The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20
PAPERS ARE MISSING,
Second Sensation in the
Agricultural District
Scandal.
GOVERNOR BUDD ANGRY.
Copies of the Counter Charges
Disappear From His
Office.
THE INQUIRY HAS GONE OVER.
An Expert Appointed to Examine the
Books and Accounts of the
Directors.
THE INQUIRY HAS GONE OVER.

| the adjournment of the inquiry, it was dis
covered that Governor Budd's copy of the
counter-charges and some letters relating
| to the case were missing.
| The attorneys in the case volunteered an
| inspection of the papers they had with
| them, but the missing documents could
not be found. The Governor then stated to
the attorneys that he would expect them
| to furnish him with another copy of the
| counter-charges.
The Investigation of the charges against
| the directors has resulted in engendering
an immense amount of hard feeling and
but little else.
The directors themselves feel highly
aggrieved because they have been accused
of voting themselves certain sums of
money from the funds of the association,
presumably in direct conflict with the law.
There is no doubt but that they did re-
ceive the sums as alleged, but they claim
that they were entitled to them for SER
vices, and they cannot conceive how any
one would have the audacity to charge
men of whom it is said every one is worth
at least 100000 with peculation of such
small amounts.
Speaker Lynch has been accused of con-
spiracy in railroading bill through both
houses of the Legislature, while in reality
the records tend to show that the bill
was closely examined in committee
and thoroughly discussed on the floor.
Senator Androus has been included in the
same charge, and both the gentlemen are
woefully lacking in good fellowship toward
their accusers.
The charges as filed cast a reflection
upon the legal acumen of Governor Budd,
inasmuch as they allege a cleverly laid
| scheme, covered up in the smooth
wording of the document, and
| to those conversant with the
amount of close and careful study the
Governor devoted to the bills passed at the
late session, it needs but little to convince
that the head of the State is, to say the
least, not unduly hilarious.
John w. Mitchell, the attorney whose
Southern blood and breeding will suffer no
insult to go UNPUBLISHED in any presence.
is highly incensed at Speaker Lynch and
Louis Thorne, the ex-secretary of the
board, and Director Wright has not spoken
to his confreres for an age.
The morning proceedings of the exami-
nation opened with a discussion on the
|
of the Legislature, and matters
again waxed warm. Governor Budd
stated that he had given the mat
ter full consideration, and he was
fully satisfied that no undue haste had
been used to secure the passage of the
bill. In fact, there were many other bills
which had been rushed through in two
or three days, while the passage of this
bill had consumed eleven days and it had
passed through the hands of Timothy
Guy Phelps and Senator Langford, the old
est Senator in the house, which fact alone
is sufficient guaranty for any bill.
"You gentlemen have preferred and
given to the press charges which are ap-
parently untrue, and reflect strongly
upon the integrity of certain gentlemen
of high standing, and I intend that you
gentlemen shall declare on oath from
what source your information was derived.
The bill could not possibly defraud the
State of any property on account of the
deed of trust" So said the Governor.
II agree with you, Governor" said At
torney Mitchell, springing to his feet;
"but it was the intent of the authors that
it should, and it is the intent we are
| after"
| "Intent, Mr.. MITCHELL" retorted Cover
nor Budd, with tinge of sarcasm in his
voice. "Intent! A man may intend to COM
nit murder but if prevented he don't do it.
Any one might attempt to assault big
man with little cane, but every one
knows he could not kill him. You at
tempted to cnastise Thorne with black
thorn. but if any one does it any more in my
presence he will get thrown bodily through
the window. Did you make any effort to
| find Mr.. Salisbury when you were in San
| Francisco, Mr.. Mitchell?"
II did," answered the attorney, "but he
| was not to be found"
"Well, I'll see that he is found before
this investigation is over" declared the
executive. ST have appointed Mr.. George
Hoskins to expert the books of your board.
He will accompany you to Los Angeles,
where you will turn over every book and
paper connected with this case, and he
will make a thorough examination"
Director George Kinds was then sworn,
and when questioned as to what stock, if
any, had been transferred of late, said:
II don't know of any very late transfers
of stock. There may be three or four
transfers, if so the books would show"
"But," demanded the Governor, "you
don't mean that the transfer OF three or
four shares of stock means control of the
association"
ooh, there were other transfers before
the bill passed the Legislature" returned
Kinds.
How many 2" sharply asked the Gov
ernor.
81 don't know-perhaps twenty, replied
the director.
"Even that would not mean controlling
power, as alleged in the charges. Mr.. Kinds
you can't control $50 shares with 20 of
| them" said Governor Budd, as he settled
back in his chair and cast his official eye
on the perplexed director.
"Well, there might have been more-I
don't know. You'll have to look at the
books"
"What do you know about this con-
spiracy which you have sworn to, Mr..
Hinds?" inquired the Governor, and Mr..
Kinds replied that all he really knew
was what the attorneys had told
him. After the passage OF the bill he had