The morning call., 1893-03-25
BRIBERY CHARGED.
A Courthouse Scandal at
Fresno.
HARD ON THE SUPERVISORS.
The Alleged Corruptionist Reterts the
Charge Upon the Heads of the
County Fathers.
sreclal to THr MoRN1No CALL

FRESNO. March 4-Sensational Develop
ments were made to-day in Judge Holmes
court in the trial of the case of William
Curett, architect of the courthouse, charged
with attempting to bribe two Supervisors.
Mr.. Curlett is now being tried on the charge
of attempting 10 bribe Supervisor Myer.
Assistant District Attorney Walser made
the opening statement in the morning. He
said the prosecution expected to prove that
the defendant offered Myer S100oit he would
vote TO accept $4,000 bid of C. f. Webber
& Co. for furniture for the courthouse.
Supervisor Myer. the complaining wit
ness. was called to the stand. He said that
about the time the bids were under con-
sideration he had a conversation with
Curlett, in which CurIett asked if he did not
think the furniture upstairs was the best
Witness did not know positively what
furniture was upstairs, but he understood
it was Webber & Co.'S. Curlett said he
was anxious to have the best furniture put
in, as he was a contractor on the building
and wanted to put up a fine structure and
wished the furniture to correspond. He
added: II would give $1,000 to have the
furniture upstairs adopted" Myer replied
that If the prices between the two lots were
not much different he would vote for the
furniture upstairs.
Upon further questioning Myer said he
understood the offer TO mean that the
money was for him. that he could have it
that day if he wanted il. aad that In case
the Webber furniture was not selected he
should return the money.
Ex-Supervisor Hanke related a conversa-
tiOn had by him with one of the furniture
IL. 81
people about the courthouse, contractors
and all, are working for money. Nothing
but money counts tor anything II is about
that game all round. and you ara a - fool
if you don't get in and get your share Of
the money"
Hanke could not say that the agent as
sumed to represent Curletr. and further
evidence on that subject was therefore
ruled out.
One OF Terry's questions on cross-exsm-
inatiOn being objected to, Terry said: 81
expect TO show that Hanke and Myer were
seeking bribe; that they hounded the
steps of the furniture man soliciting
brides; that they tried to blackmail the
furniture man of $500, and falling in
this they started the story that br5es had
been offered them. We expect TO show
this and we expect TO mpeach the testimony
of Hanke by a dozen witnesses"
Terry's statement created a sensation.
Hanke flushed, and. turning to Terry. said
dercely: You shall not attack my charac-
ter, sir"
'I'll attend to you." retOrted Terry, def
antly.
Counsel objected, and there was consider
able confusion, during which Hanke
stepped from the witness-stand and went
out of the courtroom door. A baliff was
sent after him and brought him back, but
the court ruled that questions on that line
were out of order. and Hauke was excused.
Ex-Supervisors White and Letcher testi-
fed next but nothing important was eic-
ited from them.
Supervisor Butler had several conversa-
tions with Curlett who recommended the
Webber furniture. Witness stated that
Letcher had told him one day that Myer said
Curiett had offered him $1,000 to vote for
certain bid. Witness did not believe this,
but Myer himself told witness the same
thing later. Butler also remarked to Myer
that it was reported that there was a large
sum OF money in the safe at the Hughes
Hotel, and that this money was reported 10
be designed as a bribe to some of the Su-
perVisors by the competing furniture bid
offered a bribe Of $500 by another party.
Here the prosecution rested.
Terry asked the court to instruct the jury
to acquit The defendant. but the court re-
fused TO do so, and the defense thereupon
went on with its case
+. D. Bemis, salesman for the Office Spe-
cIalty and Manufacturing Company, testi-
fed that the bid of his firm was about
$4,000 He had a talk with Supervisor
Hanke before the bids were OF ened, and
Hanke expressed he belief to Bemis that
he (Bemis) would be ''all light" Witness
asked 1anke if his health was good. Hanke
answered that it was. but that he was not
working for his health. On another Uera-
| sion Hanke remarked to Bemis that he
| (Hankr) always got left in every trausac-
tion, and that in the contract for the court
house he wasn't in it." Bems asked
Hanke how much he wanted, and Hanke
answered that he had been offered $50.
Bemis replied that he could not give him a
cent, and that the people who promised
things to him would not carry them out.
Hanke then said that Myer had told him
the money was all up-S750 for Myer and
$50 for him (Hanke)-and that 1t was in
the safe at the Hughes Hotel in charge of
banker named Tomblin.
L n. Hum phrey, member Of The firm of
Webber & Co.. testified that he and Curlett
| met Supervisor Myer, and the witness
asked if the board would award the bid
that day. as he wanted to leave for home in
the morning. He also asked Myer to vote
for his bid If he thought it meritorious.
Myer answered that Humphrey should see
Sam Woldenberg, his friend, and whatever
Woldenberg said would be all right Later
Humphrey and Curlett met WoldenberE
at the Grand Central Hotel, and they
went into a cardroom and had drinks.
Woldenberg stated that Humphreys firm
could get the bid II the firm would pay
S1O00 otherwise Myer would burst the
whole thing up. Curlett thereupon stated
that he would have nothing to do with the
matter, and Humphrey and Curlett left
Woldenberg.
Architect Curlett was the next witness
for the prosecution. He corroborated Hum
phrey's testimony and denied having offered
Myer any money.
ID. NJ. Tomblin was put on the stand and
stated that the money in the Hughes safe
had no connection with the case. He had
drawn the money to deposit in the bank at
MADEIRA.
The defense then rested and the court ad-
jOurned. In the morning the prosecution
Will put on witnesses in rebuttal.
JUDGE CRAIG'S SUCCESSOR.
Attorney Dudley of Stockton Not