Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-31
ANDERSON'S CLAIM.
1t Causes a Lively Meeting
Of the Supervisors.
He Guarded the Guaranteed
Tahiti Orange Trees.
A San Pedro Pilot Protests Against
the Claim.
The Demand Causes q Heated Discus
siOn-The Case Continued for
Further Hearing
Today.

pervisors' room at times yesterday was
quite tropical, during the hearing on
the claim of Deputy Sheriff Anderson
for $3.50 for services as guardian: of the
condemned Tahiti orange trees. Mr..
Anderson was appointed custodian by
the horticultural commissioners at q
salary of $3.50 per day, and has drawn
5000 under that arrangement. James
w. Hellman, pilot at San Pedro, filed
protest with the board of supervisors
against allowing Anderson's last claim
for $3.50, said protest being presented by
Judge Cheney yesterday.
The protest sets forth that Anderson
did not properly care for the condemned
trees, and that many of them had been
stolen. Quite a number Of witnesses
were examined, and among them J. A.
Potter, deputy constable, who testified
that on three several occasions at the
request of the board of supervisors
he had gone to the location of the Ia
hiti trees and had removed quite num-
ber in daylight without any one object
ing.
J. w. Davis gave evidence to the ef-
feet that he had on several occasions
seen orange trees removed by different
parties.
The following persons testified to An
derson having been absent on number
of occasions: j. w. Hellman, II. u. Os-
borne, II. I. Cheathen, w. R. Condit,
Jacob Levy, E. G. Fitzgerald, Robert
Clifford, V. H. Truman, A. j. Cross and
j. T. Hogan.
The following witnesses testified in
behalf of Anderson, that he or his agents
had complied with instructions in caring
for the trees: ]. 7. Martin, John Scott,
J. G. Mohar, w. G. Downing, B. NJ.
Baker, A. f. Hutt, J. H. Dodson and j.
T. Anderson.
Mr.. Anderson testified, among other
things, as follows: II was told to keep
good look out that the Meserves did not
remove any of the trees. told Mr..
Scott that at any time I was away to
leave man In charge. Hellman sent
man down to steal the trees and get me
into trouble. did not understand that
l was to stay by the trees all the time.
| was not told to put water on the trees.
the ship America l left William Dow
1 always looked after the trees every
OVOAlAk oh0 COuAtCo UhO OOAC6 w uCC
that they were all there. Some nights
1 would sit around and play poker with
Jim Hellman and win or lose a couple
of dollars at time. Jim generally lost
oftener than l did. 1 was told to look
after the trees by Mr.. Mitchell, who
told me to see that none of them were
removed. Nobody looked after the trees
at nighttime, but counted the boxes
morning and evening""
Judge Cheney-Werey you not United
States deputy marshal, deputy sheriff,
detective for the Southern Pacific rail-
road, pilot, and also care -taker of these
Tahiti trees in quarantine?
Mr.. Anderson-Yes, sir, and I wish
to say that took the best care of those
trees. Whenever was away left good
parties to watch over those trees.
have only been a pilot since January
25th and did not 60 out on the high seas
until February 22d. My duty as under
stood was to zee that no one took away
any of those trees. Trees could be taken
away at night time. l left agents in
charge, and if they neglected their duty
it was not my fault. l told Mshar and
Downey and others to look out for He'll
man. There are affidavits in existence
to show that he set fire to his place in
Wilmington.
Mr.. Hellman-No one would accept
the utterances OF this low-lived fellow.
Judge Cheney-The records show that
you have been performing various other
duties under your various offices, and
have received money from the county
therefor; in addition you want $3.50
per month for doing work that you could
not do in view of your other duties.
Mr.. Anderson-When 1 was away 1
would put some one in charge of the
trees. and paid two parties $l5 for doing
30. was in San Francisco last Sep
tember, and 1 heard that several per-
sons had trees which had been taken
from this collection, but they all de-
MED it.
Mr.. Hellman-And 1 still say that
there are Tahiti trees taken from that
lot, planted out at San Pedro. 1 make
that statement under oath.
Mr.. Anderson insisted that he had
taken good care of the trees, and after
an address by Judge Cheney, opposing
the payment of Anderson's last claim,
the inquiry was continued until today.
"Cowards are cruelp-but the brave man
won't drive n suffering horse. He will buy a
bottle of salvation Oil and invariably cure his