The San Francisco call., 1896-06-06
Retaliates on the Defense for
Refusing Him a Post
ponement.
DEPUTY BRIGGS GROWS BOLD.
Greatly ExaSperates Clunie by Refus.
ing to Answer His Questions
Directly.

deputy ASSeSSOr DIlSRS, WuO Is IT,
celving newspaper mention to an extent
that would drive many younger person
to the stage, occupied the wltness-stand
most of the time yesterday in the Siebe
perjury case. Only once was Mr.. Briggs
reign interrupted by another chin
whiskered Deputy Assessor, who took the
stand merely to refer Mr.. Clun1e to the
omniscient Briggs for the information
desired.
Mr.. Briggs is becoming bolder as he be.
comes familiar with court methods and
attorneys practices. He is just as elusive
| as ever in his answers, much to Clunle's
| evaporation. The paternal smile which
| he bestows on Clunie when he gets the
| latter thoroughly riled must also cause
discontinue to the eloquent representa-
tive of the people," as Mr.. Clunie inno-
Gently styled himself yesterday.
Mr.. Briggs, however, in spite of the
few contradictions and mix-ups which he
got himself into Thursday in regard to
roadbeds and franchises, is doing good
work for Siebe. The score or so of
assessed valuations which Attorney
Clunie read from the tax receipts of the
railroads property Mr.. Briggs declared
were the actual values of the pieces of
property in question. In fact the witness
even went further-he declared that the
assessed values of some of the lots belong
ing to the company were greater than the
actual values. Strange to say, however,
the company had made no protest against
being thus over-assessed.
The surprise of the day came just befor e
the afternoon adjournment, when At
torney Clunie threatened to read the
whole assessment roll, with its 10000
statements. Just how long it would
take him to complete the task is a ques-
lion in higher mathematics. Clunie's S
easy, eloquent and rapid delivery is
famed, but whether 10000 tax statements
would arouse him to the same noble effort
that contested primary election spurs
him to is question that even his most
ardent admirers must stop to consider.
Seriously, it looks at present as if Clunie
has ''the bulge on" his opponents. At the
close of Thursdays session of the court
Mr.. Freidenrich's little citation from the
code limiting the time of postponement of
the examination cast dark cloud over
Mr.. Clunie's chances.
1t seemed that the defendant could COM
| De SIuIlJS 10 CIOS6 Ills CdSS NlLuOut ule
allowing b i'm to wait for Secretary Will
cults book, which Clunie hopes to get by
| the Supreme Courts decision in the con-
tempt case. Now, however. Clunie may
| begin to read assessment rolls, transcripts
| and inventories, and laboPiously consume
many days, within which the looked-for
decision from the upper court may be ex-
pected.
Rather than do this the defendants will
IL ! ne4N n.,k
that in either case Mr.. Clunie Will not
have to close his case until the contempt
matter is settled.
Deputy Miesegaes, who has been in the
| Assessors office during the past twenty
eight years, was the first witness sworn.
He had had charge of the making of the
assessment roll. During the past six
years, however, he had not been in charge
of this part of the work, and was not at
present familiar with real estate values.
He was not competent therefore to speak
with authority in regard to the assessed
value of the property of the Market-street
Railway Company.
The rule of the Assessors office has been
to assess all property at its real cash value.
This value was determined mainly by i'm
preston. AT present Mr.. Briggs has ex-
elusive charge OF assessing real estate
values and of improvements as well.
Mr.. Briggs was accordingly put upon
the stand once more and interrogated in
regard to his valuations of improvements.
He had assessed the improvements at the
power-house of the old Metropolitan elec-
trio line at $27, 500. In arriving at this
valuation he had not consulted experts
nor made any inquiries of the railroad
people in regard to the matter. He had
made no itemzed inventory of the prop
| erty, but arrived at his conclusions from
iottings made in a memorandum book,
which he no longer had.
The witness said it was his custom every
year to go to all large buildings contain
ing fixed machinery to see whether any
| additions or Improvements had been
made. He had done this IN the case of
the Metropolitan Company. In 1894 he
had examined the dynamos and machines,
and in 1895 he went out to see what addi-
tlons had been made. He kept no record,
but could go into the power-house and at
a glance tell what new machinery had
been put in during the year. He believed
he could do the same in regard to any
large building in the City.
His remarkable ability in sizing up the
value of improvements at glance was
due to the fact that he had been engaged
in such business all his life, and in addi-
tion had been on the building committee
OF the Board of Education while MEM
Der of the board from 1868 to 1872.
Mr.. Clunie then proceeded to ask about
other power-houses and buildings belong
ing to the railroad company in various
parts of the City. As he propounded his
questions TO Mr.. Briggs he continually
referred to formidable bundle of tax re-
ceipts which he held in his hand. Judge
Wallace, seeing these numerous receipts
and possibly seeing therein material for
several days questioning on the part OF
Mr.. Clunie, asked him what object he had
in examining the witness on all these
documents.
"The introduction OF these tax receipts" +"
said Clunie, 'sis essential to my case.
Were it not for the course of the defend
ant and his attorney in refusing to con-
sent to postponement until | can get
Secretary Willcutt's book, could dispense
with the tedious examination of these
receipts and probably get all the informa-
ton wanted from the book in question.
Since the defendant, however, does not
wish to aid me in getting the book and
takes advantage of the section of the code
which prohibits a postponement without
the defendants consent, / am compelled
to obtain the desired facts from these re-
Children Cry for