The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-30
PEOPLES BANK
CASE CLOSES.
Conclusion of Arguments
in the Superior
Court.
JUDGE MAGE TESTIFIES
Believes Sheehan's Services Were
Worth About $3.50 a
Month.
CARPENTER CLOSES CONFIDENT
Declares That Bartnett Has Produced
No Evidence to Support
His Case.

The evidence in the Peoples Home Saw.
ings Bank case has been put in and the
matter submitted to Judge Seawell for
decision upon Judge Carpenters motion
for dismissal. The taking of testimony
was completed before the noon adjourn
ment and the whole afternoon was taken
up with argument of counsel on Carpen-
ter's motion. When the argument was
concluded Judge Seawell said he would
take the matter under advisement during
vacation.
AT the opening of the court Judge Sea-
well exhibited. to counsel the following
anonymous note, which he had received
on postal card since the previous session
of the court:
STOCKTON, JUNE 81, 1896.
To Hon. SedtcelE-SIR: 1t is to be sincerely
hoped you'll decide the Peoples Bank case,
without fear or favor, in accordance to the
evidence introduced. Is the law and its Off
GERS (as the past has Demons trated it) i'm
potent, so corrupt and venal as to wilIfully
disregard the sacred rights of the unfortunate
depositors? Are the affairs and assets OF the de-
funet institution to be indefinitely conducted
by the gang now on trial? We hope not
Pause and reflect; may God deal with you as
you'll soon deal with us depositors.
Judge H. w. Magee, one of the Bank
-
| the ballff's desk, succeeded, with the as
| sistance of clerk and counsel, in reaching
the witness stand. In answer to hypo-
| thetieal question put by Attorney Bartnett
| in regard to the services rendered by Gen
eral Sheehan from July, 1894, to January,
| 1895. Judge Magee gave 1T as his opinion
| that $3.50 month would have been rea-
sonable compensation. In reply 20 SIM
liar question as to Attorney Watts ser
vices the witness declared that he would
be unable to state what they were reason
| ably worth.
| He admitted, however, that if Watt had
| to lent extra office room, engage addl-
tlonal employees and turn over some of his
practice to others, all this would warrant
greater salary being paid him. Likewise,
| the fact that General Sheehan had to give
bonds of some $3.50, 600 would tend to show
the vaIue of the generals services.
| Attorney BARNETT placed in evidence
the report of the Bank Commissioners,
dated January Is. 1895, which concludes as
follows: I'VE are of the opinion that the
administration of the affairs of said bank
ficient although we do not approve of the
allowance of $4,000 TO the receiver"
Attorney J. A. Stephens, who occupies
an Office in the Mills building with Attor-
ney Watt, testified that he had given $3.50
to Phelps with which to purchase the
Merrill claim. He denied that the money
had been furnished by Sherman and de-
MED knowing that similar claims could
! have been bought in the market at one
quarter of their face value. He denied
having told Judge Sawyer at any time
that he (Stephens) controlled the board OF
directors.
Stephens had no personal interest in
purchasing Merrills claim. except that he
wished to thus get Merrill out OF the board,