The herald., 1894-01-15
SOME GRAND JURY SECRETS,
Several Fine Little Schemes
Investigated.
Points That Will Be of Use to the
New Body.
Tho Board of Education Was Under
Fire-Queer Actions Of the Super
visors-A Raid en- the In
digent Fund.


The last grand jury was knocked out
BY Judge Shaw OF the superior court at
a very interesting period in its exist
ence, when quite number OF things
were under investigation, which might
have produced results.
Ever since that body was declared
illegal and the persons indicted by 1T
were set free, the records have been
kept religiously in the county clerks
Office, and the untinished examinations
started by the body have been quietly
shelved.
In order that the new grand jury
when empanelled may have something
to work upon, some items OF interest
are hereby brought up again.
There was one very interesting matter
which was investigated in connection
with the board OF supervisors, which is
respectfully referred to the about-to-be-
appointed jury.
Along in August, 1892, the board bor-
rowed from the State Loan and Trust
company $4,000, ostensibly to bridge
over lack of money in the county
treasury. The investigation revealed
the fact that there was a large amount
in the treasury at that time. The
borrowed money laid in the treasury for
about three weeks without being
touched, although quite healthy in
terest was being paid. The supervisors
issued warrants for the $4,000 payable
in 80 days, or November 10Th. On Nov
ember 10th there were over hall mil
lion dollars in the treasury. Yet the
money was not paid then, and there
was no evidence that the warrants were
presented for payment.
The interest up to that date was
$ll25. The warrants were presented
December 9th, when additional interest
OF $300.65 was paid.
The new grand jury may very prop
erly inquire into the facts OF this little
transaction, and what authority the
supervisors had to make this loan and
pay the interest mentioned.
Another transaction Investigated by
the grand jury was also in connection
with the supervisors. But it also in
volved JameD A. Kelly, ex-county re-
corder, and mysterious man from the
north named Pybold. The relations be-
tween these gentlemen and the super
visors began with the introduction OF
Mr.. Py ybold to them. There was some
money due to the county from the state
on account OF the INDECENT fund, andthe
gentlemen proposed to investigate and
collect the money due, for the county.
An arrangement was entered into by
which they were to receive 10 per cent
OF the money collected. The board had
the books and had clerke, but they gave
the matter into the bands OF the gentle
men named. Whether Mr.. Kelly was
afraid of Mr.. Pybold. or for whatever
reason he may have had, he had George
l.. Arnold, the present police commits
sioner. named as trustee to receive any
money coming to them.
Az result of their work they turned
some money into the county treasury,
and received over $4,000 for their per.
centage.
MIR. Kelly was called on to explain
this transaction to the grand jury, and
testified before the body that he received
half of the money from Mr.. Arnold, with
whom the full amount was deposited as
trustee. What became of the remainder
Mr.. Kelly did not know.
Mr.. Kelly was recorder of the colnty,
an official at the time this transaction
took place.
Another body under investigation by
the grand jury at the time it was de-
clared illegal. and which Is respectfully
referred to the new jury when empan-
elled. was the city board OF education.
One old gentleman now teaching
school at Norwslk testified before the
grand jury that he paid man named
Abbott 500 for position in the public
schools, and that he never got the posi-
ton, nor did he get his money back.
There were several teachers before the
jury VI ho testified that they paid money
ior and received positions in the public
schools OF Los Angeles.
Just at the time the jlry was dis
banded the inquiry into the methods OF
the board OF education had reached
very interesting stage, and it is learned
that beyond doubt there would have
been some indictments, which would not
have proved very agreeable 10 some of
the members OF that board.
1t will be an interesting inquiry, and
one well worth the while OF the coming
jury to take up this investigation here
1t was left of.
Another inquiry which was well under
way was the conduct of justices of the
peace of the county. Some hagrant
derelictions OF daty had already been
established. Amongst them was a Jug
tice OF this city Of Los Angeles who mad
charged and collected his fees for some
Is cases which had been docketed, but
had never come to trial The grand
jury had gone far enough in this matter
to ascertain that many justices used
their offices for the purpose OF floating
criminals to swell their emoluments.
curious case was unearthed in the
county assessors Office. 1t was ascer-
tanned that q receipt numbered 1886 for
sl93.62 was held by W. W. Montague &
Co., Wholesale merchanta on Los Ange-
les street, which was paid April l, 1898.
An examination of the hooks showed
that the stub of receipt No. 1886 was
made out in the name of Fred Kellogg
for 60 cents. The deputy who signed the
receipt was AL Cobler. When the mat
ter was brought to the attention OF the
assessor he made the money good, and
it was recorded on the books in rod ink
A great discrepancy was found in the
examination OF the county assessment
between it and the city assessment, and
several persons were discovered who
bad not been assessed at all. The as
SCISSOR explained this by. at ting that
where such misses had occurred they
were inadvertent.
1t is very singular what has become
OF the Taxpayers Reform assoication.
They have known OF quite number OF
the matters referred to, and nothing has