 Sullivan later moved to California where he found employment as a "shoulder striker" guarding ballot boxes to deter supporters of candidates other than his employer from casting their vote.He was the guard over a ballot box that was tampered with, resulting in the election of James P. Casey to a city office, despite Casey never appearing on the ballot.After Casey gunned down James King of William for exposing his criminal past, the San Francisco Vigilance Movement seized power in the city.