The morning call., 1893-04-22
BONDS OF STRAW.
A GIaring Case Casually
Unearthed.
Sensational Developments in Court.
Clerk Stevens and Attorney Frey
in a Bad Fix.

All the orders issued against the accept
ance OF straw bonds In the Police courts
seem to be so much waste paper.
One of the most Glaring cases on record
came to light yesterday, and the police are
investigating the matter thoroughly, with
the expectation OF landing several of those
implicated in jail.
The bond was offered by Attorney Fred
Frey in tile case Of Clinton r. Smith, who
was arrested on Thursday night on war
rant issued from Police Court for an as
sault with a deadly weapon upon Mrs.
Emma Ransome. better known as Claude
Lee, the mother Of young Henry Mac
donald, the illegitimate heir of Captain
MscDonald's fortune.
The names signed to the bond are L. A.
Lewis. carpenter. 327 Eighth street, and l..
Morrison, blacksmith, 127 sixth street.
Lewis declares lie is the owner OF lot on
the cOrnero Of Fifteenth and Valencia streets,
valued at $1,000 and Morrison of 2 lot on
the corner Of Broderick and Sacramento
streets. valued al 5000.
When the case was called in Police Court
2 yesterday morning, Attorney ChOyussi,
who appeared for tie prosecution, stated
that bond had been given and accepted,
but he knew nothing OF the suTetieS upon it
and asked the Judge 10 examine into the
question of their sutiiciency.
Judge Conlan asked to see the bond, and
was told that it was still in the custody of
Clerk Stevens Of Police Court l, who had
accepted it. BE sent for Ste Fens and de-
mandsd to know why he had accepted Il
bond when be knew be had issued peremp-
tory orders that no bonds were TO be &C
cepted for cases in his court except by him.
self or his clerk.
Stevens explained that lie was not aware
that Smith had been arrested upon a war
rant from another court, but supposed 1t
was one Of the old cases that was being
prosecuted in court /, of which he was clerk.
When questioned as 10 the identity of the
men who swcre TO the bond. Stevens said
he did not know them. but thought he
would be able to identify them if he saw
them again.
Attorney Frey was questioned, but he
also said he did not know the men, except
by sight. They came to him on Thursday
night, and had volunteered to 60 on the
bond rs suretes. He then prepared the
bond and took them to Clerk Stevens The
men are to be seen every day at the race
track
The defendant was asked II he knew the
sureties, and replied that he had never heard
of them before. All he knew was that Frey
came and took him out OF prison.
The Assessors Office was then eommuni-
Gated with, and it was learned that neither
the name Of L. A Lewis nor l.. Morrison
appeared on the tax-roll, and nobody of
either name owned any property in the 10
CHlllIeS mentioned IN the bond.
A careful scrutiny Of the bond revealed
other damaging features, which may lead
TO serious results to those Immediately con-
cerned. Above the printed form on the face
OF the bond were the words. Fred Frey
presented this bond to Clerk J. Ii. Stevens
for acceptance" There was a suspicious
similarity between Frey's handwriting and
Morrison's signature.
Judge Conlan Immediately placed the case
IN the hands OF Chief Crowley, and Detective
Hogan was detailed to investigate.
Smith was not detained in custody, as
Attorney Long, who appeared for him, and
Attorney Choynski for the prosecution
agreed upon a new bond with reliable
sureties