Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-30
BEBKEY BUSINESS.
THE COUNTY CLERKS AFFAIRS IL A
STILL WORSE TANGLE
The Tale of a sack-The Queer Way
in Which the County Treas-
urer Does Business.

LIZ was bad enough that having received
given sums of money, as distinctly indicated
on Judgment rolls by dollars and cents, he
failed to pay them over to the judgment
creditors bad enough that his own plain
and specific receipts to the State Ccntrolle,
should be claimed to constitute such an
inextricable account that he could
not make payment according to
their face but now, to cover up
all these delirquencies, it appears that still
other transgressions have been committed.
In the last case there has apparently been
perpetrated upon g trusting and feeble old
| gentleman pitiless fraud. 1t will be re-
membered that County Clerk Berkey, nemi.
nee for Sheriff, faced the Republican Central
Committee on Saturday and hurled a thunder
bolt In its midst by the production of re.
celpt showing that he deposited with ID. f.
Callahan, County Treasurer, the sum of
| 81 200 80, TO answer for any supposed de-
liequency. That this receipt staggered the
COMMITTEES is not to be gainssyed, though in
the minds of all correct business men it did
| not remove the suspicion of improper hand.
ing OF funds by County Clerk Berkey. The
| production of the receipt Of Mr.. Callahan.
sAol5A tOO by MIN dS county
Treasurer, and though no one has claimed
that he had any right to receive any part Of
the money IN dispute, seemed to answer the
grave charges made against Berkey. Il slso
set the curious upoa inquiry. A gentleman,
! interested as candidate on the ticket with
Berkey, went to Mr.. Callahan and asked him
II Indeed he had the money. To bis surprise
Callahan replied that he had sack of coin,
supposed to contain 81, 700. Callahan ap.
/ DEarfd 70 hs in fronh1o nd L.. 1
the cause. Then it came out that Callahan
doubted II tie sack contained any such sum.
| This was on Ionday, Callahan said he had
been served with en- order of the Superior
Court to hold the money, whatever amount
it might be. At that time he Callahan, was
looking for Berkey and Charles Heisen.
Why did he want to see them"
To get back his receipt for the money. y
This receipt was published in full in the
RECORD UNION of Monday
Why did he wish it returned"
Because of the order of Court and his
doubts as to the sum in the sack being 81.
zoo"
it," '--O''' NN-'- -
"He had"
This alarmed the inquirer
| Why did you not count it, DAM"
Because Charley Heisen brought it over
r.,
put up TO show the Central Committee that
BerLey had the money, and that it would be
withdrawn that evening so soon as the COM
ruittee adjourned"
This story soon went abroad, and BY night
it was known that Callahan, according to
his own statements, would have the receipt OF
would kill Berkey, or Heisen, or both. He
| (Caliahan) beicg in feeble health, was greatly
| excited, but none the less determined to kill.
\ he yllO hafr -
turn it TO him. This fact he Yesterday
plainly, and with great vehemence, stated to
RECORD UNION reporter. He added that
| he had recovered back the receipt; that he
got it from Berkey that had Berkey refused
20 return it he would have shot him that
Berkey said if there was not S2.70 in the
sack he would make it good. Yesterday a
RECORD UNION reporter called on MIR. Gala.
han, who made the foregoing statements cub.
Frank A Smith. Subsequently, in presence
OF Clinton l.. White, Supervisors brennan
and Blair, Ed. NJ. Martin, W. E. Gerber,
Geo. w. Hancock aud a number of others,
Mr.. Callahan explained to q RECORD U MON
reporter that on Saturday Charles Heisen, a
saloon keeper, at the corner of | and Seventh
streets, brought into the Treasurers Office
the seek for which the receipt was given.
That Hsisen said it was to be withdrawn
to show the committee that b. key had the
money. Callahan thereupon received the
sack and signed q receipt for 81 700 IS, with.
| ous opening the sack, or counting the money,
Callahan further said, within the hearing Of
several, that it has been quite customary for
him to receive large sums of money, and re.
ceipt for the same, as Treasurer, without
counting the same. When the reporter ex.
pressed his surprise at this loose method,
4 Mr. oil hap 81,
packages came from official sources he had
often taken il for granted that they were all
right. This admission CT confidence in
humanity surprised even Mr.. Galatians
best and closest friends. MIR. Callahan
then, by request, brought forth the the mys.
FERROUS Berkey sack. 1t bore tag marked
Especial deposit by I. II. Be,key." Mr.
Callahan also produced the receipt, the sur
render of which he had forced, The bag Of
money was then examined. Pieces in it wher
pressed up against the cloth were from Lie
90 OF sn inch larger ali arour a than S2C
dollar gold piece, and just as lai se as a silye,
dollar A silver dollar taken from
the treasury and put under the loose
neck of the sack and then mea rured by like
comparison showed like result. The yer.
dict or all was that silver dollars and no,
double eagles alone were in the sack. Care
full feeling failed also to disclose any evidence
X,
packase was then weighed, aud found to kick
the beam ct l3l ounces avoir,iupois. This
would, it the contents are silver produces Blu,
about SAP. Mr.. Callahan theI, by request
brought out 81. 700 in gold coin, aud that sum
being placed ia the same scskEs kicked the
beam az about 10 pounds, or 100 ounces avoir.
dupois. Thus, even if gold is ID the sack, i,
II pounds short of 50 200. Seven.
oliver dollars, With a half added,
I s..,lcu ubaI \
The judgment of al present was thai
either in silver OIL Ngold- be sum Of
$1,000 was not in the sack, an that in fact
no more than about $40 or s AS would be
found in the bag.
The Republican County Central Committee
met yesterday to further consider the Berkey
matter, but adjourned for week, after ap
pointing Felix Tracy, r. j. Nerkeley and
lhos. Warmly committee ID investigate
the story of the sack. Mr.. Callahan nov
! holds the bag Of coip, whatever 1t may be II
amount, under the order Of the Superior
Court. and refuses to open or count the money
without an order from the Judge of the Court
who has thus far instructed him tc
keep the sesl on the neck Of the sack intact
Reporters were unable to find Mr.. Berkey
yesterday after the weighing of the sack
Just prior to that he refused to make any
statements when pressed by one of the frater
| my ne uiu say, nOWSVST, IDaC the reCelD
was in q sale place. In this he was correct
as Mr.. Callahan, after exhibiting it yesterday
locked it up in the county vault. To one Q
bis fellow candidates who asked him abou
the sack story. Bsrkey replied only
Do you doubt my integrity, sir
If Mr.. B'rkey asks the qaes ion Of tn
public be viii be surprised at the response
and its unanimity. Last evening two Rec
ORD UNION reporters sought Charley Heiseu
and this conversation occurred rapidly and il
the space of moment;
How much money is in that sack 2"
"What sack -
/ Ths sack you gave Callahan for Berkey
| Il is charged there is but about $40 in it."
ST do net know"
"Don't know how much is in it?'
81 do not"
How came you TO have it !'
r got i. of Bsrkey.p
why did you take it TO Callahan
r Berkey hsd to go down town and aske
: me to carry it over to the Treasury, and
5 did So"
] Aud you don't know how much is in it
' "No."
A few moments later third RECORD
UNION reporter ran info Heisen's saloon an
> cried out.
: "Charlsy, they say there's only s12O i
that sack"
Heisen replisd.=.so Oh; ps,s.w; thsrs'smol
than that"
, Heisen thsnibagg5d the reporters to let hi,
{ alone, as he "had hsd SO much trouble, 70
9 know"
At late hour last night the sack invest
eating committee was reported as still unabl
J, to lind Mr.. Berkey, but they announced the
i intention to renew their search again th
/, morning. Late las. night Judge benson sie
, uifed his willingness 20 make an order fc
, the opening Of the sack, if MIR. Berkey won.
{ consent.
DEATH OF j. III. RoBBINs.-Joseph N
Robbins, an old resident and valued either
/: died in this city on Monday. He was n,