Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-03
THE JAIL PLANS.
A Continuance of the In
yestigation.
MOTT MAKES A STATEMENT

He Helped Hall for Coin, but the
Fee Failed to Mate
rlalize.
The Board Of Supervisors met yester-
day morning at 10 o'clock and resumed the
investigation into the peculiar manner
In which the plans for the new Jail were
adopted 1t will be remembered that
the plans presented by Architect Hall
were adopted by the Board; that after
wards il was charged that Messrs. I. ID.
Mott and Il. Bonton had been paid a
certain amount OF money to use their in.
flaeuce on n member OF the Board of
Supervisors and on certain county offl.
GERS to prevent the plans Of Mr.. Hall
from being thrown out after adoption.
Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Holcomb, jail cell
man. testified substantially that money
had been paid Messrs. Mott and Bouton
for the purpose above indicated. The
latter gentlemen entered a general de.
NAL to the charge, and Sheriff Gard, one
OF the county officers whose name was
mentioned, being absent, the further
consideration OF the matter was contin-
ned until his return. Yesterday, the
sheriff having returned, the investiga-
ton was resumed All members OF the
Board of Supervisors were present.
| MIR. Mott was III attendance with
s. M. White as attorney. General
Bouton was supported by Silent Il Fitz.
gerald, and Mr.. Hall was fortified by
Williams Il Mckinley.
When the Board was called to order
| Mr.. White requested that Messrs. Mott
and Bouton and other gentlemen be ex-
amined, as there was testimony devel-
| oped to throw further light on the SUBJ
ject.
President Macy said that there was
no objection to hearing the gentlemen
mentioned, but thought that the Board
would rather hear the statement of
SHERIFF GARD.
This gentleman was then sworn, and
| before his examination District Attorney
Holton asked him if he knew the cause
of the investigation. Mr.. Gard said
that he only knew what had been pub
lished in the papers. Mr. Holton then
| gave him short resume OF the testi-
mony adduced at the last investigation,
in which it was charged by Hall that
Mott and Bouton told him that he
would have to put up money to Fix
the Board, the Sheriff, County Clerk and
the District Attorney, in order to prevent
his (Hall'sl plans being thrown out.
Gard said that he was perfectly igno-
rant of the matter; knew nothing OF it.
NORMAN had ever approached hun, nor
had he ever approached any member Of
the Board. Had expressed himself at
the first in favor of Davis plans, but
when Hall changed his plans. he changed
in favor Of them; as general thing he
thought them better "Mott came to
me a few days before the jail plans were
first thrown out and asked me what |
thought of the plans. | said that
liked Davis plans best. He said,
What do you think of Hall's?' | said
that the building was too big for the ex-
cavation. He said that the location
would be changed to the hill. | said
| buHt NOulu bb DctlSis ttp phio ~ hhh
an interest in Halls plans. asked him
what interest, and he said that Hall had
employed him and he wanted | should
speak word in favor OF Hall. | said
! that was a question to be determined in
the future; that ii thought Halls plans
best I'd soy so. l never approached the
Board nor was l ever approached by
anybody"
MIR. Holton said that Mr.. Cards
statement closed the matter, SO far as
the Board was concerned.
| MIR. Il. d. MOTT
Was then placed under oath and fled
with the Board, as an exhibit and as a
claim against the county, the agreement
of Hall to pay Perry, Mott Il Co. 500
from the first money due by the county
on account of the jail contract. 1.-THE
document has heretofore been printed in
the HERALpl
Mr.. Mott in reply to questions by
Stephen M. White testified; Have re-
sided in this county thirty four years;
have been acquainted with Hall four OF
five months; conversed with Hall about
the Jail plans in October, 1885; he solic-
tied my aid; told him that after the
plans we're out if they were the best
would assist; this was sometime in No
vember; the plans had been filed, but it
was before the location of the Jail had
been changed; after | had concluded to
support his plans Hall visited my house
on several occasions to consult me on
this business; he called two or three
times when | was sick Ia December; had
conversation with him on the day the
plans were referred to Hargitt, the
expert; Hall told me of the refer
ence and wished me to see Har-
gift in his behalf; l told him that in
my opinion Hargitt was honest and
would do justice; he thought Hargitt
might be prejudieed against him and he
wanted me to find friend who would
go to Hargitt 10 his behalf; asked him
what his relations were with w. j.
Brodrick; he said they were good; Hall
spoke to Brodrick aud he did 60 and
talk to Hargitt; Hall promised to pay
me for my services; he said it was a
matter of profit to him and he would do
what was right by me; he spoke of other
schemes he had in view-paying the
streets with rock and other plans for
making money; he asked me how much
| should have; | said he must pay me
5000 or 500 for my services; he said
that was all right; he had that amount
Of money in the bank and would pay
mo as soon as the plans were adopted;
this was during a visit to my house; i
did all could to turn public opinion in
favor of his plans; public opinion has a
strong influence in matters of this kind
| brought no influence to bear except ar
gument, and not even that until l was
satisfied his plans were the best; had no
relations with him before-never knew
him; | never corruptly approached any
member of the Board, the County
| Clerk, District Attorney, Sheriff, or any
other officers whatsoever; l never
offered any money, nor ever told Hol.
comb that | had offered money, directly
or indirectly, to favor these plans, be.
fore or after they were adopted; | have
about 500, 900 in property in this city
would not sell it for that.
first became acquainted with Holcomb
in Halls office before the plans were
adopted; he was called by the Board as
an expert; Hall introduced Holcomb td
me; wheu he went out he said Holcomb
was "Furrey's man and a good ole,
too;n saw Hocomb afterward in the of
| nee OF the Jhlioii no oaihe thero aitci
he had examined the plans before the
Board; | asked him how he got along;
he took up a piece OF paper and said
81 think 1 have knocked Edelman's
plans out. | slapped his plans ON the
table and asked them how they could
consider plans without specifications "
| asked him how he knew his cells
would be suitable to Halls plans when
they were adopted; he said he had as
sisted or helped Hall several days in
drawing up his plans.
Am on friendly terms with General
Boutou. He occupied the office | now
have before | did, and he spends an houJ
or so in my office nearly every day. Hall
| =. =. -, H. nFtn. -