The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-20
Believed to Have Robbed the
Exchequer Systematically
for Years.
EXPOSED BY HIS OWN RUsE.
Lurid Tale of a Raid by Outlaws
Aroused the Suspicion of His
BondSmen.

REDDlNG, CAL, Sept. 19.-What APP
peared at first 10 have been an attempted
robbery of Shasta County's treasury has
transpired to have been a ruse of the
present County Treasurer, William Jack
son, to throw a veil over the embezzle-
ment of large sum OF the county's funds
at the hands of that watchdog of the
treasury" who for seventeen years past
has been intrusted with the office.
The report Wednesday morning of the
attempted raid on the treasury from the
lips of the County Treasurer himself was
received with suspicion by County Treas
urer Jackson's acquaintance, and espe-
cially among his closest political friends
was his statement discredited. 1t had
been known that Jackson had been the
victim of an over-indulgence in wine for
many months. His bondsmen, thinking
things were not running as smoothly as
they might, instituted an investigation,
and as a result: Jackson, who has been
looked upon as an honest, upright and
conscientious Office holder, has been
branded as an embezzler who appropriated
various sums of county money to his own
use, causing his own ruin and the deple-
ton of the pocketbooks of his bondsmen.
An investigation of County Treasurer
Jackson's books and accounts reveals the
fact that he is at least $12, 500 short, and it
is the opinion of his bondsmen that before
the expert finishes his examination be
will have been bound to be an embezzler
to the extent of SIS, 900 or $1,000.
On Wednesday morning, about 7:30
o'clock, Jackson appeared before the DO
lice authorities of this city, his head badly
lacerated and, cut, and bleeding from
wounds. He declared that three masked
men appeared at his residence and COM
manded him at the point of revoIvers to
go to his office, in the courthouse, three
blocks distant, and open the vaults of the
county treasury. Jackson stated that he
told the robbers that it was useless for
them to attempt to rob the vault as il had
a time lock and even he could not gain
access. According to his story they
marched him to the courthouse. one rob
Der on either side of him. At the door
of his Office, he said, it occurred to him to
make a defense, and on opening the door.
he states, he seized large rock, which was
lying on the counter, and with a swift
back-handed blow felled one of the rob.
bers. The other, he said, hit him over the
head, telling him to the floor.
Jackson said he lay unconscious for
some twenty minutes, when regaining
consciousness, he washed the blood from
his face and started in search for the rob-
bers. The janitor of the courthouse heard
nothing of the disturbance, nor did any of
the neighbors living near Jackson's house. |
This story, together with the known fact
OF Jackson's debauchery of the week past,
caused suspicion, and his bondsmen in.
stituted the investigation.
Investment in stocks has helped tn
diminish Jackson's accounts. Only last
August, it is said, he invested some $500
with a firm in San Francisco and lost il.
In order to misead his constituents and
the people he so arranged it that his
monthly reports would show surplus in
the treasury. This was easiIy accom-
plished. A worthless check in the sum of
$1,000 supposed to be money on deposit
with the State Treasurer, was each month
carried and entered in his reports as so
much money on deposit.
The experts who al various times looked
over the county books took it for granted
that that check was valid and so reported.
From time to time his report was &C
cepted, and had 1t not been for his riuicu-
lous story regarding the alleged robbery
he would have been enabled to have con.
tinued his raid on the county treasury an
definitely.
jackson is virtually out of Office tonight.
His bondsmen have charge of his books |
and accounts, and Deputy Recorder Ross !
has been placed in charge of the Treas
urer's office for the bondsmen. They are !
all reputable and substantial citizens al
Will be compelled to make good the def. !
cheney, which may amount to $40 600. The |
County Treasurer's bond was for the sum |
OF $lZoOOO, the deficiency having to be |
borne equally by some nine bondsmen.