The record-union., 1896-12-28
THE LANDSBOROUGH AFFAIR
Raising Demands for Jurors Fees Was
the Trouble.
A Very Unfortunate Predicament for
Member-Elect of the
Assembly.


Union yesterday to rumors that were
afoat involving Deputy County Clerk
L. M. marlborough in scandal of a
Veyy unpleasant character.
The Record Union then refrained
from publishing the details of the ru-
NOR in the hope that subsequent devel-
opments might show the accusations to
have been exaggerated. Mr.. Lands
borough was at his home in the country
attending his wife's father, James Rut-
ter, who is very i'll, and could not there
fore be seen. County Clerk Hamilton
declined to be interviewed on the sub
ject, and District Attorney Ryan said
that while there was something in the
allega ton against Mr.. Landsborough,
he preferred not to talk on the subject
until the matter should be investigated
by the Grand Jury.
While rumor gave the charges explic-
itly the Record Union deemed 1t no
more than night that publicity on that
point should be withheld until at least
some formal charge had been filed or
the Grand Jury had investigated the
matter, as it involved a felony.
But as other journals yesterday saw
fit to go into the details Of the subject.
no further harm can result from a brief
statement of the nature of the accusa-
tfon that involves the honesty of Mr..
Landsborough.
The charge is that as Deputy County
Clerk, he has for a few months past
been in the habit of advancing jurors
their fees through an arrangement
made with F. C. Hyde, money broker,
who supplied the funds; that jurors
have been induced to sign blank claims
and powers of attorney; that the latter
have been filed with the County Auditor
in Hyde's name, and that the amounts
due the jurors have been raised in each
instance from SO to $40, and afterward
presented to and allowed by the Board
of Supervisors, the claims being
sworn to.
No suspicion attaches to Mr.. Hyde,
however, as it is understood that his
only connection with the matter was to
advance the money used in purchasing
the claims.
The matter it is said, came to light
oy Juror H. Luppee going himself to the
Auditor for his warrant and there find
ing that it called for more money than
he was entitled TO. This was brought
TO County. Clerk Hamilton's attention,
and an investigation is said to have re
pealed the fact that about S142 had
been OverdraWn in this manner. 1t IS
supposed the Grand Jury will further
investigate.
1t was learned yesterday that Lands
borough has admitted that some money
was secured in the manner stated; that
he was hard pushed financially owing
to heavy campaign expenses and other
unusual demands upon him, but that 1t
was all along his intention to make
good the overdrawn amount.
An effort was made yesterday to see
County Clerk Hamilton and if pos
sibla obtain some statement from him
in regard to the matter, but he could
not be found. It was stated at his resi-
donce that even If seen Mr.. Hamilton
would refuse to talk on the subject.
He is reported to have said, how
ever, that the money portion OF the
transaction would be settled to-day by
the payment into the treasury of the
sum overdrawn-
MR.. HYDE'S STATEMENT.
A Record Union" reporter yesterday
called on F. c. Hyde, the gentleman
who supplied the money which Lands
borough advanced to the jurors on their
claims, and IN response to request
for a statement from him regarding the
matter, Mr.. Hyde said:
NV only relation 10 the Landsbor-
ough case" said Mr.. Hyde, us that OF
a broker merely. I accepted powers OF
attorney from the various claimants
such instruments being delivered TO me
by Mr.. Landsborough, who obtained
the same from the claimants them
selves.
II paid each claimant nearly the en-
tire amount of his demand only small
discount being deducted by way oi
brokerage. l had nothing to do with
the preparation of the demands them
selves. MIR. marlborough attending tc
that matter-a practice always INDUCED
in. I relied upon him to see that the
claims we're correct. All moneys rep
resented by the powers Of attorney now
on file in the Auditors office were actu-
ally advanced by me to the claimants
themselves. or to Mr.. LandSborough fol
them. less the usual commission, which
in no case exceeded 10 per cent. / dio
not know that Mr.. Landsborough ol
anyone else had raised the demands OF
altered them in any manner. l hao
nothing to do with the claims, except
TO receive them as prepared by Mr.
Iardsbcrough and vouched for by hin
as correct.
.T understand now that before the
demands with the accompanying pow
ars of attorney were handed me for
collection the demands We're raised by
Mr. L.andsborough- l wish % repeat
However. that the difference between
ths actual amount due the claimant
and the amount shown by the demand
ttsaIf did not go into my pocket, nol
,zis receive any part of the same
or benefit in the slightest degree from
any act Of Mr.. Landsboroueh In uha'
connection. AS 1 have already ex-
rIa;ne6, I advanced in every case the
aroo,1nt called for by the claim. les
NV commission. and If anything un'
Gov that amount reached the claimant
himself. the difference was appropri'
ated hv some else, and l am there
fore a loser, as we'll as the county
I saw Mr.. Landsoorough at his resi-
dsnca this evening, In company viii
my attorney lie admitted that my
own connection with the matter Is only
such as I have Stated, and that what
ever difference there was between tht
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