The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-24
HUNT UNDER ARREST.
Charged With Obtaining Citi-
zenship by Fraud.
HE PROMPTLY GIVES BONDS.
The Charge Against the Fire Chief
Brought to IN Issue by Com
missioner Kahaley.

The fight against A. B. Hunt. chief Of
the fire department, reached its climax
yesterday in the arrest of the chief on the
charge of using a certificate Of naturaliza-
ton fraudulently obtained. Fire Commits
sioner john L. Kahaley appears in the
complaint as the prosecuting witness. Tho
complaint was drawn up yesterday morn
ing by Assistant United States District
Attorney Kiefer, and in substance is as
follows:
John l. Kahaley deposes: That at Seattle the
S1st OF October, 1892. Albert B. Hunt did unlaw-
fully, wilful.y and knowingly, for a fraudulent
and unlawful purpose, to-wit: For the
purpose of unlawfuly being appointed to
the office OF chief of the fire depart
ment of the city of Seattle, which office
could only lawfully be held by citizen of the
United States, dId use q certain GER
tifcate OF naturalization under the
hand and seal of the clerk OF the
court which purported to show that Albert B.
Hunt had been legally naturalized in the supc-
rior court of Pierce county on October 81, 1892,
which also purported to show that he had re-
sided continuously in the United States for at
least five years next preceding October -, 1892.
and for three years next preceding his arrival at
the age o! 81 years, and which said certificate OF
naturalization waa false and fraudulent and
was procured by and through fraud and false
evidence. in this, to-wit:
That 1t was made to appear to the Judge OF
the superior court OF Pierce county that Albert
B. Hunt had resided in the United States for the
periods as aforesaid and that these statements
were true, whereas in truth and in fact he was
born In the Dominion of Canada, was = subject
OF the queen Of Great Britain and Ireland, and
never resided in the United States at any time
or TOR any period prior to his arrival at the age
of 81 years. and never resided in the United
States prior to 1889. but first came TO the United
States to reside in the month of April, 1889;
that sal Albert B. Hunt unlawfully and know
lngiy participated in said fraud and false evil
dence, and procured the same knowingly and
wilfully.
The matter was laid before United States
Commissioner c. D. Emery and at 2:3O
o'clock the warrant was issued. Mr..
Kiefer suggested that Chief Hunt be noti-
fed by telephone to come down to the
Office, where the warrant could be served.
The question of fees seemed to put stop
to this plan, and United States Deputy
Marshal Harry BIgelow proceeded to the
fire department headquarters. The chief.
when informed of his errand, laughed and
said:
"Well, guess know what there is in
the warrant. At least I've heard enough
about it lately"
Mr.. B gelow then asked if there was any
one Hunt wanted to take with him, and re-
ceived reply in the affirmative. Matters
were cut short by the chiefs agreeing to
60 down to the commissioners office
within half hour. Mr.. Bigelow then left
and the chief almost Immediately after
ward went to J. p. Gieason's Office in the
Occidental block and had him accompany
him to Commissioner Emery's office.
Here Chief Hunt read the complaint,
and when he came to the allegation that
he was born in Canada a sarcastic smile
crept over his features. He did not ask
for a copy of the charges. but when Com
missioner Emery said he would read the
law on which the warrant had been issued
the chief replied that he would like to
hear it. The commissioner then read as
follows:
Every person who knowingly uses any certfi-
cate OF naturalization heretofore granted by any
court or hereafter granted, which has been or
may be procured through fraud or false evil
dence, or has been or may be issued by the
clerk, or any other officer OF the court without
any appearance and hearing OF the applicant in
court and without authority; and every person
who falsely represents himself to be a citizen OF
the United States without having been duly ad.
mitted 10 citizenship, for any fraudulent pur-
pose whatever, shall be punishable by fine of
not more than 81 600 or be imprisoned not more
than two years, or both.
The commissioner then went on to state
that the arrest and the fixing of bonds
were merely formal proceedings in the
present case, and that no bonds would be
required at all but for the precedent it
would establish. He then named the sum
of $500. Papers were quickly made out
and signed by ]. z. Gleason. Everything
having been satisfactorily arranged, the
time of the hearing was set for next Mon
day at o'clock in the afternoon, and the
commissioner, without speaking to any.
one directly. remarked:
II suppose these rooms will not be large
enough, there will be 80 many firemen
present"
Chief Hunt thought the remark was d.
rected to him. and turning. said: "You
mean ex-tiremen."
Then he returned to fire headquarters
and was chatting with the men, when a
Posr-INTELLIGEScER reporter entered.
well, chief" said the reporter, "have
you gotten ready to talk?"
No." was the answer, when the proper
time comes l will be heard in COURT
When asked if he was not afraid of the
outcome OF the case. he simply laughed.
and said that he thought the reporter was
trying to lead him into a trap. The chief
then adroitly changed the subject and
commenced talking about the best meth.
ris of II VII