questions which he had prepared at his home and had sent for them. Soon after *Speck’ | Smith, a bartender employed by Jack McN | mara, arrived and asked to see Mershon in the private office. My suspicions were aroused and I noticed that Mershon came back to the | meeting room with four typewritten shee | on which were the questions he desired to p: pound. He sald the man outside had brought them from his home. Ma see if he could get the He read “the of them. He afterward put the sheets in an envelope which, after sealing, safe, Here Moran handed the envelope to the Mayor. who opened it and examined the four papers, finding that they contained the questions and answers of the examin- ation. Moran continued: Another point I hoticed was that Merghon wanted to make the examination the samé for both lieutenants and captains, but Mcgarthy and 1 objected and two sets were made out. T told Chief Sullivan of the questions prepared by Mershon, and he stated that they were thé #ame which he (Sullivan) had suggested at a previous conference. Sullivan told me he had Tever communicated the questions to any one. Then 1 compared them with the list received from Hoseman Dougherty and the two lists were ldentical. That indicated to me that Mershon had given the questions out. il Service Commissioner. Rogers said he was absent from the meeting of the Commission last Saturday morning, be- cause he was sick. /ROGERS WAS SUSPICIOUS. “] was suspicious of Mershon,” said Rogers, “and had lost confidence in him, and that was one of the reasons for my absence. told Dougherty that he would see me for more questions. Biakeley is not telling the truth, if he says that we had any ar- rangements to meet.” Commissioner McCarthy was the next witness examined and went over the ground as to the Incidents leading up to Mershon’s trouble. “Did you ever make a proposition to stand in with Mershon on questions in a civil service examination?” asked the Mayor of McCarthy. The Mayor referred to the charge made by Mershon that Barney Tracy, another saloon-keeper, had prepared four questions for the milk in- spector’s examination, which he said Me- Carthy had agreed to adopt if Mershon would do so. McCarthy answered: 1 have never met Mershon and I never held any conversation, either at the California Hotel or anywhere elsé, regarding cxaminations. He m’;l‘ud on me there, nor did he ever leave I studied them | from a | from a | Thursday ¢vening, who | at first refused to divulge the | might get him | acting clerk | some | questions from the sheets and we adopted most | I put into the | 1 do not know Blakeley, who ! a card he had been to see me. In jus- | saloon had been presented. ;,‘;}:)‘;’ s Dk e T; Mershon has | “Do you still maintain that you did not = 8 !Ar-»qua.«l s ('hora\l:h exam- ‘ :ean Mcflmmanr‘af' asked the Mayor, “and vas nof s the proper tribunal. the son cell 2y that 5 and void by the commission new one ordered.” “I took the questions overcoat pocket | shuffieboard next witnes | 100k at the papers.” “it's a lie,” shouted Davi; | present at the investigation. | null | | in the | Grand hoever is guilty be punished and be cpened to receive him. MAYOR IS NOT THROUGH. | “I am going to take up this matter at |} some future time,” said the Mayor. “I | Friday eveni | will put Mershon under oath and thresh | at $:30. n to the bottom. I desire amination for promotions Department will be declared and a from Mershon's while he was playing satd Jack McNamara, “I allowed Alfred Davis to | who “I was not place?” Davis repiled: in and asked where McN part of my statement is not want I will tell the whole trut Well, T locked One because 1 reputation rara s mara was. true, to | | | give me the questions. He did not ask me pay for them. I thanked McNamara after examination for the questio & questions to anybody e! the rumors that anything Mr. Mershon asked me if T knew an thing about some papers,” “‘Spe: Smith, another one of McNamara's ba | tenders testified. ‘““He met me in the ¢ the | was Hall as 1 was coming out of the Census a to injure Mer- b as paid for them n AT~ ‘ . | Marshal's office. I told him T saw a pack { in_your place. % A D et g S ge addreszed to him in McNamara's N WS iiold to be quiet. and Me- | gojoon. He asked me to get it, and I did 1 ave the papers to Davis and he copied | % I have known him for six years and | from - then: - Hie' wae Siiting for n:“‘l;"‘:n | he is a good friend of mine.” | hour. I did mot know what they were, 1| At this point an adjournment was taken | wrapped them up and sent them by my bar- | in order that Willlam Blakely, who gave | tender to Mershon the next morning. I did not | the questions to Hoseman Doughert show the papers to ome but Davis. done =0 if I had not been drinking. Joseph_ Carroll. & bartender for McNarama's saloon | Carr ary knife to sharpen his pencil. last Friday 1 said he saw Davis copying that he had not been in mit I made a bad mistake, and would not have Namara, testified that he saw Davis in night. | per for an hour and loaned him his DAVIS ADMITS FALSEHOOD. | Davis was recalled to the stand when | questions and neve: the evidence contradicting his statement 1 ad | could be subpenaed to tell his story as where he got the questions. Up to t hour of 5 o'clock he had not been locat and the Mayor saild the would be resumed this morning. Mr. Blakeley was seen last night, b sald he had no statement to make, oth | than a denial that he was in any w implicated in the peddling of qu “I never had possession of an agreed to he said. Me- from | them to any one,” “1 made to he investigation ut ay no McNamara's - effort to hide to-day, but was home sick.” without ‘cash you dislike ment store. your goods We offer We loan the regular cént. You your bill in chases Cash treatment Gould, Sullivan Ce. Suite 1403-05 “Call” Buildi Furniture, carpets, curtains This is the proposition: You want to fur- | nish a home. You haven't enough ready cash to pay in full when the goods are delivered, 1ence you're compelled to buy “on time.” Yet trading in an out-and-out install- How are you going to get the easy - payment accommodation and still buy in one of the big first-class stores? you the way. you the money, charging simply banking rate of interest—six per go then to one of the big, first- class furniture stores where the stock is big and fresh, and where satisfaction is certain; and when you have made your selections pay good, hard cash. The installment stores charge you ten per cent above their cash prices for time. All you pay us is six per cent. you is FOUR PER CENT. For instance: $100.00 we will charge you $106.00—which is a six per cent advance; then you pay us $20.00 cash and the balance amounting to $8.60 each month. The actual saving to If your purchases amount to in monthly payments If your. pur- amount to $75.00 we will charge you $70.50; you make us a cash payment on this of $15.00 and pay the balance at the easy rate of $6.45 per month. Investigate this—it will pay you. —_—_— Market and -