The San Francisco call., 1898-03-09
Special Dispatch to The Call,

SACRAMENTO. March S.-A free fight took place in the County Treas urer's office this morning as a result of the scandal over the contract between the Sutter Island Reclamation District, the Boari of Supervisors and the Gold en Gate Dredging and Reclamation Company. The participants were Mar shall C. Harris, manager of the con- pany, I. H McGrath. assistant secre- tary of the State Board of Examiners, -Vho claimed that he had bribe1 the Board Of Supervisors, and W. A Gett. the attorney who was alleged 70 have received Foltion of the coin that was held out from the dredging company for over d year.
 McGrath did not reach town until early this morning, and at that time saw the expose of his charges against the Board of Supervisors, andthe fact that an investigation before the Board Of Supervisors was impending. Seeing that a TOW over the $40 that he still owed the dredging company was i'm minent, McGrath scurried around and raised the necessary coin. getting it ready for payment about 1o:30 o'clock. Then he sent for President Witter of the dredging company and announced that he was ready to pay the balance Of the S1440 that he had collected more than a year ago on the allegation that he was the agent of the company. Wit ter refused to accept the proneTed coin unless his partner. M. C. Harris, was present, and sent for Harris. When the manager arrived at the treasury where the money was waiting in gold coin to hA NFCf.-a -N rLy Lya1 that bsa lid not owe the dredging company a cent, but would rather pay the balance that was claimed than to have any trouble.
 Well you are a fool 10 pay anything you don't owe" remarked President Witter. and just then Manager Harris stepped in
 McGrath demanded a receipt show ing that he had acted as the agent of the company, but Harris refused to give it, and then McGrath consented to accept a receipt for the balance due" the company. After the coin had been turned over. Harris and McGrath had talk and when the former re- fused to admit that McGrath had ever been appointed the agent of the com pany. McGrath shouted, You are - liar
 The words were hardly out of his mouth when Harris right fist shot out, and McGrath reeled against the wall ; followed him up and Attorney Gett, who represented McGrath, jumped in to interfere. He was treated to a like dose and went down just as McGrath recovered and attacked Harris.
 Quick as a flash, Harris put his knee on the prostrate Gett's neck and catching McGrath as he advanced put his head in chanceTy and proceeded to pummel him soundly. Witter and At torney Hiram Johnson jumped in, and separated the combatants at this june ture and prevented further hostilities. McGrath's jaw was bleeding and liar ris had a bad cut on his hand
 The investigation before the Board of Supervisors developed another sensa- tion, President Witter of the company and Attorney Gett only being pre- vented from indulging in a personal encounter by the intervention of a Deputy Sheriff. All the members but Morrison were present. Witter was testifying regarding certain matters connected with the contract between the Sutter County Island people. the Supervisors and the dredging his statements and shouted, You are a - liar. sir
 Witter was on his feet in a second and started toward Gett, exclaiming, You are the arch fiend of liars. You are at the bottom of all this trouble
 Deputy Sheriff Kelly stepped in and prevented Witter from reaching Gett and the investigation went ons
 District Attorney Ryan conducted the investigation. which he said was not so much for the purpose of investi- gating the bribery charges as to ascer- tain whether or not the dredging com pany was entitled to any money from the county. The members of the board however. were more curious than the District Attorney. and when P. H. Nc Grath was called to the stand, after the reading of the contract, they began to probe. They asked McGrath why he had held out the SI440 so long. He replied that he had been ready to turn over 5000 at any time. but there was an account between the county and