"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
[262] "I subscribed to the Graft Prosecution fund," said one
capitalist whose own skirts were clean of the graft scandal,
"but before the investigation was over I had to exert myself
to prevent my own attorney going to jail."
The manner in which every indictment increased the circle of
opposition to the prosecution is well illustrated by the
following selection from the San Francisco Chronicle of March
25, 1907:
"The indictment of Louis Glass, former vice-president of the
Pacific States Telephone Company, for bribery, on testimony
given to the Grand Jury by E. J. Zimmer, who was the auditor of
the company under Glass, and is now vice-president of the
reorganized corporation, has caused consternation in certain
fashionable circles, in which Glass was one of the most popular
men.
"At the clubs of which the indicted telephone magnate was a
member, much sympathy is expressed for him. He was extremely
popular because of his affability and good-fellowship, and he
has a host of friends, who are loth to believe that he has
committed a crime which may put him behind the bars of San
Quentin for fourteen years.
"Attorney George Knight, who, it is expected, will be retained
as counsel for Glass, voiced the sentiment of many of his
friends, yesterday, when he said:
"'Louis Glass is one of the best fellows in a social way that
ever lived. He is proud, high-spirited and in all his personal
relations with others he has always been most particular. I
cannot imagine what has led him into doing what he is said to
have done in the telephone bribery, and I am sure that in spite
of the indictment, when the truth is known, he will not appear
in such a discreditable light.'"
[263] Among those who challenged the validity of the Grand Jury
were: Patrick Calhoun, Thornwell Mullally, Tirey L. Ford and
William Abbott of the United Railroads, represented by A. A.
Moore and Stanley Moore; Louis Glass of the Pacific States
Telephone Company, represented by Delmas and Coogan; John
Martin, Eugene de Sabla and Frank Drum of the San Francisco
Gas and Electric Company, represented by Garret McEnerney; T.
V. Halsey, represented by Bert Schlesinger, William P.
Humphries and D. M. Delmas. The several attorneys represented
the best legal ability obtainable in San Francisco. No less
than fifty-two attorneys, all working to the same end, were
employed by the several graft defendants.
[264] The Merchants' Association banquet, April 18, 1907, the first
anniversary of the great earthquake and fire.
[265] At one of the examinations of Spreckels, Attorney A. A. Moore,
representing the United Railroads, is reported as demanding:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account