The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-15
OAKLAND
A Shortage Found i'm the County
Clerks Office.
Another Contract Case, la sharon-confes-
sion of Young DISQUALIFICATION to
McKenna-The Salvation Army.


yention, and when County Clerk Charles Il.
Boardman was making a canvass for re-
nomination, rumor was circulated affect
ing his honesty and integrity, and 1t was
claimed that the affairs of his office were not
conducted as they should be- At the time
this was declared to be political falsehoGd,
but it helped in good measure to defeat
him in the convention. Of late, however,
the story has been going the rounds again,
and, although nobody believes it, every body
discusses it. The rumorS have made the
Clerks bondsmen rather uneasy, and on
Monday afternoon they held a meeting with
the District Attorney and some of the Super
visors to talk over the matter.
1t is said by William J. Dngee, one of the
suretieS, that they want Mr.. Boardman to
appoint some one to represent him until his
recovery from illness. Mr.. Dingee says there
can be no shortage in the accounts, and. if
there is, it would not break the bondsmen,
because il cannot be large. Experts of the
Grand Jury are now Investigating the books
and accounts in the clerks Office, but what
they find will probably hot be made known
until the Grand Jury presents its report
committee from this body has counted the
cash in the County treasure hands, and
it agrees to a cent with Auditor Boardman's
account.
However. certain deposits are paid TO the
County Clerk that do not require to be
turned over TO the Treasurer, and the re-
port of the expert will show whether OF not
those and the cash on hand agree. 1t is be-
lieved that they do not agree, but the differ
ence is said to be no large amount, and I'M
doubtedly neither the county nor litigants
will lose any money. The Board of Super
vsors will hold special meeting this MORN
ing and will undoubtedly appoint a repre-
sentative of Mr.. Boardman to act during his
illness.
ONE STORY IN CIRCULATION.
Last night a story was told to the effect
that not long ago blr. Boardman was ordered
by the Superior Court to pay over certain
sum of money, about $1,000, that had been
placed in his custody by litigants, and the
amount was paid by Boardman's father to
save his son from disgrace. Altogether the
matter looks bad for The County Clerk, and
it is unfortunate that his illness prevents
his appearance TO explain matters. His
bOndSmen, with the amounts for which they
are Liable, are as follows: c. A. kIinkner
$500; I. W. Milford 5000; II. W. Meek,
$1,000; W. T. Dargle, $1,000; Victor II. Met
calf, 5000; Charles Jurgens, $500; j. c.
Martin, $500; William j. Dinsee, $1,000;
William Roberts, 5000; J. G.. Edwards
$500; j. j. White, $3.50; c. Ii. Rec, $500
Mr.. BOardman's shortage, If any should
happen TO exist, cannot amount to more than
5000, and this will be made good by his
0UndSmen as soon as tits known that tue ac-
counts are short, though last night Victor
II. Metcalf told CALL reporter that the
experts engaged in examining the accounts
had found that there is $500 that cannot be
accounted for. He also explained the
method by which this money accumulated
in the County Clerks hands, by stating that
when an attorney files papers in 4 suit he
will lea a danOSit pf times Spl N S.l
or more to cover probate costs, ana In some
cases they do not amount To more than
few dollars.
The books now show 5000 that cannot be
found III the Office, anu report TO this effect
Will be made by the experts to the Grand
Jury and to the Board OF Supervisors at
their meeting this morning. The bondsmen
of MIR. Boardman have been hunting for him
since Monday Dight but he cannot be found
nor Is his whereabouts known at the Hotel
Gre lin, where he has been living. 1t is eX-
pectcd that he will return and give an eX-
PLANTATION some time before election day,
and at tie meeting of the Supervisors to-
day some one will be appointed 10 represent
him in the County Clerks office.
A LA SHARON CASE.
When Mrs. Catherine 4. Davis sued John
/. Davis, the millionaire of the San Joaquin
Valley, for perpetual alimony, the gossips !
of Berkeley where Mrs. Davis has been liv-
ing with her uncle, George w. Swan, pre- |
dicted that the case would emulate the |
famous Sharon divorce case, and such it ap- |
pears to be, for the case has now developed |
into one of the same identical character.
Some time ago Judge Ellsworth referred |
the case to a notary public to take the COM |
plainants testimony, but on Monday the at |
torneys for the defense appealed to the |
Judge to quash the complaint, alleging that |
the witness refused to answer certain ques- |
tions. On the solemn promise Of the attor- |
ney for Mrs. Davis that she would now |
answer, the case was again sent back to |
the notary public to complete the deposit |
ti0ns, and YESTERDAY afternoon further testi- |
mony was taken. The statements of Mrs.
Davis are somewhat sensational, coupled as
they are with the name OF Mrs. Sarah Althea
Hill Sharon Terry.
Mrs. Davis has testified that she is the
contract wife of the Stockton millionaire.
This contract, she alleges. was drawn I'D
and signed Oh the evening of December q,
1889, at her home in West Berkeley, and the
signatures were witnessed by ten-ye old
child and George w. Swan, who cannot
write his own name. After that she says
the two married themselves ia he presence
OF God a1nfirr before a private altar in her
hv,,-e,, she being of Roman Catholic faith.
She also testified that she first met her hus-
band on the cars, travelling northward from
Fresno. At the time she was with Mrs.
Terry and Davis came through the car and
spoke to her.
The witness said she was deaf, and as
Davis nodded toward her she thought Mrs.
Terry was introducing them, and Davis sat
down in his seat, which was behind Mrs.
Terry's, and talked to her. Some time after
ward Davis called on her, and it was then
that the contract marriage was drawn up
The defense Is making an effort to show that
Mrs. Davis and Mrs. David S. Terry had
conspired to defraud Davis, and deny that
their client ever signed such document as
the contract.
A YOUTHFUL FIREBUG.
After five fires had occurred in the SWEET
School building in East Oakland, so close
together and from such suspicious indica-
tons, the authorities did not have much
trouble in determining that they were of in
cendiary origin, but nobody suspected that
the arson was committed by ten-year-old
scbo0l-bOy. However, such proves to have
been the case; and now that they have
caught him it is not known what action the
members of the Board of Education will
take In the matter. He will however be ex-
cluded from the school, although he Will
likely be allowed to attend some other one
The boy is the only son OF widow, and
for this reason Superintendent of Schools
McClymonds refuses to divulge his name at
present. The five fires occurred within as
many weeks, and The strange part of it was
that the same little shaver always sounded
the ire alarm and directed the fremen to
the school, even before the fire could be dis
covered from the outside of the building.
lHio ctb euO w bulHhlUS,
and a rigid examination was more than the
boy could stand, and yesterday he made his
confession. His only excuse was that he
wanted to see the fire engines work. The
entire damage from all the fires did not
amount to more than $50
The cases of the Salvation Army men,
bers, who were arrested on Monday night
for obstructng the streets, have all been
postponed until this morning to permit the
filing of complaints. The bail Of the mem
bers has been reduced to S. each, which
they will probably forfeit.
A RECEPTION TO M'KENNA.
A rousing reception was given Congress
man McKenna by the citizens of Oakland
last night, and the Oakland Theater, where
he addressed the Republicans on the issues
of the day, was crowded to its fullest cap
acity by members OF all the political parties.
Sheriff w. f. Hale presided and introduced
the Congressman, who made stirring
speech on the issues of the day.
He described the benefits Of the Mckinley
bill and told how The Democratic members