The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-25
CROOKED ACTS CHARGED,
Indictments Found Against
Lawyer Brunette G.
Haskell.
a Fletcher Straw Bonds
man.

| Two indictments were found by the
Grand Jury yesterday against Attorney
Burnette G. Haskell. One charges him
with perjury and the other with felony
embezzlement No arrest was made up to
late hour last night.
Haskel's record is we'll known. He came
here originally as sailor and for while
was secretary of the Coast Seamen's Union.
In socialist circles he has been regarded as
somewhat of leading light and was one
| OF the chief promoters of the Kaweah
colony.
His more recent distinction was gained
as an attorney for Mrs. Worthington, and,
! after Judge Belcher's scoring of the jury
Thursday for failing to agree upon some
kind of a verdict, Haskell gave notice that
he would apply for a change of venue on
| the ground that the court criticized his
plea of insanity for the defense as "gauzy."
The embeZZlement charge is based upon
the representations of one w. H. Young,
who says he was the victim of railroad
accident at Alameda, and employed Has
kell to prosecute his case, A compromise
for $1,000, 1t is claimed, was effected by
Haskell, of which he deposited $3.50 at the
American Bank and Trust Company's
bank, saying that he had to divide $3.50
with high official of the Southern Pacific
to secure so favorable an amount.
The story goes that Haskell drew out
and appropriated to his own use all the
$3.50 but So 80; that whenever Young, who
is a German and said to be not over
shrewd, would press him for the money
Haskell would show his handbook upon
which the amount was accredited and tell
him that cit was all right, but there was
some little matters of court dues and fees
10 In ~ hue &c
from time to time.
This is the second time an Indictment
has been returned against lawyer for this
kind of offense. H. II. Davis was charged
with taking advantage of client named
Davis, too, Tlvoi musician living on
O'Farrel street, who was injured by a
streetcar, and for whom he had secured a.
compromise.
The indictment for perjury against Has
kell arises from his connection with the
Fletcher straw-bond case. Fletcher was a
'half-interest" swindler, and he and his
wife sold piece of property belonging to
Police Detective Dillon to victim. Has
kell went on Mrs. Fletcher's bond along
with professional bondsman named
Barry, who, with few hundred dollars
worth of available assets and homestead
claim, was a surety on about $40 900 worth
of bonds.
Haskell represented that he owned prop
erty In Iulare County, which turns out to
be Government land. The result was that
Fletcher and his wife left town, leaving
| their Market-street ''real estate" business
behind as reminder of their smooth
work.
In undergoing the inquisition of tho
Grand Jury Haskell tried to curry favor by
giving evidence against his confederates.
| but that put him in worse odor than ever
| with the jurors.
An Indictment was also returned by the
Grand Jury yesterday against one "Dr."
James Mclean of 1914 Market street. The
charge against Mclean is ENLIGHTENMENT
| for defrauding Mrs. s. E. Currie out of
$1,000. He has been conducting sort of
medical college and induced Mrs. Curry to
buy an interest in it for $1,000, but she says
she has never received any dividends or
| returns of any kind from the investment.
Brunette G. Haskell, when seen at his
! residence late last night. was surprised to
| hear of the Grand Jury's action, and stated
that he was perfectly innocent of all the
| charges. ~ have 100 acres of land in Tu-
lare, said he, (which I have proved up
on, but have not received deed from the
| Government for it. The other case was
that of w. H. Young, for whom / got $3.50
damages from the railroad, and borrowed
5000 OF 1t from him, paying him per cent
| interest,"