The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-17
HOW WATSON SECURED MONEY.
Grand Jury Charges Against
the Street Department.
The Probing COMMITTEES Brings Out
Some Ugly Statements.
Employee Townsend Tells About Givin z
Money Raised by workmsn to
Meet the Stewart Shortage.
Riggs' Testimony.

Anu hhohOo Oouthlltboc u6b y6EtorQhy
afternoon to investigate the charges
against Deputy Riggs and other en-
ployees OF the street SUPPLEMENTARY
Office who were referred to in the report
OF the grand jury on that department.
VIM. Townsend, an employee of the
street department, who was suspended
from the payroll at the meeting of the
souncil last Monday aud who declined
TO testify before the grand jury on the
ground that he might criminate himself,
was summoned before the committee
and sworn by President iced.
ibid you refuse to testify before the
grand jury" asked Mr.. iced.
Mr.. Townaend-Yes sir, as far az But
Ter WAS concerned.
"Why did you refuse to testify 2"
Mr.. Townsend-The questions they
asked me were concerning private BUSH
ness. | am Buffers uncle. and he asked
me to get him job. l told him to 90 to
Pessell. He came back in two or three
weeks and said that Pesseli could do
nothing. He was owing me money
--$200-and said he would pay me il l
got him job. spoke to Watson and
Riggs; and Riggs nnt him to work. and
he was to pay me 30 cents day. l
loaned the street superint endent 500 and
took his note, borrowing $75 from my
nephew to make UP the amount about
December 18th. This money had been
paid back. / have paid Watson 500 or
$3.50 to make up the Stewart deficiency.
/ considered that If he was put out OF
Office we would lose our jobs. Richards
and another teamster paid me money
and paid the money to Mr.. Watson. l
gave him $50 twice. Richards and the
other teamster raised the $65. / never
assessed anyone. l heard Taylor say he
gave $40. The understanding WAS that
the gangs should help Watson out. 1
collected the money because l was
working under the superintendent and
wanted to help him out.
Deputy Riggs was sworn and testified
that Mr.. Watson had shown him letter
In which he said know Riggs received
his share and am not sure you got yours"
saw my attorney and then went to
Butler and he gave me the following
letter to Superintendent Watson:
Los ANGELES, CAL, Jan. 10, 1894.
D. A. Watson, Street superinten dent:
DEAR SIR:-Some short time ago l
wrote to you saying that | had paid
Townsend the sum Of $78 and presumed
that you got your part of it as / knew
that Mr.. Riggs had. Now in making
those statements against you or Mr..
Riggs, l acted on the impulse OF the mo-
ment and without fully considering
what l was saying and the facts are that
never knew Of your improper connec-
ton 10 any manner with anything, and
rom subsequent explanations from Bob
Martin am now convinced that the
charge against Mr.. Riggs is wholly I'M
founded. l hereby extend to you and
Mr.. Riggs my apology for the hasty let
ter and hope that you will excuse the
same. Yours truly,
]. M. BUTLER.
MIR. Riggs continued: Buffers team
had been at work taking up railroad
ties. l had told Martin to send Buffers
team, and he wanted to know who he
was working for, saying he had paid for
his other job and he proposed to make
trouble. and l told him to go to h.
His team had been laid off. and he was
told that he had his share of work.
suggested the raising of purse among
the men to meet the Stewart shortage,
and the foreman brought the money to
me in bunch, and Mr.. Watson refused
to have such an arrangement, and the
money was mostly refunded. Thomas
Brady gave So. The total amount of
money received from the men TO make
up the Stewart shortage was between
$3.50 and $500, | think. This was COL
lected in amounts ranging from 81 to
$40, and it WAS free will Offering and
they did not want to take it back. This
money was intended as loan. do not
know of anyone having been asked to
subscribe money to the loan. 1t
was purely voluntary act, and
was charitable act to enable
MIR. Watson to make good the
shortage. No man ever paid me dol
lar or part tneraof to put him to work
or to keep him in Mr.. Watson's en-
ploy. am a hard-shell Baptist, and we
believe that it is right and proper to
help one another whom in distress. Mr..
Watson would not take this money as
gift, but accepted it as q loan, and has
repaid it, or nearly all of it. Two men
LETT 50 in my buggy seat one day just Tor
this purpose.
Street superintendent Watson was
sworn: Townsend never paid me any
money gave him my note for 500 that
l borrowed from him. The borrowed
money from the men was paid back out
of my salary. When men offered me-
money | have refused 1T. Plenty of
men offered to pay 10 per cent of what