The San Francisco call., 1898-12-28
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
 MAY HAVE TO PAY
WILL BE HELD FOR THE HAIR
 BOURNE SHORTAGE.
Citizens Claim the Board Conducted Its Business Carelessly and Gave Too Much Power to the
 Librarian.

ALAMEDA, Dec. N.-A movement Is on foot among several prominent citizens of this city to bring suit against the Free Library Trustees, under whose regime John Harbourne held the office of libra rian, for the recovery of the amount for which 1t was found Harbourne was short after he had levanted. Harbourne cashed S23O0 of warrants drawn to pay San Fran cisco firms who had business dealings with the library. He not only cashed the warrants but appropriated the funds The San Francisco firms in question are now suing the city to determine whether they or the municipality must suffer for Harbourne'S defalcation.
 The citizens who now propose to sue the Library Trustees will contend that as Harbourne was appointed by the latter he acted as their agent and they are re- sponsibe for his shortcomings. It will also be contended that the board conduct ed Its business in loose manner and in- trusted matters to the librarian entirely outside of his line of duty It Is claimed that he was not member of the library board and could not officially handle its funds.
 It is known that he fulfilled many of the duties of the secretary, and this IS what gave him the opportunity to handle the warrants and forge the names of those to whom they were made payable;
 If the courts should decide that the library trustees are responsible for liar bournes shortage, the money recovered will go into the city treasury and new warrants will be drawn in favor of those forged by the defaulting librarian.
 Harbourne served under two boards of library trustees. The first was composed of John G. Brick, now a member of the Lutgen, R. H. Magill ST. and Isaac P Allen. Allen was secretary of the body and being a close personal friend of liar bourne's, delegated most of his official duties to him. This board continued in office four years, when Brick, Magill and Allen were succeeded by Charles l.. Vel Ter, now librarian; Herman Toelken and George S. Ames. Ames skipped out a while ago with a new wife, without going through the legal formality of getting a divorce from the first. During the regime acted as secretary, and the business methods of it's predecessors were changed. All of the trustees named will be made parties to the proposed suit.
 Reward for Husbands Body.
 ALAMEDA, Dec. .27.-Mrs. Louis Kam- cry of the body of her husband, who dis appeared several weeks ago. The hat watch and purse, were picked up on Bay heres to the theory that her husband was foully dealt with, while many of his friends claim that he has disappeared to avoid his wife, with whom he was known to have had considerable trouble. They assert that the hat and other articles were left on the bridge as ruse to ere ate the impression that the man had com
 
 Mrs. Hammer and man named Sut- ten, who lived at her place, sought tnfor- nation the same day Hammer disap- peared as to what course they should pursue to collect his life insurance. | he companies have refused to pay the poli- cies unless Hammers body is produced or satisfactory evidence of his death Is offered
 New Parish House.
 ALAMEDA, Dec. 27.-The cornerstone of the new parish house of Christ Episco- pal Church will be laid with appropriate ceremony next Sunday afternoon. Rev. William Nichols, Bishop of the diocese, will conduct the services and deliver the address.
 The new building will be pretentious edifice. It will consist of a study, 8 choIr- room, auditorium with a gallery, infant class and guild room and kitchen. The architecture will be in keeping with the church building. The building committee consists of A. N. Lewis, c. N. Tyson, F. E. Mason and Rev. T. J. Lacey.
 Alameda News Notes.
 ALAMEDA, Dec. 27.-William Wey- mouth, connected with the Alameda Po- lice Department, and Miss Lima Thomp- son were married Saturday at San Ra- fael.