The San Francisco call., 1897-03-22

in tim ately acquainted with all the people
who are prominent in the recent develop
ments, and / am confident that, although
there seems to be evidence that money
was sought by Bert Packard, there is yet
another side of the question 10 be devel-
oped.
ITO understand this matter thoroughly
it must be known that the coyote scandal,
as it has been known for years. was started
by the investigation of the famous Long
Grand Jury that sat at Bakersfield for
whole year and started all kinds OF rumors.
They returned some indictments. but they
all fell to the ground. While in session
they discovered, so it is alleged, all man
ner of frauds, and it all eliminated in
smoke after one of the most thorough in
vestigations ever made.
1.-THE indictments were against Bert
Packard, who was deputy county clerk,
and two others against two men in In
diana, which were dismissed on motion of
the District Attorney. The one against
Packard was tried and the jury acquitted
him in two minutes.
''The stories told about Packard are
very unjust as know that on many occa-
sions he kicked people out Of his office
who came to him nth fraud dulent claims.
The indictment was based on an alleged
raised claim of from one skin to ten, and
the man who brought the claim and the
stub iii the book showed that the charge
had not the slightest foundation: Expert
Moore, who com mpiied the Grand Jury re-
port, devoted many pages to the so-ealled
scandal, but nothing was said that could
not have been contained in a line.
"The stories of stove with two doors
one through which the skins went in and
one through which they went out-were
started down in Bakersie d as joke and
were taken In earnest by the city papers.
The story about selling coyote scalps al
really singed to the county was started
one day when The janitor's son brought
Bert Packard a couple of skins and asked
for a warrant, and Packard, to my posi-
tive knowledge, chased him out of the
Office.
1.-The first suggestion that all was not
quite square came to me when Senator
Smith said so to Governor Budd after he
vetoed the bill when ii was passed by the
last Legislature. He told the Governor
that the claims should be paid, as the
greater part OF them were undoubtedly
valid claims against the state, although
few were undoubtedly crooked. When l
heard Smith say this 1 knew that there
must be something wrong with some of
the claims
LAS far as Blodgett's bank is concerned,
1 know personally that they were very
careful to get nothing but legitimate
claims. They rejected many that were
not good, and I am quite sure that Blod-
gett tried to be honest. Some of the
claims he rejected were put in later in ad-
joining counties.
"Since the last Legislature the stupid
story has been started that there were
some people actually engaged in main
tanning coyote farms. No one in the
coyote country did anything but laugh at
such yarns. l was in Sacramento when
the talk was started that money had been
used to pass the coyote bill. l
asked Assemblyman Melick about it.
and he said he did no. be-
lieve that there was any crookedness
in connection with the bill. Melick was
chairman of the investigating committee
and is very square man. The dispatches,
of course, speak for themselves, but am
of the opinion that Packard was jobbed
by some older lobbyists. l see it stated
that Packard is an old lobbyist. This is
not So As matter of fact he is the
greenest lobbyist that ever went to Sacra-
nento. Would an old hand have acted as
Packard is said to have done behind th at
screen?
packard was led into this business, and
4 taSr %hof ho a
Job BIodgett. Bert has been fooled, and
I am confident that there is chapter of
this business that has not yet been told.
s'This whole coyote scalp business has
been made basis for sensations that have
no foundation. This last business is GER
tainly peculiar, but am certain that older
lobbyists than Packard are IN the affair
and that when Mclick told me that he
thou bit everything was straight, he sx-
pressed the sentiment of nearly every
mem Der of the legislature.
"The claims are for the most part ieg;ti-
mate, and as the bill provides for the in
vestigation of each claim by the Board of
Examiners before payment | think the
Governor will not veto the bill"
"a fe days ago received a letter from
Mr. Blodeett, in which ne referred to the
coyote business. and said had been beset
with ali manner of communications. He
referred to some of his mining ventures,
and stated that he was out 10 make tour
of inspection. AS have not heard from
him since this last affair developed at Sac.
ramento presume he is not yet back in
Bakersfield"
It said that Weeks has also seen letter
showing that efforts have been made by
LOBBYISTS to blackmail Banker Blodgett in
connection with the coyote scalp claims.
~
WHERE Is BLODGETT?