The San Francisco call., 1897-07-04
COLLECTOR
VELBURu
ARRESTED
Discovered at His Residence
on Fulton Street
Last Night.
DENIES HE is A DfFAULTER.
He Would Have Given Himself
He Would Have Given Himself
Up Before but for His
Wife's Tears
KNEW NOTHING OF NORTOy'S AFFAIRS.
Is Ready tc Explain All Discrepancies
That May Appear in His
Books.


authorities and the City detective force
Ex-CoIlector Osca NJ Welburn is now ir
custody. The much-wanted official was
arrested shortly after II o'clock last nigh
in his home at 1856 Fulton street. by
United States Marshal Baldwin and De-
tectlve Ed Gibson, who has earned an
other credit mark by his clever capture.
Welburn submitted to be taken to the
City Prison very quietly. He and his
family had retired when the officers called
at the house. Mrs. Welburn opened the
door to admit the officers. 1t needed nc
second glance to tell her of the object oi
the visit. She at once burst into tears.
There was no light in the house and
Gibson lit match. Just then Welburn
came along the hallway and Gibson said /:
I'VE have come to arrest YOU"
Yes, know" said Welburn. "Tts all
right. Come into my room. 1 intended
going to the Appraisers building to-day,
but my wife pleaded with me not % go,
and to please her 1 changed my mind.
Just wait for a few minutes and l will go
with you"
A hack was sept for and as soon as We'll
burn was ready he Marshal and Gtbsoa
escorted WeIburn to the hack and thev
were followed by Mrs. WeIburn, who sat
beside her husband.
They were driven to the City Hall and
went upstairs to police headquarters
Baldwin rang up Commissioner Heacock
10 get him to come TO police headquarters
and fix the amount of WeIburn's bends.
aud he also telephoned to Gavin McNab
and Garret McEnerney, Welburn's attor-
neys.
Welburn, on being asked to make a
statement said in the presence of his
wife and the reporters that he would
have at once surrendered himself, but
there were circumstances and evidence
he was waiting for and unfortu-
nately could not give. He ex-
plained that Chief Deputy Loupe was
lying at deaths door and could not be
spoken to; and that there was another
party that was connected with the depart
ment who had been compelled to leave
the City to visit dying mother. Thes
two would provide the evidence that he
referred to- or in other words would prove
up the records in the office and show that
shortage.
He never had anything to do with
the handling of any money in connection
with the office nor with licenses, as had
been stated. Continuing he said:
Il kept out OF the way because l did not
want to be thrown into prison for moth.
ing. l have no fear of the result of any
investigation. Would it not stand to re a..
son that if there was any evidence
against me Iwould have destroyed
at is ridiculous to say that 1 had anv-
thing to Go with Norton's defalcations,
and his letter to his brother, which has
already been published. in which he said
he was ashamed to look me in the face. is
surely evidence of that fact
II would have surrendered myself to.
day had it not been for the pleadibgs Of
my wife.
''She begged me to wait until Tuesday
because by that time my son, who has
been working for me, might be able to
get the parties l have already referred to.
1t is also false that 1 had any dummy ON
the payroll. If had attempted anything
OF the kind 1t would have been at once de-
tected for one thing and also at Washing
ton.
Il do not care to say any thing about nv
movements since last Saturday. L will
simply say that l have been with nv wife
nearly all the time. II is true | was with
Conway at Ferguson's saloon on
Market street on Wednesday night. /
have boarded cable-cars in broad DAYLIGHT
to go home and have walked along Mar
ket street.
MY reason tor not going to the of.
fce on Monday or Tue ,day is private.
noticed first OF my suspension in one OF
the evening papers.
Regarding the stories that have been
published about me in regard to women
they are not only unjust but untrue.
know Mrs. Peyser and the other women
who have been coupled with nv name.
but just as / know every body else. The
fact is one of the women was a sort of q
Nemesis.
II had her husband arrested and sent
to San Quentin, and since then she ha,
been spreading malicious reports about
me. / Will mention no names, but it las
been matter of public notoriety. l deny
any connection with Mrs. Peyser or any
of these women"
Welburn was closeted for some time
with Attorney Gavin McNab and E. B
Pond, one of his bondsmen. 1t was after
ward announced by Detective Gibson ;ha
as Commissioner Heacock lived in Ala
media and could not be reached Welburr
would be locked up in the City Prison fol
the balance of the night.
Heacock is the only Com missioner who
has been reappointed since June 8, wher
the terms of the Com missioners expired
He is, therefore, the only COMMISSIONS
who can fix the amount of his bonds.
is understood that Welburn has his bonds
men ready.
Gavin McNab. Welburn's attorney, sale
tonight, upon Welbufn's retirement to tn,
City Prison, that he anticipated no serious