Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-14
SUPERVISOR FORESTER.
HE REPLIES TO NUMBER OF DIS
AGREEABLE RUMORs
BY Saying That He Pays for tho I'm
provemsnts Now Being Made at
His Residence ana Grounds
on Seventh street.

There has been considerable comment
for month or more over the fact that
Supervisor Forester has been making
certain improvements on private prop
erty OF his own, located on Seventh
street, just west of Pearl. These i'm
provements have included the construc-
ton of q handsome retaining wall, the
grading down of the lot, and the laying
out Of the grounds into q beautiful
landscape.
1t has been alleged that the stone
used in constructing Mr.. Forrester's re-
tanning wall was the same as that used
in the construction OF the court house
retaining wall; that the laborers en-
AGED on Mr.. Forrester's lot were the
same as those who were at work On the
court house lot; that dirt was taken
from the court house lot and hauled
something like 20 blocks to Supervisor
Forrester's lot; that the contractor for
the court house retaining wall was also
constructing Supervisor Forrester's re-
tanning wall.
These rumors have been flying back
and forth for some time and it was for
the purpose of ascertaining the exact
facts in the case that a reporter of the
HERALD Yesterday. called upon Super.
visor Forester, at the court house, to
| interview him. The gentleman con-
sented. and to him the allegations were
related. At fret the honorable super
visor became very much wrought up,
and he intimatad that his private bust
ness was the concern of no one except
himself. He finally did consent to talk,
as follows:
SIS it true that you, have had en-
ployed upon your private grounds men
who were laborers on the court house
grounds 7" asked the reporter.
"That is nobody's business, sir" was
the reply. "But l have had men al
work on my grounds who were working
on the court house grounds. There was
no work for them to do for the county al
| the time. paid them out of my own
pocket for what they did for me. and
hold their receipts for the money"
"Is it true that the contractor for the
court house wall is building your retain
ing wall?"
sit is. 1 made contract with him
to do the work in the regular way, and
will pay him what have agreed to fol
his work.
''Is it fact that the same material
has been used in building your wall at
was used in the construction of the courl
house wall"
1T is. I wanted thas material and
contracted for it. That is nobody's busi.
ness but mine"
us it fact that dirt has been hauled
from the court house grounds to your
grounds, distant some 20 block?"
at is. 1t was the nearest place that
the contractor could find to dump the
dirt. 1 wanted it, and was glad to take
it. Now, sir, want you and everyone
else to understand that am an honest
man. No one can point to one single
act Of mine upon this board which would
lead anyone to believe that I was other
wise. br ing to the discharge of my
duties as supervisor business expert
ence of long years, and work hard"
Mr.. Forester, were you not aware oi
the fact that, being supervisor OF thil
county, if you took court house dirt
used court honse laborers, and had 6
court house contractor do your private
work, it would, at least. cause comment
admitting that honesty surrounded all
OF the contracts you made in this con-
nection?"
"Yes, l admit that I was somewhat
indiscreet, but defy anyone to prove
that was dishonest in that or any other
way"
The interview then closed, Mr.. For
rester having become excited and very
angry. He claimed that by his care and
investigation he had saved the county
over 5000 in the construction of the re-
tanning wall of the court house grounds.
He alleges that if it had not been
for his care and investigation
the contract for the court house retain
ing wall would have been let at figure
some $4,000 above what it really was.
This statement of Mr.. Forrester's smacks
loudly of reflection upon his brother
members of the board
Supervisor Forrester's course in en-
ployiDg court house laborere, using court
house dirt, and having work done by a
court house contractor upon his private
residence, has been the subject of great
deal of rumor and street talk for some
time past. The HERALD has done him
the justice to interview him, and secure
his own statement as to what there is in
these allegations.