The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-09
THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

The disagreement of the jury in the White
embezzlement case, and the testimony of
White rejecting u4on the business methods
of certain employees of The CALL, have
caused considerable public comment, in
which there appears to be some misunder-
standing of the situation. Ia justice TO the
employees we correct such points of the
testimony as refer to them. In the first
place the business affairs of the Office were
not loosely managed SO far as the employees
Of the coUnting-roOm were concerned; for
these persons were rigidly watched by
White and made TO account for every dollar
which came into their hands. Mr.. Hutchin-
son. the collector. states that he never per-
mitted his collections 10 be left in the hands
OF any one except White while White was
cashier. He was always scrupulousIy exact
in his accounts, and so was Mr. Boyle who
controlled another important department
in the Office These gentlemen were not
loose in their accounts; and, furthermore,
White was rigid in his exaction of the
money, no matter whose hands it might
pass through. White handled the money,
all Of it after Kerr left, and he alone was
responsible for it. If he left the Office for
any purpose whatever, he demanded a strict
accounting Of every dollar received during
his absence. White was upon the witness
stand for nearly one entire day, which was
mostly spent in perjury. He stated that Mr.
Pickering had key to the safe, which he
knew TO be false. He also stated that a
red book in which he was charged for GER
tain amounts Of money in kerr's handwrt-
ing was one of the regular books of the
office, when he knew also that that red
book was found in what was considered a
Secret apartment in the desk which Kerr
occupied. Il was found after White left,
together with private letters, etc. White
also stated in his testimony that one of the
propTietors of The CALL knew that he
took the money, and that it was con-
sldered only a private debt for which
lie could be held accountable. In
other words, this thief would have the
public believe that one of the proprietors of
this paper would permit him, month after
month and year after year, to take money
from the establishment to the amount, in
the aggregate, between himself and an asso-
ciate, of sixty to one hundred thousand dol
lars without eXaeting a single acknowledge
ment r even an entry on the books of THE
CALL Office. Does any person of common
sense believe that a proprietor of the paper
would permit an employe to take such an
proprietor was receiving little or nothing
himself from the income of The CALL?
White was nearly an entire day upon the
WllnesS-stand literally Ierjuring himself
continually. White stated that some Of the
prOprietOrs of The CALL had assured him
no criminal complaints would be made
against him if he would turn over his prop
erty, and that, in consideration of this bar
gain to compound a felony, he had trans
ferred property to the amount of $4,000 to
the Call Company. This statement is cor
rect to this extent and no further: he
transferred for the benefit Of the Call Com
-pany lot in San Francisco on which was
realized, alter paying a mortgage upon it,
about $500. Beyond this there was trans
ferred some property in Inyo County and in
Kern County-odds and ends-on which the
company is not likely to realize more than
fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars.
Tue office has so far incurred on this out
side property only expense, and we are
assured that what property White turned
over is not likely, all told. TO exceed in
value $4,000.
White had some nine months time after
Kerr left the Office in which to fix
up the books for an exposure which
he realized might come at any moment
He testified that the books had not been
properly kept while he and Kerr had
charge of them. When Kerr was discharged
White suggested that he had ample time to
keep the books, and with this understand
ing, he became TO a certain extent book
keeper. 1t is now realized why he did not
wish to have Mr.. BOyie-it being sug-
gested he should take charge of the
books; but at the time the suggestion was
made We Aid not understand this. The
public may act realize how White obtained,
so large an amour. of money from The CALL
office near the close of his term. 1t was by
going to Donohoe, Kelly Sc Co.. bankers. and
representing that we desired to purchase
large amounts of paper. which was entirely