The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
SONOMA WILL
BRING SUIT.
Alleged Shortage in the
Accounts of an Ex.
Recorder.
BONDSMEN IN TROUBLE.
Gil P. Halls Sureties Are Given
Five Days in Which to
Settle.
DECLARES HE rs INNOCENT.
The Accused Man Confident That He
Can Prove His Case-Other
Officials Under Fire.
DECLARES HE Is INNOCENT.

SANTA ROSA, CAL, Feb. 11.-Professor
G. II. Nelson, the expert hired by the
Grand jury of Sonoma County to investi-
gate the books of some of the county
officials, made report to that body yes
terday. The report has not been made
public as yet, but rumors are flying thick
and fast and sensational developments
are looked for every hour.
1t has just leaked out that the Board of
Supervisors on last Saturday adopted q
resolution in which it was set forth that
Gilbert P. Hall, ex-Auditor and Recorder
of this county, was $4,000 short in his ac-
counts, and directing the District Attor-
ney TO make formal demand upon Mr..
Hall for the return of the money. The
resolution and order further provided that
If the sum was not paid over to the Treas
urer of Sonoma County within five days
suit would be commenced against the
bondsmen of the ex-Recorder.
An examination of the Treasurer's books
from May, 1890. to December, 1895, show
ing the amounts turned in monthly by
the several Recorders during that period
shows that the fees of the Office during the
time of Halls administration were not
regularly paid over to the Treasurer as
provided by law. It is but fair to state,
however, that other county officials were
often likewise delinquent. On two occa-
sions.the. fees were retained by the Recorder
for six consecutive months.
Expert Nelson has been working on the
Recorders books for sixty days, being
greatly handicapped by the mysterious
disappearance of fee book No. 1S This
Cos o4r;o L,
and closed November /, 1894, covering
nearly two years of the time in which the
alleged crookedness was going on. AS the
missing book was large volume of about
16x24 inches, five inches thick and weigh
ing twenty-five or thirty pounds it seems
impossible for any one to have carried it
away without the knowledge of those in
charge. Owing to the absence of this
book Professor Nelson was obliged to ex-
anime the record of each instrument sepe-
rately to ascertain if the proper fees for re-
cording had been paid. 1t is stated here
by competent authority that the errors
and mischarges abound throughout the
records during the years 1898 and 1894.
The experts report is also said to deal
with the accusation made against the ex-
Recorder of overcharging the county for
recopying old records. The records of
the county show tn at Mr.. Hall was paid
$500 for such work during his two terms
of Office.
The accused official was elected to the
combined office of Auditor and Recorder
of Sonoma County on the Democratic
ticket at the fall election in 1890, taking
charge of the office in January, 1891. He
gave bond for $50, 600 at the beginning of
his second term with the following sureties:
w. A. Lewis, $15,0 900; Dan Brown, SIS, 900;
M. Mcnamara, $4,000; A. J. Shaw, $4,000;
]. NJ. Bowles, $4,000; Philip Cowen, $4,000;
@. Pothlmann, $4,000.
Gil P. Hall is well known throughout
this county, having been raised in Peta-
luna, and has hosts of friends, some of
the most intimate of whom declare that
Mr.. Hall will prove his innocence of any
wrongdoing. In an interview today. Mr..
Hall said:
AS the board has seen fit to bring suit
against my bondsmen for S5O0O it is
hardly proper for me to make any state.
ment at present, but in justice to myself
and friends | will say that had l been
guilty of the misappropriation of the finds
of the county could have refunded the
money, as the opportunity was presented
TO me to do so, and think / will be able
to vindicate myself when the proper time
comes"
AS Mr.. Hall is the son-in-law of Dan
Brown of Petaluma, one of Sonoma Coun
tvs wealthiest men, and has many other
wealthy friends and relatives, this state
ment finds ready belief with manv