The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
TWO INDICTMENTS
FOR PERJURY
The Grand Jury Listens to
the Story of an Al
legged Robbery.
Mysterious Removal of Livings.
ton Brothers Sack Con-
tanning $4,000.
A Beef Contractor Is Compelled to
Live Up to the Letter of
His Contract.

Attorney Frank Shay and representa-
tives of the Oregon Steel Company and the
Judson Manufacturing Company yester-
day submitted statements to the Grand
Jury which led, it is stated, to the indict-
ment of Meyer Livingston and Max Liv-
ingston for perjury. The jury did not re-
port the indictments to the court yes
terday.
Las; July the Livingston brothers con-
Quoted junkshop on Fremont street.
Previous to that time they arranged to buy
the iron of the dismantled building of the
San Francisco Gas Company on First
street. The iron was to be purchased for
the Judson Manufacturing Company, and
that institution guaranteed the Living
stons' account with the gas company to
the amount OF $500.
According to the story told by witnesses
yesterday the Livingstons sold the iron to
the Oregon Steel Company. the Fulton
Iron Works and other establishments and
collected the money. On the night of May
90 1886, Meyer Livingston and his wife,
who lived in the house with Mr.. and Mrs.
George Bridgeman, at 3l4 Fremont street,
went to the theater. On their return at
IL o'clock that night they reported that
during their absence from the room which
they occupied some one had entered the
house and taken from under the pillow of
their bed bag containing $4,000. Mr..
Bridgeman carefully examined the win
dows and doors and became convinced
that no one had entered tue house during
the absence of Livingston.
Mr.. Bridgeman and his wife were wit
nesses before the Grand Jury yesterday,
and il is said completely exploded the
story that robbery had been committed
at their house.
Shortly after the alleged robbery the
Livingstons filed petition in insolvency.
They were arrested for perjury in N aking
false re prese nations to the court There
was hearing in Judge Lows police court
and the defendants We're released on
habeas corpus.
In the alleged robbery on May 20, the
Livingstons claimed that the sum OF $500
paid to them by the Oregon Steel Com
pany was placed in the bag under the
pillow and was stolen. The Grand Jury
received positive proof that Mr.. Knight of
the steel company paid the Levingstons
by check for $500 on May Is, three days
after the alleged robbery
Max Livingston, brother OF Meyer.
lives in Oakland with their mother. All
of the Livingstons interested, the mother
included, were at 314 Fremont street. in
this City, the night before the alleged
robbery, and were counting money in their
room in Bridgeman's house. Testimony
presented to the Grand Jury creates q
strong suspicion that the money was taken
to Oakland the night before the alleged
robbery.
Mem bers of the Grand Jury were reti-
cent in speaking OF the testimony, but
the facts disclosed convinced them that
the rankest perjury had been committed.
Auditor Broderick, City and County
Attorney Creswell Treasurer Widbe-, Tax
Collector Block, Chief Deputy Assessor
Herzer, Supervisors Benjamin and Hobbs
of the Finance Committee had a brief con-
ference with the Grand Jury yesterday.
The parties to the conference agreed to
meet next Wednesday evening. At that
time plans will be considered to red uce
the cost OF collecting unsecured personal
property taxes in San Francisco. The
present system is acknowledged by all to
be cum bersome and expensive. A saving
of $50. 900 per annum could be effected by
the adoption OF q simple method. The
cost OF hiring eight clerks to calculate re-
bates on cverpaid tax bills is of itself quite
an item.
This year taxes on personal property
unsecured by real estate was collected on
the basis of last years levy, and now.
since this years levy has been fixed at q