The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-11-10

HARLES J. KING. the former sec
n rotary OF the Pacific Vinegar and
III Pickle Works and the California
~ Packing Company, who fed from
San Francisco in April, 1900, fol-
lowing the collapse Of the latter corpo-
ration. and for whose arrest warrants
were issued at that time, surrendered him.
self yesterday 10 Detective Tom Gibson
at police headquarters
The charge for which King was wanted
was based on a complaint sworn to by
Frederick Schumacher, assistant secre-
tary OF the Pacific Vinegar and Pickle
Company, in which King was accused OF
stealing $3.50. The warrant was issued on
April "a, 1900, but when the police officers
went to Kings residence he was missing.
Yesterday Attorney Henry Z. Highton.
accompanied by King, called at police
headquarters and King gave himself into
custody. He gave cash ball in the sum
of 500. the amount fixed by Judge Ca
baniss when the warrant was issued, and
was soon at liberty.
The temperance in this city Of King
recalls a sensational failure in business
circles early last year.
King who was the son Of James King
Of William, the noted pioneer, who was
killed by James Casey, who, In turn. was
hanged by the Vig1lantes, was prominent
in business, social and church circles. lie
Pickle Works and also OF the California
Packing Company. The former organlzi-
ton dominated the California Packing
Company and supplied II with material
and encouraged IL IN trade
Ellie J. Cote was president OF the Cali
fornia Packing Company, while Sidney NJ.
Smith was president or the Pacinc Vine
gar and Pickle Works. On April 20, 1900.
the business community was startled by
the news that the California Packing
Company had failed, being unable to meet
a demand for $40. Charges of fraud and
conspiracy soon filled the air, and an in
vestigation of the affairs OF the two cor
porations developed an amazing state of
affairs.
Make Contradictory Statements.
The creditors OF the California Packing
Company had the books exported and IL
was round that the company owed "a large
sum OF money to the Paclnc Vinegar and
Pickle Works. The men at the head OF
the corporation contradicted each other
as to the amount of the Indebtedness. The
ngures showing the Indebtedness varied
from 81, 900 to 81 90, but the experts final
ly decided on $24OOO as the amount. mat
the books of the California Packing Conn
pany had been falsifled was proven by
the experts who worked on the books.
The accounts of the packing company
were as intricate as Chinese puzzle and
glazing discrepancies were alleged. II was
found that Lille J. CoJe, president of the
California Packing Company. had secured
Endorsements OF his farher-ln-lsw, A. b.
Patrick, the Well-knOWn tanner, to notes
amounting to $500. Large sums of
money, which IL was claimed had been
paid by the California Packing Company
to the Pacific Vinegar and Pickle Works.
were found TO have never reached the lat
ter firm.
Ellie J. Cote was accused of having util-
ICED the money of the California Packing
Company for his own purposes and II was
claimed that he had lost many thousands
Of dollars on horse races, prize fights
stocks and high living.
II was claimed that when Cote needed
money he went TO his father-in-law, Pat
rick, who was III in he'd, and induced him
to indorse notes for large sums. Cots
was accused OF securing the Endorsements
by representing that the money was need
ed TO pay the debts of the California
Packing Company to the Pacific Vinegar
and Pickle Works
The notes were discounted by Cote AMI
King with various banks, and just what
became Of the proceeds the investigating
creditors were unable to discover.
While Patrick's sons were trying to find
out how much their father had lost by
cote's duplicity the San Francisco Ma
tional Bank took "A hand I'm the affair.
Cote and King were accused of having
secured loans from the bank by gross
fraud, and the police were asked to find
the two men. Neither Cote nor King
could be located, and the investigation
By the creditors Of the packing company
disclosed disaster on disaster In the af-
fairs OF the collapsed corporation. Cote
was accused Of having ruined his father
OF embezzlement of thousands of dollars
belonging TO the California Packing Com.
Rinp and Cote Mfssinc.