The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-09-02
JURY FINDS Won
KAPFF GUILTY
Of FALSE OATH
Sad Downfall of an
Ex-COnStabl
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
9OS Broadway. Sent /

SOo Broadway, Sept
Henry W. Won Kapff, an ex-Constable
of Alameda, was convicted to-day of per-
jury by Jury in Judge Halls court I'M
der an Indictment found by the Grand
Jury over a year ago, together with five
others, which were left as a legacy to
District Attorney Allen by HIS predeces-
sor.
The impression prevailed that the cases
would never be pressed and that even
should they be brought to trial no con-
viction would follow The verdict there
fore arrived at after the jury had DELHI
Grated about forty-tive minutes proved a
great surprise. 1t was the first convic-
ton of its kind for many years
Won Kapff was accompanied in court
by a sister, Miss Violet Won Kapff. and
when the verdict was read the convicted
young man showed grief but little less
than his sister, who wept bitterly.
The past two days had been occupied
with the trial, Emil Nusbaumer defend
ing and Deputy District Attorneys Harris
and samuels prosecuting The. jury was
George T. Leon, c. B.. Harmon, Henry
Schmidt, A. Burnell. Chris Christensen,
Ben Wright, n; P. Nuttlng, Martin Dud-
dy, r. T. Marshall and D. Miller.
The crime of which Won Kapff now
stands convicted is that Of perjury in
swearing that he made arrests of V. Bal
peace and Captain A. NJ. Panza on
charges of disturbing the peace and bat
terry in September. 1887, and presenting
claims to the county for II 80 In each case
mileage to and from the County Jail.
The testimony was very clear. Officer
Theodore Anderson OF Alameda testified
to having effected the Balderamos arrest
and Officer Dennis Welch the two arrests
of Panza. Welch was corroborated by
Mrs. Panza.
sides for young Won Kapff's sad devia-
ton from the path of rectitude. In his
argument TO the jury Deputy District At
torney Samuels declared that stripped of
his official character he. too, extended his
stated after his discharge that he
had twice cast his ballot for &C
patty, but in view of the testl-
mony he, too, eventually convicted. The
jury recommended the convicted man to
ed to the custody of the Sheriff and SEN
tenCe will be pronounced next Wednesday.
The minimum punishment is one year and
the maximum fourteen years in the State
penitentiary.
Only few years since Henry Won
kapff. vas one of the most popular young
men IN Alameda society. He was the
leader of an Alameda orchestra and re-
Gently married a most estimable young
lady of the Encinal city.
am the victim Of circumstances, :"
said the prisoner this afternoon. Il made
one of the arrests on which am convict
ed myself; the other was made by my
deputy. l will say this, however, that
perhaps our eagerness under the fee sys-
tenn was partly responsible. Frequently
the Alameda police would make arrests
without warrants. | would get wind of
it and then l was allowed to swear to a
complaint, secure warrant, serve 1t and
take my prisoner TO the County Jail
most certainly presented claims for such
arrests and for doing this l am con-
victed."
The case most likely will be appealed to
the Supreme Court. There are three
other indictments for perjury pending
against Won Kapff, but these, It was stat
ed by Deputy District Attorney Samuels,
Will most likely be dismissed