The morning call., 1890-09-16
LOOKS LIKE SPITE.
The Deputy Assessors Case Takes
New Turn.
Nealon's Two Men Accused of Accepting
Bride Swear That They Were Asked to
"Cinch" A. z Woodbury..
The preliminary examination of II. Vollers

Inc D1eIln lDdTN 6AdullldllUu VI IL. OIItIo
and S Heringhi. the Deputy Assessors
charged with felony in accepting a bride
from A K. Woodbury.. President of the Pa
cife Varnish C0mpany, for the purpose OF
making false valuation Of the cOmpany's
property, was begun yesterday In Police
Judge RIX's court.
d. NJ. Blank, eX-casher of the varnish
company, testified that on the Sth OF April
the defendants entered Woodbury's office.
The witness wanted the cash-bOok to re-
fresh Us memory, for he was not present
when the defendants received the money IN
question. He had participated, however, In
a discussion with Woodbury., Heringhi and
VollerS regarding a reduction of the assess
ment Woodbury. asked Blank what the
company had previously paid to the AS
SCISSOR. The witness consulted the books
and gave the information desired. Then
the three men spoke over the matter further.
I'VE can fix that all right" said one of
the defendants.
" How?" was asked.
"A little money Will settle that. We can
send in an arbitrary assessment for $3.50"
How much money was paid by Mr..
Woodbury. to the detendants?' asked the
defense.
did you see MI Woodbury. pay that
money to either of the defendants?"
mo. sir"
THIRTY-FIYE DOLLARS FROM THE SAFE.
The witness then explained that he took
$50 from the safe, entered the amount
in the cash-book and gave the coin to Wood
bury, who he presumed, carried it into the
private office to Volers and Heringhi
The witness subsequently accompanied
Woodbury. to Assessor Neal0n's office and
asked for Vollers. He heard Woodbury. say
to the Deputy Assessor: 8 That thing did
not go through, and now 1 think you should
return the money" To which Vollers re-
piled: If you had done as | told you every
thing would be all right"
j. p. 5. Smith, an employe Of Blank in
the Mutual Oh Company, reclted his connec-
ton 9TH the case About fourteen days
ago he called upon Assessor Nealon and
spoke about the alleged bribery. 1t was
"just q sort of an interest witness had in
the matter-merely an impulse Of hiS-to 90
ont tn the City Hall.
why did you 90 out there?' asked the
Court.
"Well-I-er-I went out there at the re-
quest OF Mr.. Blank to inform against the
deputies"
Smith met Vollers and told him he had no
animuS against him, and if NolerS would
turn States evidence nolle prosequi would
be entered against him.
dicted Woodbury. and want to cinch him,
and you can stand in with us ana save your
self? asked Attorney MCGOWAN for the
defense.
u did not"
THE ASSESSORS VERSION.
Assessor Nealon took the stand and in
reply to questions of counsel stated that
there are two distinct assessments on the
property of the Pacific Farnish Company,
one of $3.50 at Utah street, the other of ST.
800 at l23 California street The smaller
one is in VOllerS' district. The first intima-
ton he had Of the alleged bribery was about
one week ago, when Blank tod him of ii in
his Office. Blank then said: Il have no wish
to iniure you or your men, but | certainly
want to get after this man Woodbury." Wit
ness asked Blank about the matter and heard
the story. Next day Smith called as Blanks
representative, but no conversation of any
momenf took place.
Samuel HeriDghi, one of the accused,
swore that he had no explanation to make.
lie saw no money paid by Woodbury. to
Nollers, nor had he Che witneSs) received
any, nor had he anything whatever 10 do
with the assessment in question.
NOllerS testified that he went to the var
Bish factory on Utah street to assess the
property, and WAS refused admission to the
place. He then went to the California-Street
received a bride from Woodbury.. The
property in his district is assessed for $3.50,
and he had no connection with the property
out of his district.
STAND IN AND CINCH WOODBURY..
BLANK" said the witness, asked me to
stand in and Gin Woodbury.; to say that
Woodbury. had offered me bride. and then
the prosecution against me would be with
drawn" Smith asked him to do the same
thing, witness stated, and upon speaking of
nolle prOsequi he (Vollers) grew angry, OBJ
serving which Smith hurried away from the
City Hall without finishing the conversation.
W. II. L. Barnes, who was present for
Woodbury., stood up when it was announced
that the testimony was all in and Judge Rix
said he would reserve his decision till Wood
bury's case was heard.
81 think" said Barnes, "that Blank should
be held for perjury for swearing that some
thing was true which he did not know to
be true. The complaint sets forth that
Blank, who swore to it, saw the bride paid,
while he withdrew on the stand all positive
knowledge of the alleged bribery"
Smith had Noodburv's brother arrested
recently by the United States Marshal on a
charge of opening his private letters.
The case was continued until Monday
next.