The herald., 1894-07-28
COULD NOT EXPLAIN.
AL COBLER DOES NOT KNOW HOW
THE MISTAKES OCCURRED.
Tho Prosecution shows Up Additional !
Unncconnted .for Coiirotio,s-rsii-
TsIo Receipts and Stubs.
Th Evidencs All Eu.

Ex-Deputy County Assessor AL
Coble.'a defense to tn, charge OF EN-
bezzlement. upon which he is now on
trial in the superior court. is that the
discrepancies in his accounts were mis-
taxes and he does not know how tbey
occurred.
The testimony IN the case was all put
n yesterday, and il will 60 to the jury
today.
The witnesses put in yesterday by the
prosecution were principally upon cum.
ulative evidence, and there is no doubt
that the records oil the assessors office
show variou, sums of money collected
by Coblier as deputy which were not
accounted for by him.
O. Q. Stephens put in An unceasing
fire Of objections to the questions pro-
pounded by Mr.. Conkling, but they
were almost Invariably overrulsd By the
court.
The additional instances OF missing
ynr.sney in personal property tax collec-
tirns we're just as completely proved rs
the Biume and Lubin receipt for $12.
upon which the indictment was based.
Receipt No. 1900 was given to J. B.
Cohen, merchant or Los Angeles
etrset, for $3.50, and the stub OF the
same number was made out for 60 cents
pnrporting to be paid by Ch'naman.
Quon Chew Yuen; receipt NJ. 1891 was
gwen to f. Nugier for $3.50. the stub
showing 80 cents paid by Ham Sam ;
receipt No. 1868 was given to Quo Rolf
for $40 so. the stub showing 60 cents
paid by Moritz Decker.
Upon being examined the gentlemen
TO whom the receipts were given testi-
ted that they paid the money to AL
Cobler, the defendant.
In each OF these assessment lists
made out by Cobler and sworn to by the
merchants we're not turned in by him,
according to the testimony OF Assessor
Gray ard his Office deputies, while there
were assessment lists for each OF the
men mentioned in the stubs.
The testimony Of the prosecution was
concluded about the middle Of the after
nDon, and Mr.. etephene moved that the
Jay be instructed TO acuuit ON the
o1nd that the indictment WAS not sui
finisnt. which wss denied.
L. j. Cuddy was then called and testi.
hcd that he had known Coblor for 16
years pact, and bis reputation for hon
pstv and integrity had been good.
No more character Witnesses were in
yoduced, as the prosecution admitted
.l,at until the present trouble the de-
.slndant had borne good reputation.
AL Cobler then took the stand. He
ntated that he had lived in Los Angeles
Iince 1872, and was 43 years old. He
had been deputy assessor in 1901, 1892
and 1893, and was such in March, 1898,
when he collected the money referred to
III the testimony. Upon being request
ell TO explain how the discre pancies oc-
Cured in his accounts, he could not do
30. He eAid that he received the money
and recepted for it. He believed that
he paid it in. snd said it was impossi BILE
to account for it other than by saying
fhat it must have been 8 mistake in his
figures.
He said he was very much rushed at
times when collecting, and would make
brief. memorandum instead OF enter
ing the amounts collected on the stubs
after tearing ont the receipts, and would
enter up on the stubs at night when he
reached home. Sometimes when he did
not reach the Office he would deposit
what money he mad in bank or give it
20 some friend who had safe until next
day. He turned all money in once a
week. He said that during the four
Months OF 1893 from March to July, he
collected between $4,000 and $4,000,
probably more, and had collected large
amounts the two previous years.
Upon being asked how he reconciled
he receipt to Blume & Lubn for $12,
and the stub OF so cents by Thos. Ma.
sinovicb, he said he could not explain
it at oil, IL must have been mistake.
He swore that he did not use any Of the
money collected for his own use and had
no intention Of doing 80. He believed
he had turned in all the money he col
lected.
In all the cases he admitted receiving
the money, but did not know there was
any shortage until he was arrested last
spring.
There was brief cross. s.examination oil
the defendant, which did not develop
anything new. and then Mrs. Cobler tes-
tilted that she frequently helped her
hunband at night In making up his &C.
counts. This closed the defense, and
the case went over until today for argu-
ment,