The San Francisco call., 1897-07-02


He spent the entire afternoon OF yester.
day in the Office of Campbell P Berry in
the Sub-Treasury going over all the checks
that Welburn had given during recent
months. II is yet but rumor that We'll
burn had carried dummy names on the
payroll, and had also claimed portions of
salaries.
But meantime where is Welburn? If
these matters are trifiing things involving
no criminal intent why does he not come
forth. explain his accounts and slraighten
things out in the best manner possible? :?
This is asked in reply to friends who be-
lieve he has been guilty of nothing GRIM
NAL and that he will straighten the thing
out when he pulls himself together after
the debauch which it is currently be-
lieved explains his absence.
All SORTS of stories as 10 where Welburn
was and OF people who had seen him
within day or two were heard yesterday,
al connecting him with wild old time
that migat bring forgetfulness of trouble
or ease 1or sorrow. But the stories we're
all second hand.
Il have not been able 10 find a single
person who would say that he himself had
seen Welburn since Saturday, said
United States Marshal Barry Baldwin
yesterday.
Weiburn seemed sober enough when he
telephoned to the newspapers on
Wednesday evening that he was about to
show up, and his success with privacy
and silence since offers the theories that
he has fled to escape the consequences,
tn at he is avoiding arrest until bondsmen
can be secured or that he returned to the
lethe OF the wine cup after learning that a
prison was waiting for him.
Several restaurants and other resorts that
he has frequented have been searched un-
successfully, as was an O'FarrelI. street
lodging house where he frequently went.
Women who have drunk with him have
been found and fruities.ly questioned; the
cocktail route has afforded plenty of gos-
sip but no Welbufn.
Yesterday morning Deputy Marshal
Gallagher took the Monterey train, and
Marshal Baldwin stated that he had gone
to Gllroy, Welburn's old home; but it was
reported from Gilroy last night that Gal
lagher had not put in an appearance
there. So the search went on without the
discovery of clew.
Yesterday morning the family novel
from the big, picturesque, old-fashioned
residence at 920 Grove street, which Col
lector Welburn rented over three years
ago, 10 neat and new upper fat at 1856
Fulton street, out by the Park Panhan
die.
Clyde Welburn, SON of the collector,
bright, manly young fellow, who is nat
II "a Ilu b. HI
civil service position in the Revenue o..
fice, talked frankly to CALL reporter at
his new home in the afternoon.
ave have not heard from nv father to-
day." he said. "We do not know where
be is. He communicated with me
Wednesday evening and stated that he
would straighten the situation out and
that things would be all right. He had
been to Modesto, he said, and had learned
of the trouble when he bought an evening
paper while crossing the bay. | know
nothing OF his whereabouts since then.
The papers are publishing all sorts of
wild stories, he said again, ''but don't
think there is much of anything in them.
| don't think that this trouble will be
found 10 amount to anything. | was a
L
that when it Is all investigated and ex-
planned it will turn out all right. knew
nothing of my fathers accounts as dis
bursting agent, and so 1 could give no ex-
plantations OF anything. No, 1 do not
know that any OF my fatner's friends are
taking any steps in his interest. l am lust
waiting"
A few years ago o. NJ. WeIburn was a
prosperous merchant in Gilroy. HIS part
ner was Louis Loupe, who became his
chief deputy when he secured his office.
He led an upright life and was solid re-
spected and seif-respected citizen enioy-
ing an unsullied reputation. He acquired
an interest in politics and took very ac-
tive part in the Democratic State Conyen-
tion at Fresno in 1892. He was there made
vice-chairman of the State Central Com.
mittee, that directed the campaign which
gave the electoral vote of the State TO
Cleveland, and il was in that cam paign
that he gained his first State prominence
in politics.
His office came as the reward for his
political work. James G. Nealon of this
City was his chief rival when he aspired
to the revenue collectorship, and Nealon
secured in his own behalf a monster petit
ton signed by the business men of the
City and many of the most prominent
people in the State. But Welburn had
powerful Eastern influences to aid him,
and he also secured first a maj iority and
then all OF the Democratic Congressional
delegation.
His appointment followed. and he as
sumed office with strong am bition 10 be-
come political power and State party
leader. He achieved but limited success
in this direction. His office was made
political machine, but it did not attain
tremendous power, and he failed now and
then in moves he attempted.
With his removal to the City and his
entry into politics he became more and
more a hail fetlow we'll met instead of
solid country merchant. and he gradually
came to see the bars of the tenderIoin
oftener than the necessities of politics
really required. He steadily succum bed
to the lure of the half-world and for year
or more has been known about town as
speedy" one. Women and then gam.
bling combined their joys with those of
the bowl. For months he has been going
the pace that kills, and many stories of his