Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-15
COLL ECT0R PLATT.
Under Examination by the
Board of Supervisors.
His Veracity Becomes a Matter
of Doubt.
Although His Motives May Yet be all
Right.
The Board Gives Him Few Days to
Satisfactorily Explain Those Tax
Deed Matters.

The board of supervisors took up
Yesterday the investigation of Tax Col
lector Platt's affairs with respect to the
disposition of money received by him
for tax deeds. He had stated under
oath the day before that all the money
paid in by Mr.. Dorland had been return
ed to him. Yesterdays inquiry showed
a different state of affairs. 1t disclosed
that he had not settled with Dorland
when he stated so on the stand. Mr..
Platt who on Wednesday handed in to
the board written report thowing that
he had on hand 1927 for tax deeds, adj
mitted yesterday that he had over 5000
in his possession for such deeds. His
claim, OF course, is that he holds that
money in trust and that the provisions
of section 1858 of the penal code do not
apply to it. But it is hard to reconcile
his statements on the stand with strict
integrity, and as the investigation be-
comes more searching, it shows that Mr..
Platt's idea of truth and veracity is open
to question.
Upon the questions put to him by
District Attorney Kelley, Mr. Platt stated
that he had seen Mr.. Dorland on We'd
nesday night and had returned the
checks received from him for the pay
ment of tax deeds. The checks were
endorsed by Platt and had been sent by
him to the bank previously.
Mr.. Perry, chairman of the board hav
ing asked the county tax collector what
he meant by having fixed up the matter
with Mr.. Dorland, he replied
Yesterday l made a settlement of
that money. On the seventh he came
to me and made demand for the money
and said will leave it here, and still
consider it has not been paid, because l
do not want the money to get into the
treasury, and then have to make de-
mand on the treasurer for it. He came
to me last night and | returned him
the money, and he turned it over to me
in such a way that it has all now been
paid. He did not make demand for
the money in writing"
Q.-(by Kelly Then is it not a fact
day that the money had not been re-
ceived by you?
A.-The checks were returned to him.
Odd you not testify here yesterday
that you had settled with Mr.. Dorland,
and had you returned him the checks
when you so testified?
A.-That question has already been
answered,
Q.-Mr. Plat, did you when you tes-
titled yesterday, mean to tell the board
of supervisors that you did not have any
money of Mr.. Dorland's in your pos
session?
A.-Not before the demands for the
deeds,
Q.-Then you did not have any money
of Mr.. Dorland's in your possession
when you testified to this board yester-
day?
Alt was in my safe.
Q.-Then you never made any ar
rangement with Mr.. Dorland for the re-
turn of the money until after you had
testified before this board day before
yesterday?
Ale came to me on the seventh
and said he would leave the money with
me on deposit, until the matter was
settled. We made settlement on
Wednesday at seven O'Clock, and still
have the money in my possession.
Mr.. Dorland went to San Diego yester-
day morning, and the board will be I'M
able to hear what he has to say respect
ing Mr.. Platt's statements until some
time next week.
The board consumed the afternoon in
checking Platt's accounts. Before adj
journing, the county tax collector was
given until Tuesday next to make a re-
port which will show how many deeds
were applied for each month during his
term of office, how much money was
paid him each month for deeds applied
for, how much money he has paid each
month to the county treasurer and how
much money he has returned to pur-
chasers when deeds were not issued.
He will also have to show how much
money he has on hand for tax deeds
applied for. The board last evening
allowed the tax collector two clerks for
the purpose of Immediately preparing
and issuing all tax deeds now expected
by purchasers.