Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-17

memory was at first at fault, he thinking
and stating that the obnoxious words
were contained in the Commissioners
kilograms. On examination of his file of
kilograms, however, he discovered his
error and acknowledged it to ma.
Whether Mr. Rhoies heard this ackncgl-
edgment or not, do not know. Were Il
not that Governor Waterman is absent
in the mountains of San Diego county. I
might be able to append copy OF this
private telegram, with the consent of the
sender, whose name Is unknown TO ma
On this false basis Che Times and its
informant have chosen to erect the mon
8 rous charge that have garbled q dis
patch to the Governor of California, alter
writing it and signing it in the presence
OF my brother Commissioners.
Equally false is the charge that l was
"bouuced" from the Secretaryship of the
board. The facts are these: In the
Nadeau, at lbs Angeles, Novem Der %
while it was uncertain whether the old
commission was extinct or still in power,
Mr.. Brown, Chairman of the old board
suggested that as was hold over, liable
to serve with the new board, it was
proper that the papers in my possession
theory that the new board bad 10 right
to take advantage of the labors of the old
board. Not stopping to debate the legal
question rs to whether the board. bv one
member holding over, was not cpntinu-
ing body and SO entitled TO the papers,
turned over the papers and the minutes
to Chairman Brown, as suggested. Later,
at meeting at Starkes hotel, San Ber.
v,aA aArlf
by Mr.. Brown to take my seat ss
Secretary, | declined and resigned my
office, not deeruing it advisable, under
the circumstances, to continue to hold
that responsible position. MIR. Fisher,
OF Santa Barbara, was then elected
to fill my plaza. The minutes OF
the meeting should show this.
Equally false is the charge that papers
were made away with or "lost" from the
files through any act Of mine. Mr.. Brown
received from me every paper and every
record that was in my keeping. except
come papers of Mr.. Seth Marshall Gov
eriug several offers of several sites, all
which offers were withdrawn by Mr..
Marshall bsfore they had been voted on.
l told the Commissioners that l ro-
gretted having returned these papers to
Mr.. Marshall, since they made al
point of it, but that had done SO on bis
withdrawing his offers, as / would have
done to anyone else under similar cir.
cumstences. considered him entitled
to his papers. Mr.. Marshall has the
papers intact, and assures me that they
will be handed to the board whenever
desired.
1t is equally false that Mr.. Marshall
offered me $5 900, or any sum of money,
to vote for the Nc Abss property. or that
l ever said that he did, or that Mr.. Mar
shall owns a large interest in said tract,
or that he is indebted to me in a large
sum of money, which he could not pay
if this site were not chosen. Neither
MIR. Marshall nor any other man offered
me dollar to vote for the McAbee tract.
Mr.. Marshall assures me that he has no
interest whatever in the McAbee tract,
save as q partner in the Bear Valley
Reservoir Company, which ia to supply
the water for the tract, and Mr.. Marshall
does not owe me dollar on any land
transaction or any other transaction. He
does owe corporation, in which l have
q purely nominal interest, certain
moneys, which are amply secured and
will undoubtedly be paid when due, as
all previous insrallments under the deal
in question have been paid.
have no desire or Intention to discuss
my brother Commissioners or their acts,
individually or collectively. I have
simply endeavored to make dispaesion-
ate statement OF facts personal to myself,
although assured by my friends that the
journal which attacks me thus outrage
Oy1Sly and unwaYrartahIv hac olrao r.
ceased to influence right-minded persons
IN Its personal criticisms; and l submit
whether men whose statements have
been. refuted by plain documentary
proof, as | have shown above, are en-.
titled to tho confidence of the con-
munity.
NJ. s. SEVERANCE.
Noyem Der 16, 1889.