The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-18
Points for the Consideration
of the Grand Jury
THE COUNTY CLERKS DEFICIT
Mr.. Ward Has Already Made Good Over
Ten Thousand Dollars
Now Seventeen Hundred Dollars Hore Is
Wanted-A Transaction in Which
the People Are Interested

Something is looked for from the grand
that body mas pat in great many days
time and presumably Ahas performed a
great deal OF work. the results are not as
q rule regarded as being commensurate
to the labor necessary to obtain the m.
With the exception OF the indictment of
Frank e. Lowry, which was in the nature
of a genuine surprise, the in quisitcrs
have so far done nothing notable. The
indictments against Frank NJ. Cherry at
tracted but little attention, for the reason
that everybody who kept at all posted
knew that the stanographer was crooS ed
and but for ths fact that he is cripple
and has besides had considerable sickness
snd other misfortunes would have proba-
bly, been sent to San Quentin long ago.
Cherry was formerly reporter in Judge
Rix's court in San Francisco. aud left
there with very unsavory reputation.
In the Baldwin case, in this city some
ten years ago. he again cid some crookeI
work and was practically barred for years
When J. M.Mereaith was coroner he tried
to help him out, but Cherry was abso-
lutsly unreliable, and he had to let him
same. Justice Seamans once got him to
take case in his court when Cherry
promptly charged up 1914. Judge Seamans
had looked over the matter before signing
the orce and called Chsrry's attention
to the matter. Cherry said that he had
ma 1e mistake" and cut the amount
to $50. OF course with this record no one
was astonisheu that the stenoerapher had
at last get to the end of his rome.
But there is one thing which the in
dietment of Frank Lowry shows has at
least been lightly touched upon, and upon
wnich the people are entitled to more
light. That is the alleged shortages in
is entitled to all the facts, even If there
is no ground for ind ictmsnt. For years
there nave been vague and indefinite
rumors about what has been commonly
called the Tanning defalcation, estimated
at from $4,000 tv $40. 900, as the case might
be-. Grand juries have come and grand
juries have gone, but this matter has
never heen satisfactorily explained.
Frank Tanning was retail red In the office
Of the county clerk until his failing men
tai powers made his removal an absolute
necessity. He then went to the home Of
his orother-in-lsw in the northern part
of the state, where ne died. Tanning
defaultsr. 1t was matter of con. mon
notoriity thar Tanning, with the Duns.
moors and others q bout the court house,
were intsrssted in a mining deal, and
also in real state speuulatiOns, and that
they got nipped.
At any rate tie ombination was hard
up at that time. Charley Dunsm cor was
appointed bank com missioner and re-
sieced the Office of county CLERK. He was
succeeded by J. NJ. Meredith, who was
appointed BY the supervisors, and he d
the Office SIX months, turning it over to
Trow bridge II. Ward in January. 1891.
MIR. War: held the Office two terms Civ
ing way to the incumbent, M. Newl:n.
in January OF this year.
In the meantime nothing has been
heard from the grand iuries on duty
from 1891 to 1894 about any short ,ges
in the county clerks office during those
years. In October of this year a bomb
Shell is exl loded by the indictment of
Frank E. Lowry, Mr.. Wards chief dep
uty, Tor EN- bezsling $3.50. Lowry refuses
to m axe any statement whatsoever, and
Mr.. Ward covers the amount into the
county treasury. Then Mr.. Ward admits
that he made up shortages of Tanning of
$1,000 in one instance and $500 in anoth-
er making 5000 in all. MIR. Ward say
ne gave his notes for this amount. and
that he has since been paying these notes