The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-22
Sold Out to the Rail-
road in Sonoma.
HE WAS A COUNTY OFFICER
USED HIS POSITION TO EFFECT
A DONATION OF BONDS.
Sued the Corporation and Got Half
a Cent Overwhelmingly
Denunciation of the
Sell-Out.

When the Democratic Municipal Con-
vention named Barclay Henley, an alien
of Mexico, for the high and honorable
office of District Attorney of San Fran
cisco it's members presumably did not
know that he had filled a similar position
once before In this State, and in a man
ner that made his constituents blush for
the good name of the people who elected
him. He was In the office of the District
Attorney of Sonoma County in 1870 as
assistant to District Attorney Overton,
and the records show that his conduct
was 30 outrageous and treacherous that
the people there refused to recognize him
thereafter.
This spirit was shown in the Democratic
convention of 1886 when Judge Curtis of
Sacramento and Henley were candidates
for the craftsmanship of that body. Henley
denounced Curtis as a railroad man, and
the latter replied in manner that showed
Henley under by a majority of GO votes.
The defeated candidates own district
went against him So to 20. Judge Curtis
got his ammunition from the records OF
the old Twelfth District Court, which
show that Henley and his superior, Over
ton tried to beat the California Pacific
Railroad out of $1,000 for services as at
torneys, and s412 for expenses. At that
time Henley was Assistant District At
torney and also a member of the Assem-
bly, from Mendocino County, and had been
actively interested in the passage of the
county subsidy act, to enable counties to
assist In the building Of railroads.
While holding these responsible posi-
tons Henley for the purpose of monetary
and other gain lent himself to the Cali
fornia Pacific Railroad, as subsequently
shown by a complaint in a suit that he
and Overton brought against the COM
pany. The complaint states that between
April 10, 1870, and September 10 of the
same year, Henley officially induced the
Supervisors of Sonoma County to as
semble at various times In order TO have
that body order the holding OF an cleo
ton submitting the question of voting a
donation Of county bonds to aid in the
construction of the railroad He also
drew petitions to and contracts with the
board relative to this matter and gave his
official advice-and his advice every time
was favorable to the railroad scheme.
When the proposition was submitted to
the people Henley spent the most Of his
time stumping the county in favor of the
donation by the county to aid in the con-
struction of the railroad. That the alien
of Mexico was In the employ of the rail-
road company while holding two posi-
lions that were the gift OF the people is
shown by the railroad company's answer
to the complaint
This answer was that Henley and Over
ton and the railroad company had an
that If the job was carried
out they would be appointed attorneys for
the company land further that the SER
vices were for lobbying, for which they
were not entitled to recover" The case
was tried in 1872 and the court decided
that Henley and Overton were entitled to
damages In the sum of cent.
Judge McKinstry filed an opinion in
which he said that It is the duty of every
good citizen to give advice upon public