The San Francisco call., 1896-01-15
Left Sacramento After the Last
Meeting and Has Not
Returned.
INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON.
An Ex.Mayor of Sacram ento and Can
didate for Governor in
Bad Light.

Eugene j. Gregory, erstwhile Mayor of
sacramento, candidate for the nomination
lot Governor of California and prominent
cltlzen of the Sacramento Valley, will not
be IN his accustomed seat at the conven-
ton of the California River improvement
Association when that important body is
called to order in the Chamber of Com
merce this morning.
In fact, Mr.. Gregory is not in the State,
and this circumstance is causing the mem
bers OF the convention considerable worry.
He has not been seen for over a year, and
neither have the funds of the association
OF which, as treasurer of the association,
he had the care.
Gregory was prominent member of the
association and took the greatest interest
IN its affairs. No meeting was complete
without his commanding presence, and his
persuasive voice often swayed the assem-
olage when an important question was
raised. So great was the confidence of his
confreres, who represent nineteen of the
richest counties in the State and count
their wealth by the millions, that they
made him treasurer at the last meeting of
the association held in Sacramento two
years ago.
Not long after his election and the adj
iournment of the convention Gregory's
business and financial matters got into
muddle, and he left suddenly for the East
for the avOwed purpose of raising funds to
clear up his debts. Time passed, and no
word came from him, and the members of
the association were forgetting about the
matter, when reports came that he was
r =,
his money like a prince and getting the
fat of the land.
Then some Of the workers of the asso-
citation wrote to him to find out when he
was coming back to settle, but not word
answered Gregory; and it became set
tied conviction in the minds of his fellow
mem bers that he did not intend to settle.
Nothing could be done without meet
ing, however, and no action was taken
until a few days ago. when the executive
committee of the association met in this
City to decide on a place for the next
meeting. Then the subject of Gregory's
shortcomings was discussed.
1t was decided to begin thorough in
vestigation of the matter and learn Just
how the treasury stands. State Senator
Johnson was appointed a committee to
look into the affair.
State Senator Gleaves of Shasta, when
seen at the Grand Hotel last evening, was
at first 10th to talk of the matter. but
finally consented to say that the officers of
the association knew that Gregory, if not
actually defaulter, was certainly very
derelict in his duties.
I'VE do not expect to see Gregory back"
he said, 'for he knew that this meeting
was to be held, and did not even respond
to the word that was sent him. He has
certainly made away with the funds, but
we cannot say how much the shortage will
amount to until Senator Johnson has had
chance to look into the books and re-
port. We hope it will not be much, but it
may be worse than we anticipate, for we
all had the utmost confidence in Gregory
and did not question his ability IN hand
ling the funds or honesty in accounting
for them.
"He is still the treasurer of the associa-
ton and will be until his successor is
elected tomorrow. do not know what
the association will do about the matter.
We might or might not be able to appre-
hend him, as he is so far away and no one
..
depend probably on the amount of the
shortage whether the association will take
steps in the NATTER
Other members intimated that the short
age in the association funds was not the
only reason why Gregory was making
himself scarce. They spoke of money bor-
rowed from friends that had never been
repaid, and of other accounts that had
been investigated, but the showing was
never made public.
At one time Gregory, who had served
with distinction as Mayor of Sacramento,
was prominently mentioned as candidate
for Governor of the State. Being Native
Son he had the backing of that order, and
really lacked but few votes in the con-
vention to get the nomination.
Previous to his departure Gregory was
we'll known in Sacramento business and
social circles, in which he had a brilliant
but somewhat inglorious career.
In partnership with brother under the
firm name of Gregory Bros, he conducted
q commission house which did a heavy
business, but did not prosper owing to
Gregory's convivial proclivities. When
the house failed, as it did after number of
years, Mrs. Bruce Lee, widow of prom
inent man in the Sacramento Valley of
that name. claimed that Gregory had de-
frauded her out of $4,000 which she had
given into his keeping to invest for her. 1t
is not known whether or not he settled
with Mrs. Lee, but soon after he LETT for
the East where he has been ever since. 1t
is intimated that this claim has some bear
ing on his reluctance to return to Califor-
MIA, as at one time Mrs. Lee threatened to
prosecute him in the criminal courts.
Gregory is a large, fne-looking man,
plausible in conversation and a favorite
with the ladiee.