Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-28
POLITICAL TRIAL.
COUNTY CLERK BsRKEY BEFORE, TEE
COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
Interesting Proceeding Of Can
didates-Berkey Declines to Retire,
and is Removed by the Unani-
nous Vote Of the Com
mtttee.

and R. s. Lockett; Sheriff, Thomas II. Der.
key; County Clerk, c. NJ. Coglan Assessor.
j. T. Griffists; District Attorney, s. Scion
Holl Superinte adent of Public Instruction,
G. E. Bishop: Auditor and Recorder, VIM.
E. Gerber; Coroner, J. Frank Clark Pub.
lie Administrator, II. S. Beals Supervisors,
P. r. Beckley, G. C. McMullsp, Edward
Christy and Samuel Blair; Justice of the
Peace, j. G. Tubbs, and Constable, Samuel
Harvey. The Chairman of the County Cen
trail Committee called the meeting to order.
and stated that it was called for the purpose
Of investigating certain charges against Thos.
IL Bsrksy, the Republican nominee for the
cffice of Sheriff, and to consult as to what
was the best course to pursue in the interest
of the party. and to afford MIR. Bsrkey an
opportunity to make an explanation.
THE CHARGES
Appended, and which were iu writing, were
handed to the Secretary, Frank Rhosds who
read the same to the meeting:
"WHEREAs, Thomas H. Berkey, who was nomi
mated by tire late Republican County Convention for
the Office Of Sheriff OF this county to be voted for at
the ensuing election, did, Clerk of the late Dis
trict Court and present Superior Court of Sacra-
mento, receive certain sums of money from p Dun.
lap as attorney for the State Controller in tie coec
ton of delinquent State taxes for the fiscal year of
1s724, which were received by Mr.. Berkey as shown
by his receipt now in the State Controllers Office as
follows: March 8, 1879, SlS7 10; July T. 1879
S9l5 10; August 8, 1879, $40 60 September s.
1879, s263 SO ; October To- 1870 1868 IS November
j, 1879, S4ss 50 January l, 1850, S565 95; April
II, 1850, 1866 60 December l, 1881, 1922, making
IN all S3,612 81, which sums of money due to the
State Of California, and it the plain duty of Mr.
Berkey to pay this money TO the proper officer
at the time he received it, but this he flilei to
| do Except about S9O0) though often urged
to pay it over by the State Controller who has gen
eral charge Of the collection OF these taxes Mr.
Berkey admits that he has in his hands from 81 500
to S1.700 while the reports in the Controllers Office
show that he owes the State over 81 700. Mr.. Berk
ey's only excuse for not paying the money TO the
| proper officer is that it is running account and
| needs adjustment; but in view of the fact that o
| part OF this money was received more than three
years ago, and that the last payment was made to
him about nine months ago. and reason is offered
why this matter could not have been adjusted long
ago Of any adjustment is necessary the excuse Of
Mr.. Berkey is wholly unsatisfactory to the Commit
tee, and they compelled to the conclusion that
| he has Incorporated this money"
Ths document. at the request of the Chair
man, was handed Mr.. Berkey, with the re.
quest that he would explain away the charges.
MR.. BERKEY PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
Mr.. Berkey-Is this (holding up the
charges) what l am to be tried fer?
Mr.. Rider-Yes, sir. If you can explain
thu matter in any way it will perhaps put
things IN q different light. Those ara charges
that certainly demand an explanation.
Mr.. Bsrksy-I will read it over aloud and
explain. l see it says, (which sums of
money are due to the State of California, and
it was the plain duty of Mr.. Berkey to pay
this money over to the proper officer at the
time be received it, but this he failed to do"
| deny that it was my duty to pay it over to
any officer. deny that was importuned to
do SO. don't think the Controller has any
right to demand the payment of that money.
Ii he had such right, it was his duty to see
that it was paid over to him long ago. I
don't believe the reports in the Controller
Office show any such facts as here reported.
L deny that l have 81, 700 in my possession
belonging to the State.
MIR. Rider-In your statement heretofore
Published in the papers you admitted that
MIR. Berkey-lt matters not what state
ment L made to the papers. / claim that this
was running account, and that the matter
could net be settled in a manner satisfactory
to myself. That the last payment was made
to me IN December last is true. / deny that
have missppropriated a cent that has ever
come into my possession, either of county or
State funds
Mr. Rider-Is that all you have to say in
regard to the matter?
Mr.. Bsrkey-Thst is all Just now. l shall
speak again further on.
Mr.. JOHNSON DESIRES THE PRESENCE OF HIS
COLLEAGUE.
Mr.. Rider-Mr johnson, we would like 70
have an expression of your opinion regarding
the propriety of keeping L. ii. Berkey upon
the ticket.
Mr.. johnson asked where was Mr.. Rou.
tier He had not conversed with any of the
candidates or members of the Central Com.
mittee regarding this matter. He said be
was informed that Mr.. Reuter- was in the
city, and that he should be present. He de.
I sired MIR. REUTER- present when he spoke
upon the matter. He hoped the meeting
would be conducted in friendly and pleas
ant manner, and stated that he was present
by invitation.
Mr.. Rider-Mr. johnson, we wish your
opinion, as well the opinions of the other
nominees. Give US your views 10 regard to
those charges.
Mr.. johnson said be met every duty un.
finchingly, but he wanted Mr. Routier pres
ent when he made his statement.
Mr.. Reuter- was sent for
Mr. Merkeley-Mr. Chairman, from what
Fsouree were those figures contained in the
charges obtained?
Mr.. Rider-They were obtained from the
Controllers Office. was at the Controllers
office and procured them at IL o'clock this
morDing.
j. w. Wilson addressing the Chair Did
the Controller inform you of the law govern.
! ing the matter?
4 Mr.. Haucock-Would It not be we'll to
send for the law aud have it here9
Mr.. Berkey-The law has been published
in the RECORD UNION, and sincs the adjourn
meDt of the Convention it has been repeated
on every block In this city, from Front to
Tenth streets, by nembers of the County
Central Committee.
Mr. Rider-It any gentleman is DESTROYS
of having the law here l will send for it.
TAT this point Mr.. Routiar entered the
room.
Mr.. Berkey-I move call of the roll.
Mr.. Merkeley having absentad hims ,lf,
his return was awaited.
MIR. Rider addressed MIR. Routier, stating
the object of the meeting; also. that Mr.,
Berksy had denied most of the charges pre-.
ferred, and asked him what was his opinion
as to the propriety of retaining MIR. Berkey
upon the ticket.
Mr.. McMullen-I move you, Mr.. Chair.
man, that the candidates go into secret SEES
sion.
Mr.. Rider-The Central Committee are
running this meeting. and propose to run il
to suit ourselves. The candidates are here
by invitatiou, for the purpose of consultation.
MIR. Merkelsy-I move, Mr.. Chairman
that the candidates all be requested to give
their opinion 10 regard to the matter, com
! biiC CtuaLO[S anu gong on OOWI
through the entire ticket Carried.
Mr.. Berkey repeated his denial of the diff
ferent charges for the benefit of MIR. Routier
who was not present when he first addressed
the meeting.
HISTORY OF THE CASE DISPUTED.
Mr.. Rider-Mr. Berkey, did not Mr.. Ken
field notify you by letter that you were in
de.ted TO the State, and that you must par
it Immediately?
Mr.. Bsrkey-No, sir; Re did not.
J Mr.. Rider-Well, it ia a matter of histor,
that he cid.
Mr. Routier-Ar. Berkey, why did 20,
not pay the 81, 7C0, which you acknowledgt
you owe?
Mr.. Berkey--Tt was a running account
and | had right to make my settlement
Whenever l saw fit to DO SO.
MIR. Johnsoa-This is one of the case
: where it is misfortune to be at the head o
the ticket. 1t has been said that was cog
: infant of all the facts relating to this matte
! prior to the primaries and Convention. Tha
1 is statement entirely false. l heard
rumor regarding it, went directly to Mr.
Berkey and stated to him what 1 had heard
; He denied it most emphatically, branded i
as a campaign lie. raid everything was al
right, and at the proper time he would pub
licly derry the matter in manner that woul,
be satisfactory to all.
/ Mr.. Berkey-Did deny having an accoun
with the State?
WHAT THE oTHER CANDIDATES THINK
Mr.. Johnson-I understood from the con
, versation had at that time that your accouu
! with the State had been settled. I though
it would be better for you to deny the rumo
in public than to individuals. l iuterprese.
your speech in the Convention to mean ths
everything was al right. l have been Mr.
j Bsrkey's fIisud through the campaign;