"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
"And then you are called again further on in this same process
of elimination. 'We expect to prove to you that Halsey had no
power to expend moneys without a voucher, and that no person
at that time in the Telephone Company had any power to expend
money without the approval of the executive Board of
Directors, except Glass, and Scott, who was away.' Scott had
gone, we were told, on the 18th or 19th. These transactions
took place on the 22d, 23d and 24th. Scott could not have
authorized them from the simple fact that Scott was then in
the East, and he was not here in San Francisco to direct or
authorize the management of the affairs of this corporation. A
true elimination, gentlemen, if the facts were true, but the
facts are not true. Mr. Scott did not leave for the East--bear
this in mind--Mr. Scott did not leave for the East until all
these transactions were closed; he did not leave until the
27th of February when the last of these checks had been paid.
Who drew it? Scott himself. I challenge contradiction. The
Assistant District Attorney told you on the first day that he
addressed you that Scott left on the 18th or 19th. Did he know
that Scott did not leave until the 27th? Did he? If he did,
then there are no words that would apply to the deception that
was sought to be practiced upon you, and I do not charge any
such deception. Had Mr. Scott informed the District Attorney
that he left on the 18th or 19th? I do not know. There is no
evidence before you that he had. How, then, did he get the
idea which he made to you under the oath of his office as
District Attorney that Scott left on the 18th or 19th, when in
point of fact Scott did not leave until the 27th? He came back
from Portland on Monday or Tuesday of the preceding week. He
was here during the whole of these transactions; he remained
until the last check had been paid. He remained until the
ordinance had been passed on the 26th of February, and left
the defeated camp on the next day. How, then, upon that
evidence, is Scott eliminated from this transaction? And I do
not want you to understand that I am charging Mr. Scott with
crime. That is no part of my business. It is no part of my
office. I am assuming, upon the theory of this prosecution,
that a crime was committed, and I say you, yourselves, Mr.
District Attorney and your attendants, have undertaken by the
process of elimination which you have selected, to show us
that Mr. Scott could not have committed this crime. It is
sufficient for us to show you that he could without charging
that he did."
[291] The following are taken from interviews with the several
jurors which appeared in the Examiner of July 29, 1907:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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