The record-union., 1891-11-09
ATTORNEY GENERAL HART.
He is Accused of Doing a Bit Of
Smooth" Work.
An Alleged Attempt to Juggle an Ap.
peal in Court-Detective Metz
ler's Denial.
Eraminer on Saturday contained

The Examiner on Saturday contained
an article in reference to money trans
action between parties who have claims
against the State and the Attorney Gen
eral, and it was insinuated that the mat
ter was not settled exactly ''on the
square,
An appropriation of $4,000 was voted
by the last Legislature for the purpose of
paying sixteen keepers who were placed
IN charge of the American Sugar Refinery
IN San Francisco during the pendency of
a suit against the company, brought in
the name Of the People of the State of
California. The claims which were placed
before the Legislature had previously
been approved by the State Board of Ex-
aminers. After the appropriation had
been made the bill became a law, the
Governor, it is said, signing it on Attor-
ney-General Hart's recommendation.
! However, when the claimants, one of
whom was p. II. Cahill, presented them
! selves to the Controller and asked for
! their warrants, Mr.. Colgan refused to
issue them, the Attorney General SO adj
! Vising him.
| CahIll saw no other way to get his
money than to mandamus the Controller,
and the matter was heard in Judge Van
tIeets court. The Attorney General
was present TO oppose the issuance fthe
| writ, but the court decided against him,
and Cahill had overcome one obstacle
The several claimants remained in Sac
ramento for some time, and were finally
| informed that it was Mr.. Harris intention
! to appeal the case. They returned to San
Francisco, where Cahill met Mr. Hart,
and the latter is alleged to have said that
] q tod fl,1 LII. ILL
asked for a list Of those having claims,
and this was furnished him.
In day or two San Francisco detect
| i've named Theodore G.. Metzler called on
| Cahill and told him that if he (CahilD
would give him the power of attorney
and $1,000 he would collect the claims.
Metzler then showed Cahill the very
| same list that Cahill had given Attorney
| General HarS but two days previous.
| Metzler is also alleged to have said that
! there We're other parties interested and
that big slice Of the $1,000 would have
| to be given to the Attorney General, so
that he would not appeal the case.
Cahill states that he then went to Mr.
Hart and asked him if he thought it
would be a good idea to do as Metzler
| suggested. Mr.. Hart is quoted as having
said: "MetZler assures me he has man
! in Sacramento who can knock me out if
l appeal"
Cahlll considered this strong hint that
he had better accept Metzler's PROPOSE
ton, and an agreement was made in
writing between Metzler and all of the
claimants. whereby he was to receive the
20 per cent. The powers of attorney were
to be placed in the hands of another
party. These We're not signed, however,
and the transaction appears to have sud-
denly been checked at this juncture
Metzler was in this city Saturday and
he stated to several persons that there
was nothing secret or unfair about the
transaction. He said he proposed to col
| lect the money if he could, but he claims
that he held no Strings on the Attor-
ney- General. He says he simply went
to him and got list of the claimants.
That was all Mr.. Hart had to do in the
matter. He (Metzler) then proposed to
two others, neither of whom were State
officials that they assist him, he agreeing
to pay them certain amount.
Mr.. Layson, the Deputy Attorney
General in this city, says that the reason
why an appeal was not taken before Fri
day last was because it had been sup
posed that Judge Van Fleets Judgment
had not been entered