The San Francisco call., 1903-12-22
M'LAREN FILES
FORMAL CHARGE
Expert Accountant Accuses
Secretary of University With
the EmbezZlement of $3515
A PRECAUTIONARY MOVE
McKOwen's Chances of Release
on HabeaS Corpus Removed
by the Action of Regents

William A. McKowen, the embezzling
secretary of the University of Califor-
mia, has been formally and specifically
/ charged with having embezzled funds
! belonging to that institution.
Complaint was filed against McKow-
en- yesterday afternoon in Oakland by
Norman McLaren, acting for the fin
ance committee of the Board of Re-
gents of the university, and a warrant
was accordingly issued by the Alameda
County District Attorney. AS the ac-
cused man has been in the custody of
the Sheriff ever since he confessed his
crime last Wednesday,. necessity of ar
resting him was obviated. But the pros
ecution which the Regents evidently
intend TO press relentlessly' is formally
under way
The complaint accuses McKowen Of
having on May 25, 1903, embezzIed the
sum Of s3515, which had been donated
TO the anthropological department the
money having been paid to him and he
having appropriated it to his own use.
The name of the donor of the money
thus pilfered is withheld at his request.
but il is known that this item is only
one Of several positive proofs of dis
honesty that have been unearthed by
Expert Accountant McLaren in his ex-
animation Of the secretary's books and
vouchers
A CAUTIOUS MOVE.
The formal charging of McKowen
with embezzlement was apparently
done as a precautionary measure in
case his attorneys should attempt to
obtain his release through habeas cor
pus proceedings. 1t was announced
last Thursday that no formal complaint
would be filed until the bookkeeping ex-
! perts had concluded their task and the
exact amount of McKowen's defaIca-
tions was ascertained, and that Attor-
ney Harry A. Wright, on behalf of the
( accused, had promised to take no ac-
tion to secure his clients liberty pend
ing the investigation. McKowen him
self at that time declared he had no
yearning for freedom until his case had
been disposed Of by the Regents. Con-
seQuently the filing of the formal COM
plant yesterday came as something of
surprise to the miserable prisoner
Accountant Norman McLaren last
evening acknowledged that sufficient
evidence TO convict McKowen of en-
bezzlement, if he should attempt to
withdraw his confession and substitute
a defense or seek TO elude Justice
through a legal technicality, has all
ready been obtained from the books.
Thus far the bookkeeping experts have
devoted their efforts to getting specific
facts upon which to base a formal
prosecution, and having succeeded in
accomplishing that they viii now go
through the books more systematicalIv.
1t is expected that their task will not
be finished until after the holidays The
Board of Regents will meet on January
y. by which time the finance commit
tee hopes TO have all the available evi-
dence to lay before them.
In speaking Of the effect which Nc
Kowen's pecuIations will have on the
finances in the hands Of the university
authorities. President Wheeler said
yesterday that the scholarship funds.
so far as known, still contain the orIgi
nal amounts subscribed by their
donors 1t is the funds provided by the
State for the maintenance of the uni
versity that have suffered, as these
were dipped into by McKowen to make
funds caused by his race track plunges.
These deficiencies in the State funds. it
is supposed, were covered up by Nc
Kowen when he charged up the money
TO expenditures -