The San Francisco call., 1895-11-26
Sensitive as to Prevalent
Impressions of His
Personality.
HE POSES FOR HIS PORTRAIT.
His Version of the Legal Battle Re.
sulting in His Imprisonment
for Contempt.

George E. White, the King of Round
Valley, occupies his comfortable quarters
in the County Jail as imperturbed as
though he were the guest OF the Palace
Hotel and enjoying the freedom of the
City. Apparently time does not hang on
his hands. He spends the day in walking
| about the small corridor. lounging in the
spacious room just over the jail Office and
reading the newspapers This latter recre-
alton has been enhanced by his own state
ment made in The CALL on Sunday con-
ce rning the hold-up of himself by Daniel
T. Woodman.
He strolled into the corridor yesterday
after social visit from Dick Mcdonald 'of
P acifc Bank infamy. Dressed in tailor
made long frock suit of black cloth, his
carriage that of man who had lived well
and enjoyed the good things produced of
earth, he appeared of the same impassive
nature that he has always been. whether
the world "wagged well' or i'll for him.
He was more interested in watching his
prisoners. who were taking their
afternoon exercise in the long corridor,
than in his own affairs.
THAT is Durrant, is it not?' he asked,
evading a question as TO himself and
pointing to the convicted man. II have
never seen him before, but l recognize
| him from the pictures 1 have seen in the
newspapers"
1.-The pictures must have been &C curate,
them was the reply.
That's true, but the artists make bad
stagger at my pictures. Why, they pre-
sent me with my hat thrown back on my
head, making me look as though l were
| starting out to hold up stage" He
stepped into his room as he was talking,
and taking from the closet high silk hat,
/ placed it on his head.
"Do look like a highwayman he
asked.
Being assured that he did not, the K ing
of Round Valley consented to sit for por-
| trait.
| 'But do not care to say anything. par
| ticul arly about my arrest for contempt of
court, at present" recurring to the ques-
ton asked him in the corridor. 'There
| isn't as much to say about 1t to-day as
there will be later. This is not the end OF
it. Five days in jail doesn't bother me. I
am we'll treated here, and l haven't done
anything disgraceful nor anything to merit
the punishment. If Judge Hebbard had
/ listened to the excuses presented for nv
non-appearance in his court last April
| there would have been no sentence for
contempt and nothing for the Supreme
Court to hear.
cat the time [ was summoned to appear
in Judge Hebbard's s court last April in the
matter of the receivership growing out of
the suit brought by my wife 1 had been
| accidently shot in the right leg. DR.. Bel
lamy attended me, and advised that l was
in no condition to make the trip from
Round Valley to San Francisco. My leg
was very badly swollen, but insisted that
l ought to go in answer to the courts or
der. He said it might cause me the loss of
my leg, so / concluded to stay.
within three or four days 1 made the
effort to get down here, and finally sue
ceeded, reaching Judge Hsbbard's court
one day after the date set for my appear
ance. had DR.. Bellamy's sworn certifi-
cate as to my condition. but it had no
manner of effect upon Judge Hebbard.
He wouldn't look at it. He wouldn't look
at my leg. He wouldn't look at anything,
but adiudged me IN contempt. Of course
my attorneys carried it to the Supreme
Court, but that did no good. The judg-
ment was affirmed, and here am, where
l
me. I'll be at home here for day or
two."
The King OF Round Valley showed full
lower row of gold teeth as his lips parted
in smile, and cast his eyes about on the
rude though not uncomfortable furnish
ings of the room, remarking that it wasn't
such bad place. Then he turned to look
at the sketch that had been made of him.
I "That isn't a bad picture of me-" he
said, eying it critically. at will do very
well if it shows up in print all right. An
artist might as well make man look like
gentleman as a horsethief."
John S. Rohrer, who was arrested and
brought down from Round Valley and who
is sharing Whites quarters in the County
Jail. entered the room.
"Mr. Rohrer," said White, ''is the man
to whom leased my property in June,
1894. This was about the time the re-
ceiver was appointed by Judge Seawell.
But before this appointment my property
had been attached by my creditors, and I
thought it best to lease it to Rohrer so as