The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04
WITNESS SHOWS STORY.
Made to Disclose a Deal In
Which San FranCisCans
Were Parties.
REApRD A RICH HARVEST.
Said to Have Gathered In Over
One Hundred Sections of
State Land.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Aug. 3.-During
the hearing to-day of the disbarment pro-
ceedlngs brought by the Sacramento Bar
Association against Attorney u. F. Whar-
ton, sensation was sprung. Wharton has
been charged with several offenses, chief
among which was his swearing that his
wife had been served with summons in a
divorce case brought by him against her,
when she swcre that she had not been so
served The defense put on a number of
witnesses to testify to the good character
of Mr.. Wharton. One of these was man
named II. H. Snow, a land agent, who at
one time was employed in the State Land
Department, and it was he who unwilling
ly made startling revelations on the
stand.
Witness Snow had testified earlier in the
trial that he had great confidence in de-
fendant Wharton, and at one time had
trusted him with a matter out of which
Wharton had made considerable money.
The anxiety of Snow to avoid cross-ques-
tioning on this subject was evident to the
lawyers who were conducting the prosecu-
ton, and when Snow left the stand they
commenced close investigation, which
resulted in Snow being recalled.
Snow stated that he knew Wharton to
be an honest man because be had employed
him as attorney, and had many business
dealings with him. This opened the door
for the prosecution, and the witness was
asked as to the nature of the dealings. He
demurred, but was ordered by the court to
answer the questions. Snow fumbled and
hesitated, and then said that he had given
Wharton certain information as to the
State lands; that Wharton had taken ad-
vantage of it and been the gamer by some
thing over $500.
Ibid he give you any of the money!"
was asked.
'WelI, no." the witness responded. 81
did not want any Of it"
Snow was closely pressed with questions
as to why he gave away such valuable in
formation, and did not want anything in
return. Under the severe cross-examina-
ton he admitted that he and other parties
were in the deal, and that he had given
Wharton a pointer so that he could make
something too.
'Who were those others?" was asked.
The witness claimed to have forgotten
who they were and had to be admonlshed
by the Judge before he would state that
they lived in San Francisco. After this it
took him long time to remember, but
finally he said he could only remember
two of the names, and they were San Fran
cisco lawyers Miller & Bates. The wit
ness again began answering evasively, and
brought down the wrath Of the court. At
last he said that shortly after he came out
of the land Office, Miller g. Bates en-
ployed him as their attorney and sent him
nun Der of applications for land, request
ing him to put them on file. He knew
something about the land, and went to
Wharton and gave him pointer and told
him TO file on part of the land. Wharton
had done so and had made money on the
transaction.
that you could give to Wharton?" the
court asked.
Snow said he could not understand the
question and the court explained.
"You say that certain parties went to
Miller Il Bates and employed them to file
applications for land. This law firm en-
ployed you, and now you go to Wharton
and give 10 him certain rights which, if
they arose from the land, must have be-
longed to those fling on it-your clients.
What rights could you have had that you
could have given away?"
This staggered the witness, and he per-
sistently evaded the question, arguing that
he did not understand and returning i'm
questions he said they were all in "the