The herald., 1894-01-23
A KIND OF A LOAN OFFICE,
But Instead of Watches They
Only Left Tags.
Street superintendent Watson Tes-
titles to Peculiar Facts.
The Public Money Was Loaned Out
to Private Individuals Who
Did Not Always Repay
tho Losn.

Yesterday morning, before large
crowd of curious spectators end friends,
Arthur Stewart, the absconding deputy
formerly in the street superintendent
office, appeared in Judge Smiths court
to stand his trial upon the charge OF the
embezzlement Of $780,.
Stewart was represented by ex-District
Attorney James McLachlan, Deputy
District Attorneys Conkling and Davis
looking after the case for the people.
The greater part of the day was occu-
pied in the selection of Jury, which
was not obtained until late in the after
noon.
Stewart was as usual the least con-
cerned of those present. Judging from
his appearance the plea of youth will
form prominent feature OF bis defense,
for yesterday the defendant, in a wide,
rundown collar and with his pink and
white complexion, looked not more than
is years of age, and a very different
youth from the pale and haggard APP
partition arrested by Detective Auble.
Ths complaint being read, together
with the defendants plea OF not guilty =.
Street perintendent Watson was
called, aud took the witness stand.
He stated that Arthur |. Stewart en-
tered his Office in January, 1898, as chief
deputy, at witness appointment.
As chief deputy Stewart had charge Of
the books of the office, and all moneys
deposited with the office, as engineers,
excavation and other fees. Stewart had
charge of the key of the safe in which
the money paid into the Office was kept.
The witness then went into detailed
description of the different moneys. al
legged to have been embezzled by Stew
art.
After Stewart was brought back from
Texas, he gave witness an order on Chief
of Police Glass for $3.50, which witness
collected.
Cross-examined, the witness declared
that no handled none of the money COM
ing into the Office. Other deputies took
in and gave receipts for money in the
absence of Stewart. AS far as witness
knew the other deputies had not &C
counted for monies received by them.
Stewards duties were very great; he
had handled during his term as deputy
many thousand dollars, perhaps over
$50, 200. Owing to the complicated sys.
tenn OF keeping the books, witness
thought Stewart had the greatest diff
Guilty in keeping the books OF the office.
1t was true that since Stewards arrest
the city council had granted another
man to assist at the above work.
Attorney McLachlan asked several
more questions showing that Stewart
was overworked.
The witness acknowledged that sew
eral parties we're in the habit of bor-
rowing money from the office. Witness
gave Stewart permission to loan the
money. He thought it was perfectly
safe to do 80, Witness himself had
borrowed money from the safe for his
personal uses.
Witness did not borrow $3.50 at one
time to pay for horse and buggy. On
one occasion witness told Stewart to let
an employee OF the office borrow some
money.
Witness would not swear that Stewart
did not pay the second note upon wit
ness horse and buggy out of the city
funds at Witness direction. 1t was
true that some of those who borrowed
money had not yet repaid the Office. SOn
the day Stewart went away witness saw
some money in the drawer. He could
Witness acknowledged that upon sew
eral occasions Stewart had told him he
WAS short in his cash accounts and could
not tell where the shortage was. Stew.
srt had at that time discussed the prob
ability OF certain person having taken
the missing money.
In conversation witness had with
Stewart while the latter was in the city
laIl ~ krn lodi 10 =
done wrong
Mr.. Rean who had borrowed q large
amount OF money, had repaid the office.
Frank Harmon, deputy in the street
uperintendents Office, testified to the
practice of receiving money in the off ce.
He had himself borrowed money from
the public money.
The witness evinced great anxiety to
state his belief on every opportunity,
that Stewart had embezzled the alleged
amount.
This exhibition of ill will drew forth
several caustic rebukes from Attorney
McLachlan. who, however, lid not sue
coed in checking Mr.. lannon's volu.
bility.
The witness acknowledged that several
other deputies in the office had access to
E. w. Hopperstead testified to know.
ing Arthur Stewart and the receiving q
letter from the defendant on the day OF
Stewards absconding.
Witness went to see Mrs. Stewart and
informed her OF the contents of the
letter, which were to the effect that
Stewart had gone to Catalina for Sun
day.
Detective Auble stated that he ar
rested the defendant on September 20,
in Ell Paso, Tex. Stewart said that he
would GO back without -Saaai;s;tion
pspero and that he was sorry he ever
went away.
Shortly after this the case was con-
tinued until this morning.
In Olden Times
People overlooked the Importance Of per-
manently beneficial effects and were