"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft ProsecutionHichborn, Franklin
History
"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution
Hichborn, Franklin
Political corruption -- California -- San Francisco; San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government
During the two months that followed, the Grand Jury continued at the
steady grind of graft investigation. Finally, on May 24, one additional
indictment[205] was brought against Halsey and two against Glass. On
that date, fourteen indictments were returned against Patrick Calhoun,
Thornwell Mullally, Tirey L. Ford, William M. Abbott,[206] Abraham Ruef
and Mayor E. E. Schmitz, indicted jointly, for the bribery in connection
with the granting of the over-head trolley permit.
The day following, May 25, G. H. Umbsen, J. E. Green, W. I. Brobeck and
Abraham Ruef were jointly indicted fourteen times on charges of offering
a bribe to fourteen Supervisors in the Parkside franchise matter. The
same day, fourteen indictments were returned against Frank G. Drum,
Abraham Ruef, Eugene E. Schmitz, Eugene de Sabla and John Martin on
charges of giving and offering bribes to fourteen Supervisors in the
matter of fixing the gas rates.
Still another series of graft indictments were to be found. Three
prize-fight promoters, W. Britt, "Eddie" Graney and "Jimmie" Coffroth
were, on nine counts, indicted jointly with Schmitz and Ruef for bribery
in connection with the awarding to them of virtually a monopoly of the
promotion of prize fighting in San Francisco.
FOOTNOTES:
[187] The following persons sat on the Boards of Directors of the
several corporations involved in the graft disclosures, either
during 1906 when the briberies were committed, or during 1907
when the exposures came:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company--N. W. Halsey, E. J. de
Sabla, John Martin, Frank G. Drum, Wm. H. Crocker, N. D.
Rideout, Frank B. Anderson, John A. Britton, Henry E. Bothin,
Louis F. Monteagle, Jos. S. Tobin, G. H. McEnerney, Cyrus
Pierce, Carl Taylor, F. W. M. McCutcheon.
Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company--Henry T.
Scott, Louis Glass, F. W. Eaton, Timothy Hopkins, Homer S.
King, F. G. Drum, E. S. Pillsbury, Percy T. Morgan, all of San
Francisco; J. C. Ainsworth, P. Bacon, J. H. Thatcher, C. H.
Chambreau, E. H. McCracken, C. B. McLeod, C. E. Hickman, J. P.
McNichols, R. W. Schmeer, all of Portland.
Parkside Company--W. H. Crocker, Wellington Gregg, Jr., C. E.
Green, J. J. Mahony, W. H. Cope, A. F. Morrison, Hugh Keenan,
Wm. Matson, J. M. O'Brien, Douglas S. Watson. J. E. Green.
United Railroads--Patrick Calhoun, G. F. Chapman, Geo. H.
Davis, Tirey L. Ford, Benj. S. Guiness, I. W. Hellman, Chas.
Holbrook, A. C. Kains, J. Henry Meyer, Thornwell Mullally, Jos.
S. Tobin.
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