The morning call., 1894-11-22
IT'S OLD TRICKS.
The Railroad It's Own
Assessor.
BUT GILPIN NOT SATISFIED.
How a Decision Came by an
Omission.
WAS HE AFTER THE INSURANCE +?
William c. BIackwood of Mount
Eden Leaves a Handsome
Estate to His Heirs.
WAS HE AFTER THE INSURANCE ?

Upl0SllOu W Auo lHSiCooo "a -Abo coASS IL
this city. In accordance with his custom
City Tax Collector Glpin recently sent the
railroad people the bills for the taxes due
on their property in this city. Agent Club
book of Wells. Fargo & Co.. armed with a
big sack of coins and large roll of yellow
bills, entered the Office of the Tax Collec-
tor and told that gentleman that the South
ern Pacific Company had authorized him
to pay the first iustailment on their taxes
Now, Mr. Gilpn is a very cautious man
even with his friends. but when it comes
TO dealing with the railroad company he
is extraordinarily cautious. So it was
that be took the bills from Agent Club
book, and without receipting the began
a rigid examination of eacn separate bill.
His vigilance was rewarded. All but one
was correct, but that one was radically
wrong.
This lone bin covered the property in
cluded between Washington and Franklin
streets along the wat-r front. Last year
it was assessed at S125, 600, aud the taxes
amounted to S6i6. Several months ago.
however. and before the tax levy for this
fiscal wear was made, Councilman Dalton,
who was elected County Assessor during the
recent uDpleasantnesS, caused the assessment
TO be raised TO SSO5 600, which amount IL was
believed was SUI far below the actual value OF
the property. he taxes on this is SS70S,
aud when this bill went out OF the Tax Col
lectOrs Office Ii so read
YESTERDAY, however Mr.. Gilpin found that
his figures had been scratched out and that
somebody else had written in their place S6l6,
the TaX-s paid ON the old assessment, and no
reason was given as 10 why the change was
made. The reason however, was obvious
Mr.. Gilpin then explained TO Agenl Chubbock
thai h would receipt all the bills win the eX-
ceptiOn noted. He could not, he said, accept
the money rendered on that particular bill.
City Attorney Johnson WAS called III at this
point, and sustained Mr.. GllpIR in every par
tlcular. Agent Chubbock, however, had re-
ceiVed instructions To pay all OF the bills. and
consequently If he could not pay all he would
pay none.
Another thing that Mr.. Gilpin noted was that
the railroad had not sent through Agent Club
book the tax bills covering the railroad yards.
the mole and other property, the assessment
on which has been increased. The only bill IN
the batch held by Cnubb0ck which repreS nted
property on which the taxes have been in-
creased was the particular bill which had been
so clumsiiy tampeI ed with The railroad, after
having watched the result OF this experiment,
VIII probably Try some other game.
Water Front Testimony Concluded.
Before SUPERIOR Judge Ogden yesterday the
Oakland Waterfront Company introduced its
last biz of testimony In their defense against
the city 10 recover the waterfront.
The argumen. VIII not be commenced until
February ., 1895, but 1t VIII then continue for
three weeks.
In the proceedings yesterday testimony was
brought out showing how it came That portion
OF a certain decision quoted in the case had
come to be omitted.
T.. 2. FomeTOy. who is The reporter OF deci-
sionS OF the Supreme Court, was called TO the
stand and nterrugated Oh The subject by MIR.
Martin. Mr.. POmeTOy said that IN the decision
In question he had written on The back OF the
manuscript, as Is usual with him, "SbalI this
case be repOrted?" The manuscript was after
ward returned 10 him with orders TO report the
case, emitting that portion which IN the case as
reported was lett our. The decision" said
MIR. POmeroy, "in SO California was issued
strictly as directed by the court"
Dir. Martin then asked: Was there any
suggestions from persons outside of the court
either 10 you or any one that you know of, that
there should be any omission from the pub
liShed report?"
The witness answered.: $50 far as l ain
personally concerned, of course, there never
was anything OF the kind. | don't know any
thing fur her about That"
Justice Harrison, the witness explained re-
turned the manuscript 10 him with the word
Eyes" written after tie query as to whether it
should be reported. The Justice also added
these words: Omit this from the published
opinion" In the opinion page was scratched
out. which meant that IL should be omitted
and This Is the portion which is missing from
the decision, and about which there has been
so much discussion.
Blackwood's VIII.
The will of the late William C. Blackwood.
who de0 on his ranch near Mount Eden on the
18th INST, was filed for probate yesterday by
George W. Reed, who also applied. for letters
testamentary. The will, together with
codicil. covers half dozen closely typewriter
pages and was signed on May 81 1889 The
coolcil was attached two years later when the
lestator was II years of age. The heirs have
all been generously provided for. They com
prise the widow. four middle-aged daunhLers
and two grandsons.
The estate is valued at more than S88, 900.
The most valuable property, however, is as fol-
lows: SiXIy-three acres OF land in Eden Town
ship, Alameda County, $4,000; 40 acres of
fruit land at Berryessa, Santa Clara County
$1,000; 317 acres of land near Winters.
ole
wards, Alameda County, $4,000; certain land
al Golden Gate. $4,000.
6. w. Reed Is named in the will as executor
TO serve without bonds.
Accused of Arson.
Antoine Miller was put on trial I'm the Sumo
rior Court yesterday for trying to set fire TO his
own house al 720 Chestnut street ON The 2Sth
OF August. The prosecuting witness is George
Hill, a negro, who occupied the house at the
time OF MlileT's alleged attempt 10 burn il. On
The night of August % blaZ- suddenly broke
out beneath The rear end of the house, bur Hill
managed 10 smother IL before it had got beyond
CONTROL There was ample evidence in tile way
oil material made nfiammabe by kerosene TO
cOnclusively demonstrate that the lire was in.
cendiary.
The evidence against Miller, however, is only
cltcumstantal. he had been seen day or so
before the ire doing something 10 the rear of
ihe house On The nigh OF The fire be was seen
ID The nelghborhood. The prosecution thinks
mat his motive grew out OF desire for the In
surance.
Loss of COmpaui onship.
In his last suit against the Oakland Consoll-
daied Electric road, now on before Judge
greene, Horace Redteld Is asking that he be
given S2l20 damages.
MI Redlieid has already sued the same COM
pany Tor causing the death of his vile aud re-
covered heavy damages He asked for $50. 900
ana recovered $4,000. The CORPORATION was
oenled new trial, but took an appeal TO the
Supreme Court.
ln this last case Mr.. Redfied seeks TO re-
cover damages for loss of companlonship and
services Of his wife.
Ghisoloni Took 1t ALI
Tie owners OF vegetable farm. known ss
the BAY Farm Mile Garden" have appealed To
The law 10 settle certain important difference
OF opinion as TO their respective rights The
firm consisted OF e. b. Stagnaro Matt Chico.
loni and Fece Merlo but the former YESTERDAY
Instituted an action against his partners
10 have tie firm dissolved, the garden sold ana
the proceeds divided according to the inter.
ests Of The several partners.
Believed to Have Been Murdered
short time ago word came thar an Oakland
man had been murdered at Silver Lake, Or
BY tracing The matter up friends came TO the
conclusion that il must nave been Charles
Schaesseus. who was formerly a waiter in a
restaurant here. Schaesseus had gone up TO
the northern country TO prove up on Govern
ment claim, and IL is thought was killed over
land trouble. He was TO have returned TO Oak