The record-union., 1891-04-20
BROOKS BOARD BILLS.
He Finds an Easy Way of Enforcing
Their Collection.
A Far-Fetched Charge of Larceny
Brings the Delinquent Into Court,
at the Peoples Expense.

The old trick of using the petty courts
of the city and county as collection bu-
reaus, under pretense of prosecuting per-
sons for alleged crimes, was put into
practice again on Saturday last by man
named Brooks, who runs a cheap Iodg-
ing and boarding-ho There are no
flies on landlord Brooks, wherever else
they may be.
1t seems that several months ago
young man named Fern, who had
boarded with Brooks for a few weeks. left
the latter's place owing him q small sum
of money. He secured work in Root,
Nelson d Co.'s foundry, and had a room
in that vicinity. One day man known
as Notwithstanding to FERNS story,
as told in court-came to him and asked
permission to bring his blankets and
sleep in FERNS room, as he had been dis
charged from Brooks employ, where he
had worked for his board, and had no
means.
Fern allowed him to sleep in the room,
but ''Frenchy' soon disappeared; and
FERNS job giving out, the latter took his
own things and those Of 'trenchy's" to
the housesof & friend named Ward, fore
man of the foundry, whore he asked to
let them remain until called for as he
was going away IN search OF employment.
he saw Brooks before he left town, and
told him he was going i'll search OF work
and would settle with him as soon as ne
could.
Recently lie obtained employment in
San Francisco foundry III the mean
time Mrs. Brooks learned from Mrs.
| Ward that couple OF single blankets, a
towel and couple Of pillow-slips, bear
ing the formers mark, were at her Mrs.
| horf SsN ~, 1 i
by Fern. Mrs. Brooks called and got
| them.
Brooks, having learned that Fern had
obtained work, swOre out warrant for
| his arrest on a charge of petit larceny,
and Constable Martin went TO San Fran
cisco and arrested him on Friday last.
On Ferns arrival in the city he was Wis
tied by Brooks, who told him he would
be easy on him If he would pay what he
owed him
Fern, who appears to have been cowed
by being locked up in jail, gave Brooks
$40 in cash and an order on his friend
Ward for banjo, some machinist's tools
and whatever else the latter might have
belonging to him, hoping thereby to
settle his board bill! and be released
But after Brooks had secured Ferns
money and effects he did not, apparently,
''let mp" much on the young man, but
appeared against him on Saturday after
noon and secured his conviction for petit
larceny, the court not being satisfied
with the accused IS statement that Brooks
! former employe, "Frenchy," had left the
! old blankets and pillOw-slips OH his
hands, the value of which articles was
perhaps four dollars.
The prisoners attorney, Mr. Easter
brook, asked Brooks, while the latter
was under oath, if his sole object in hay-
ing Fern arrested was not to bring him
| to Sacramento i'll the hope of compelling
him TO pay the money he owed Brooks
for board. The latter boldly replied that
that was his object.
Now, what is the result? Simply that
| Brooks gels $40 in money and perhaps
enough other property TO satisfy his
claim, while the taxpayers ofthe county
must foot the bill. At the next session of
the Supervisors the Constable who
assisted Brooks in collecting his bill will
have demand before them for mileage
and expenses to and from San Francisco
some two hundred miles,. and the jus
tees fees must also be paid-and all to
enablea clearinghouse keeper, accord
I ing to his own sworn statement, to collect
d bill for few weeks board.
Brooks had secured his badly-worn
blankets, his towel and two pillow-slips,
and would never have instituted criminal
| proceedings against either Fern or his
| former empiOye, "Frenchy,n simply be-
cause he (Brooks) had been temporarily
deprived Of the use of these almost value
less articles.
The question is, what are the taxpayers
going 70 do about it? Will they continue
to foot the bills for collecting small debts
for individuals? Or, can they help them
selves? Suppose the Supervisors should
refuse to allow demands for expenses in
Cured in this shameless manner, or the
Auditor to draw warrants therefor. could
they be collected on such a showing as
was made III the Fern case. wherein the
complaining witness testified that he had
but one object in view in having the
| accused arrested and brought here on
criminal charge, and that il was to make
him pay his board bill?