“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:

“Can it be that we have got to a point where a private prosecution, hiring a lawyer, hiring an attorney, hiring a detective—and then when indictments are found that you cannot set them aside? That is the line of testimony I intend to pursue.”

“In addition,” said Attorney Stanley Moore, A. A. Moore’s associate in the defense, “we expect to show that Mr. Spreckels is the head and shoulders of a large street railroad company, organized by himself for the purpose of putting the United Railroads out of business.”