The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-18
Hints That the Young Mans
Presence Might Mean a
Sensation.
HOFER's INTEREST IN THE CASE
Desires to Swear to the Complaint in
Order to Set Himself
Right.

CARSON, New, Aug. 17.-Ever since
Harry Brown left suddenly for Mexico
there has been a story circulated about
once week that he was on his way back.
These stories have been told so often that
they have been generally discredited by
the public. Those who claim to be in a
position to know say that letters have been
received from him to the effect that he
will be back on Wednesday. Since his
departure the tongue of rumor has been
pretty busy with the bank affairs, and now
they wag Iivelier than ever. While the
old bank managers have been claimin &
that they are securing the earth with de-
tectives, his friends say that he could have
been found at any time, and that the bank
people did not want him. 1t is also
claimed that Jake Klein's friends consid-
cred that he had been badly done up, and
have induced Brown to return and tell
all he knows about the bank, the mint and
various transactions that he is supposed
to know good deal about.
1t is argued that no one person could
possibly have taken the $68,000 and that
Brown is coming back to admit the taking
of $4,000 and say that the disappearance of
the rest of the swag he cannot account for.
Others claim that Brown will get off scott
free on the plea that he merely INDUCED
in overdrafts, the same as several other
parties did, and that he is no more
criminally responsible than they.
Whether any of these stories are true or
not public curiosity is keenly whetted.
There was meeting of the bank directors
this morning in reference to the matter.
Evan Williams said that he would swear
to the complaint, but Bob Hofer, the ex-
cashier, who was present, said that he had
rather swear to it himself as the public
had placed him under suspicion and he
desired to have an opportunity of proving
that he had no connection whatever with
the matter. 1t was finally agreed that
Hofer would make the complaint as soon
as Brown arrived and the case would go
to the next Grand Jury.
Itappears that the friends and relatives
of Brown have for some time past been
urging him to return and face the music.
He is not anxious to do this, but he has of
late realized that he Is hunted man and
a fugitive from justice, and while it has
been charged that the old bank officials
did not want him back it is nevertheless a
fact that they placed descriptions of Brown
and photographs in the hands of Chief
Crowley, who sent duplicates to the detec-
tive agencies of all the large cities, and he
assured the bank people that he would in
due season deliver Brown to them.
1t is doubtless the feeling on Browns
part that he would eventually be arrested
that has induced him to write to his
friends that he was willing to come back
and stand trial. Since the shortage was
discovered the amount ($6s, 000) has been
made good by outside parties who took
the stock of Williams, Klein and Coffin
for the money they advanced, 80 that the
loss has actually fallen on these men.
Yesterday Coffin, who had overdrawn
about $40, 900, was compelled to turn over
as security his entire interest in his suit
against the Union Mill and Mining Com
pany for professional services in the water
suit on the Carson River. The defendants
are Senator Jones, Congressman New
lands. John w. Mackay, Evan Williams
and others. The bank will begin suit at
once against these parties. Every person
who has overdrawn an account at the
bank has been compelled to give full
security by the new board, and not dol
lar will escape.