The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-14
DEBTOR CAUSES
BANKER ARREST
William Beckman Re
grets the Lending Of
Five Dollars.
Special Dispatch to The Call,

SACRAMENTO. Dec, 1s,-wnliam
Becl<man, president of the Peoples Saw
ings Bank, former Railroad Commission
er from this district and one Of the most
prominent citizens OF Sacramento, was
served by United States Marshal Shine
this afternoon with papers charging him
with felonious use Of the mails. Beck
man was brought before Township JUS
tice of the Peace Jay r. Brown and his
bonds were fixed at $500. These were
promptly supplied by George w. Lorenz
and AL Folger, and the date for the TAX
ing of dispositions in the case was set for
Saturday, December q.
So quietly were the proceedings con-
Quoted that not an inkling of them be-
came known until tonight. The COM
plainant in the case is the wife of Paul
writer on the San Francisco Wasp and
a clubman of that city. Mr.. Beck:nan
was visited by The Call correspondent to-
night and asked for a statement. He re-
ferred his inquirer to his attorney, Clin-
ton L. White, who recounted the ctrcum-
stances leading to the filing of the charge
against the bank president
According to White, Wickersham ac-
costed Beckman in San Francisco in Sep
Towed from him So, at the same time
promising to pay it back the next day.
He did not do so, however.
Ordinarily" said White. Mr.. Beck
mere IS piece but he was under the i'm
preston that in this particular instance
he was the victim of case or
misplaced confidence and he was
loan. In furtherance of this intention he
sent letters and postal cards to different
places, in the hope of reaching Wicker
sham, reminding him of the debt think
he sent three letters and five postal
cards. Instead of renting the SIS,
Wickersham sent his wife to the United
States Court in San Francisco and swore
to a complaint charging Mr.. Beckman
with violating United States statute
1.-The complaint served on Mr.. Beckman
recites three counts 1t alleges that Mr..
Beckman, some time in October last, ad-
dressed a postal card to Wickersham,
saying he had borrowed S. and promised
TO pay it and that he wanted him to do
SO Immediately The next two counts
sham two more postal cards on the same
date, one in the care Of the Wasp and
the other in care of the Bohemian Club.
These postal cards set forth, so it is al
legged, that Beckman had written him two
letters and twenty-five postal cards and
had received no reply and that he wanted
Wickersham to reply Immediately, so as
to save Beckman from purchasing 100
more postal cards."
1t appears that the complaint is drawn
up under the United States statute enact
eQ III 1000 70 TedCH Gel TAIN CoilecIlOii dSSH-
cies, which used postal cards and wrap
pers upon which to inscribe demands,
which were generally of a threatening
character. The extreme penalty attached
is $4,000 fine or five years imprisonment
or both.
Mr. Beckmans friends say that the
feature of the case which annoys him is
that the man who owes him the money
should seek to turn the tables on him in
such a manner 1t is not charged that
there was any threat, unless the state
ment that he would purchase 100 more
postal cards may be construed as such.