New-York tribune., 1903-07-19

paign for Governor was at it's height. There is
much talk Of the Democrats nominating Frank
lin Lane, the defeated candidate for Governor
for Mayor of San Francisco It is thought the
great popularity that he developed IN the last
campaign would assure his election.
The Supreme Court this week overruled the
decision of the lower court and held that the
Nevada Bank not responsible for the
$4,000 forged check drawn on the Crocker-
Woolworth Bank by the forger Becker and paid
by the Nevada Bank Becker. the ablest forger
in this country, raised the check from So to
$4,000. and the Nevada Bank cashed it.
Beckers pal" had been deposting and with
drawing good sized sums Of money from the
bank to gain financial standing. Becker is now
in San Quentin. serving out seven years SEN
tence. The Supreme Court holds that the Ne
vada Bank acted merely as an agent in the
transaction and cannot be held responsible for
the money. and that the loss must fall on the
Crocker Bank Becker's term Of service expires
August 10, and it has been reported that sew
eral prominent American banks will unite to
pay him a comfortable salary in order that he
may not be tempted to exercise his marvellous
skill again as a check fOrger.
Signor des Planches the Italian Ambassador,
has spent several pleasant days in visits to the
Italian Swiss colony and to other places in this
vicinity. The colony at Asti. Sonoma County
has reproduced many of the conditions in LOm-
hardy and Piedmont The vineyard is the largest
in California, and the wine tank, which is lined
with vitrifed stone, is the greatest in the world
and now contains a half million gallons of
cIaret The ambassador was entertained by
Andrea sharboro at his villa, which is an exact
reproduction of the famous unearthed villa OF
Pompeh The ambassador found many points OF
resemblance between Italy and California, and
declared that this State. which now has only
one and half million people is capable Of sup
porting more than thirty million that now live
in Italy.
The transfer OF Marion Wells. the sculptor TO
the County Hospital this week marks the end OF
the career of an artist whose work was well
known TO all CaIifornians- Wells modelled the
Angelon City Hall dome and did much work on
ST. Ignatiuss Church here and on the Memorial
Chapel at Stanford University. He was in COM
forta bic circumstances and had a pretty home in
Berkeley but he mortgaged it 10 help Antonio
Ezeta In his fight to regain control of Salvador
Now, when paralysis makes him helpless he Is
obliged TO accept the aid OF the city in his last
days.
The death OF Dr. Richard H. Mcdonald at
Montreal revived here the sensational failure OF
the Pacific Bank and the Home Savings Bank |
which were wrecked by the wildcat speculation |
of DR.. Mcdonald and his son Richard Both |
were tried here on criminal charges. but escaped
through a technicality. while another son. /
Frank. fed 70 Japan 70 escape prosecution for 1
misuse OF bank funds. DR.. Mcdonald was once |
rated as a California millionaire but all his /
property was swept away in the bank failure.
Among the prominent men who died this week I
were Judge Frank Seward. Of Downieville. who
was a member of the State Assembly; Charles
A Upper a well known Prohibitionist and
newspaper man. OF san Jose. and Father Joa-