The San Francisco call., 1896-10-25
The Peoples Bank Committee
Must Answer for Its Late
Circular.
BANCROFT PLATES IN COURT.
Arrest of the Teamster Who Helped
Carry Away Valuable Property
In the Night.

Fourteen indictments were presented to
Judge Slack by the Grand Jury yesterday
morning and Clerk McElroy was ordered
to place them on the secret file.
Seven of the indictments were against
persons who recently issued circular de-
nouncing Judge Hebbsrd for taking the
management of the Peoples Bank out OF
the hands of those who had control OF 1t
when it collapsed.
The persons indicted are T. II. Nc
Carthy, E.. F. Kendall, Thomas S. Will
liams Jr., George B. Conant, Benjamin
Lucy, A. L. Casanaro and T. H. Oral
man.
The graveness of the offense charged
against the depositors is that they libeled
Judge Hebbard i'll their circular denounc-
ing him as an ''unfair and unfit person
for Superior Judge. The circular narrates
the proceedings concerning the bank and
AYERS that Judge Rebbard's course caused
q loss to the depositors.
John F. Smith and Paul A. Ayhens, who
presented a Citizens party petition to the
Registrar, were indicted for perjury and
forgery, the claim being that they stuffed
the list by forging number of names and
swearing that they were genuine.
Another indictment was against Will
liam Robles, charged with perjury, and
there were other minor indictments
against John Ellis, for stealing a watch,
and against one or two small offenders for
like crimes.
John Jacob Hoff. a well-known team
ster, was arrested late yesterday afternoon
for grand larceny and burglary, on an in
dictment found by the present Grand
Jury The offense charged is that Hoff,
in collusion with a well-known employe
of the Bancroft Company, conspired to
steal and carry away number OF plates OF
books, the object of the burglary being to
sell the material at pound rates for metal.
Back of the indictment and arrest there
is a sensational story that duplicates q
well-known citizen, and it is probable that
his arrest may yet follow, but his name is
at present mystery.
Seen at cell at the County Jail last
night Hoff said:
"Another arrest is expected soon, but
until it is made l have nothing to say.
As nearly as l can understand matters
they chiefly desire to retain me as wit
ness, and it is to me inconceivable that
anything very serious is meant"
The men indicted for libeling Judge
Hebbard called at the police station last
night and surrendered themSe Ives to De-
tective Bainbridge. They were booked
whereupon they presented orders OF re-
lease signed by Judge Slack, in bonds OF
$500 each.
The indicted men, together with many
associates, will call mass meeting on
Thursday or Friday night for the purpose
Of emphasizing their position. They
say they did not act in collusion with any
body, and were in no manner conspirators,
but that they acted honestly, as they be-
lieved. without malice toward any one.
E. F. Kendall of the committee sends
the following to THE CALL:
Editor Call: Your issue of this date states
that 1 testified before the Grand Jury yesterday
that l signed the circular ''under misappre-
hension of its contents" testified to moth
ing of the kind. Members of this committee
are not controlled by any one.
E. +. KENDALL.
San Francisco, Oct. q, 1896.
1t is the purpose of those indicted tc
rally the anti-bank sentiment in theil
favor and make hard fight to show that
there was no libel in what they wrote and
that their conduct was without malice.