John F. Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
Joseph F. Fitzpatrick was the first Los Angeles City Council
member representing the 13th District after a new city charter went into effect in 1925. He did not finish his term, however, after he was convicted in that year of receiving a bribe from a developer who planned to construct a "moving sidewalk"
under the Second Street Tunnel.
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Meanwhile, the former City Council had awarded a franchise to the Tunnels Transportation Company to build a moving sidewalk under the Second Street Tunnel, with seats, "on each side of which would be a public sidewalk." Fitzpatrick and Charles E. Downs
, both new council members, said they were opposed to the project, but, according to William Hodges, vice-president of Tunnels Transportation, one of Downs's tenants — Jack Murphy, or J. Howard Murphy — told Hodges that the councilmen's votes could be obtained.
Hodges went to Downs's office and asked him what was expected, to which Downs is said to have replied: "It's long and flat and green," and he drew a rectangle on the back of an envelope. The same day, Hodges said, he notified Council President William Workman
, and he then worked with District Attorney Asa Keyes
and Chief Deputy D.A. Buron Fitts
to lay a trap for the two councilmen.
On August 18, 1925, the new council was set to adopt ordinances for the project, but Downs and Fitzpatrick objected to an immediate vote, stating they had an "important appointment" to keep. The appointment at Downs's City Hall office was with Hodges, who passed each of the councilmen $1,000 in marked bills, wrapped in torn magazine pages. As Hodges left the room, he raised his hat as a signal to police officers hiding in the hallway, and they placed both councilmen under arrest. Murphy was also arrested.
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
member representing the 13th District after a new city charter went into effect in 1925. He did not finish his term, however, after he was convicted in that year of receiving a bribe from a developer who planned to construct a "moving sidewalk"
Moving walkway
A moving walkway or moving sidewalk is a slow moving conveyor mechanism that transports people, across a horizontal...
under the Second Street Tunnel.
Political career
In June 1925, Fitzpatrick, "a figure in labor and fraternal circles," was the successful candidate in the newly formed 13th District, which at that time extended to Mount Washington Drive, Avenue 41 and Marmion Way. In the general election, Fitzpatrick was elected by a minority vote of 3,722 to 3,044 for Carl Jacobson and 2,405 for Joseph L. Pedrotti.Arrest
Meanwhile, the former City Council had awarded a franchise to the Tunnels Transportation Company to build a moving sidewalk under the Second Street Tunnel, with seats, "on each side of which would be a public sidewalk." Fitzpatrick and Charles E. Downs
Charles E. Downs
Charles E. Downs was the first Los Angeles City Council member representing the 10th District after a new city charter went into effect in 1925...
, both new council members, said they were opposed to the project, but, according to William Hodges, vice-president of Tunnels Transportation, one of Downs's tenants — Jack Murphy, or J. Howard Murphy — told Hodges that the councilmen's votes could be obtained.
Hodges went to Downs's office and asked him what was expected, to which Downs is said to have replied: "It's long and flat and green," and he drew a rectangle on the back of an envelope. The same day, Hodges said, he notified Council President William Workman
William Workman
William Workman was an Irish-born Canadian businessman and municipal politician.- Biography :Workman migrated to Montreal, Quebec in 1829....
, and he then worked with District Attorney Asa Keyes
Asa Keyes
Asa Keyes was district attorney of Los Angeles County, California from June 1923 until 1928, when he was found guilty of accepting a bribe from the Julian Petroleum Company and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment...
and Chief Deputy D.A. Buron Fitts
Buron Fitts
Buron Rogers Fitts was a California politician, who was the 29th Lieutenant Governor of the state from 1927 to 1928 and Los Angeles County district attorney thereafter until 1940....
to lay a trap for the two councilmen.
On August 18, 1925, the new council was set to adopt ordinances for the project, but Downs and Fitzpatrick objected to an immediate vote, stating they had an "important appointment" to keep. The appointment at Downs's City Hall office was with Hodges, who passed each of the councilmen $1,000 in marked bills, wrapped in torn magazine pages. As Hodges left the room, he raised his hat as a signal to police officers hiding in the hallway, and they placed both councilmen under arrest. Murphy was also arrested.
Trial and aftermath
Both councilmen were suspended from their offices while the trial was going on and were permanently removed upon their conviction. Downs testified at trial that he "accepted the money under the impression that it was a belated campaign contribution." After considerable discussion and some changing of votes, the jury unanimously found both Downs and Fitzpatrick guilty of bribery but asked the court to be lenient with them. "This, however, is impossible, as at the last session of the State Legislature a provision was included in the Penal Code denying probation to convicted public officials." The jury acquitted Murphy. After conviction, the State Prison Board set Fitzpatrick's sentence at five years, with parole after half time. He was released in December 1927 after serving about twenty months and went immediately to Kansas City.See also
- List of California public officials charged with crimes
- List of Los Angeles municipal election returns
Further reading
- Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials: 1850—1938, Compiled under Direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall, Los Angeles March 1938 (Reprinted 1966)