The San Francisco call., 1897-08-26
BILLY HENEY
COMING BACK
The Fee Clerk of the Treas
urer's Office Arrested
in Mexico.
Charged With Embedding Funds
of the City and County
Of San Francisco.
Afterward Released at Ell Paso on an
Order From Chief of Police
Lees.

For some time past the Office of City
and County Treasurer W!dber has been
buzzing with rumors of political scandal.
These rumors assumed a concrete form
when William Heney, one OF the depu.
ties, was dismissed by Treasurer Widber.
The matter was kept secret, although
the rumors hinied at an embezZlement o1
public moneys. The story went on to the
effect that Heney had made good the
am cunt of whatever short tage there might
have been before he left the Treasurer s
Office.
Then he went to the springs. Where
the particular springs were he did not
say. City officials were very reticent
about the affair. Auditor Broderick,
whose special duty it Is to act as watch
dog of the funds, was seen at his residence
last night.
In answer to direct questions he said
that he had heard that Heney had got
into "troube" in the Treasurer's office
but what that "trou BILE" was he did moi
know. In fact he did not inquire.
He could not say whether or not the
clerks name was on the salary rolls, be.
cause he will not come into possession o.
tlem until To- m OTrOW.
After Heney left this CITY Chief OF Po-
lice Lees was notified by Treasurer Wild
ber that Heney's accounts were short
The Chief set the wires in motion and II
was found that man answering Heney' 6
description, accompanied by a lady, had
passed through Los Angeles on the way
to Ell Paso.
The Chief of Police at Ell Paso was i'm
mediately wired to be on the look out foi
6iono oh W.
ceived that he had been arrested al
Chihuahua, Mex, having passed thro ugh
Ell Paso and had been brought back tc
the latter city.
The Treasurer was notified of the arrest
and subsequently q dispatch was sent to
Ell Paso to release Heney from custody
and requesting him to return to the City.
The lady who accompanied him was his
wife and they left by the first train from
El Paso on the return j 'urney.
1t was at first reported that Heney' s
shortage was about $4,000, but it. was sub
sequentlv learned that it did not ex-
ceed $400.
From the fact that Heney was arrested
and su ubsequently released, 1t is supposed
that the deficiency had been made good
by Heney's friends.
There was a desire to keep the matter
quiet, and it was not till last night that it
the City.
The following dispatch was received last
night from THE CALLS special correspond
ent at Ell Paso:
Ell PASO, TEX, Aug. 25.-W. J. Heney and
wife, en- route hom Chihuahua, Mexico, to
san Francisco. registered at hotel here to-
day. On August Heney went through El
Paso en- route to Chihuahua, and on August
the Chief OF Police of San Francisco wired the
E Paso police to arrest him. These instruc-
tlons were carried out to-day.
Heney stated that his trouble had been ad
justed in San Francisco, and that he was nc
longer wanted there. This proved to be the
case, as wire 10 the Chief of Police in Sau
Franc SEQ was answered by request to liber
ate Heney, as he was on his way home on his
own recognizance. Heney would make nc
statement of his case. He simply said thai
the charges against him were without founda
ton.
The charge against him is said to be EN-.
bezzlement in connection with the Treasury
Department of-San Francisco. He will con
tinue 10 California to-day. 1T is said that Mrs
Heney has been the mediator between hel
hus band and his difficulties.