The record-union., 1896-12-29
In THE GRAND JURY'S HANDS.
Their Expert is Now at Work on Lands.
borOugh'S Books.
Jurors Who Deny Having Signed
Powers of Attorney - Will
Landsborough Resign?

There were no new developments yes
terday In the matter of the scandal in
which Deputy County Clerk l.. M
marlborough has become involved
the raising of demands for jurors fees
except that Thomas L. Acock declares
that it was not himself who signed his
name to the power of attorney for SS4
on file in the Auditors office, while the
sum due him was only $64.
II don't know who did it," said Mr..
Acock, but I did not. I signed my
name to demand, as is always done,
but not to a power of attorney. never
give powers of attorney, though I have
often held them for others.
''In the first place." added Mr.. Acock,
''the signature to the one filed in my
name with the Auditor is in ink. Now,
I never use ink. My hand is, as you see,
quite shaky, and 1 carry with me a
pencil with an indeEble, purple-colored
lead, and this / always use in signing
my name. All I have to say about the
matter is that I did not sign that power
of attorney
A similar case is that of John E.
Birch, a juror, who signed a blank
claim. He was entitled to $4 70, but ii
had been drawn for $1S 20.
The expert employed by the Grand
Jury to examine the books of the vari-
Gus county officials was to have begun
his work yesterday, but ]. o. Coleman,
as Foreman of the jury, called him off
and directed him to first expert the
books of which Deputy Landsborough
has had charge.
No other action has been taken in the
matter by the Grand Jury, and proba-
bly, none will be taken until the expert
reports the results of his investigation,
though this is mere conjecture.
Deputy Landsborough was at work in
the County Clerks office yesterday, as
usual, but-acting on the advice of his
lawyers-he declined to talk about the
trouble in which he is involved.
FILLING A VACANCY
There is considerable speculation be-
ing INDUCED in as to how far Lands
borough's standing as member of the
Assembly will be affected by his present
trouble. OF course he cannot be pre-
vented from taking his seat and serving
as member, but the general opinion is
that he Will, or should, resign. In such
case the Governor would call a special
election to fill the vacancy.
Here is what The election law provides
in the matter calling special cleo
tions. Section 3 Of the Political
Code reads:
'1O43. Speci. tons are such as
are held to 81 racancies in any
office, and are l. -ch times as may
be designated roper board or
officer.
'1053. At les days before a
general electio1 henever he or
ders a specia election to fill a
vacancy in the office of State Senator or
member of the Assembly, at least ten
days before such special election-the
Governor must issue an election procla-
nation under his hand the Greet Seal
of the State and transmit copies thereof
to the Boards of Supervisors of the
counties in which such elections are to
be held
Section 1854 prescribes only the form
of the proclamation, but Section 1866
reads:
The Boards of Supervisors, upon the
receipt of such proclamation, may, in
case of general or special elections,
cause a copy of the same to be pub
lished in some newspaper printed in the
county, if any, and to be posted at each
place of election at least ten days before
the election; and in case of special cleo
tons to fill a vacancy in the office of
State Senator or member of the Assem-
bly,, the Board of Supervisors, upon re-
ceipt of such proclamation, may in
their discretion, cause a copy of the
same to be published or posted as here
inbefore provided, except that such
publication or posting need not be made
for a longer period than five days be-
fore such election"
It would seem from this that it might
be possible to hold a special election for
member of the Legislature within five
or six days after a vacancy occurs. The
Governors proclamation could be acted
on by the Supervisors the same day 1t
is issued, and the election held five days
thereafter.
A POST CAMPAIGN JOKE.
In connection with the Landsborough
matter there is a bit of humor intermin-
gled with its really sad features. Dur
ing the recent campaign, ii is said,
Landsborough made a very strong point
among country voters by pledging HIM
self Of elected) to work for the passage
of a bill to raise the per diem and mile
age Of citizens in country districts when
called to serve on juries.
Some of the Republican campaigners