The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-11-10
CRESS UNCER
IS ARRESTED
Two Charges Of Em6eZzle-
ment Made Against Him by
Officials of Government
BAIL is FURNISHED
Attorney for the Accused
Attributes All Trouble
TO Errors in Bookkeeping

Cress Unger, who for more than a
quarter Of a century has beer con-
nected with the United States Customs
service in various capacities. and
against whom The finger Of suspicion
has been pointed during his service as
seizure clerk, was yesterday afternoon
arrested on O. charge OF embezzlement.
without suffering the ignominy of
being confined in a DrIson~cell he was
held in the United States MarshaI's Of
fee until his bondsmen arrived. when
he was taken before Commissioner
Eeacock and released after his bonds
men had qualified
The amounts ne is specifically ac-
cused OF stealing are small. but the
District Attorneys Office says these
charges are made merely TO hold him
and others may be pressed if necessary.
There are two counts against him. The
first charges that on March Il. 1904
ia violation OF the laws Of Congress,
he stole certain property valued at
SO Is: the second count accuses him
Of having on March % stolen property
valued al $50 IS. The words Of the ac-
cUsation in both cases are Identical
with the exception Of the dates ana
amounts IT is as follows:
That c-ess Unser,, in violation Of an act
CITY and County OF san Francisco in the state
ana Northern District Of California. did
then and there winfully. unlawfuiiy and felon-
iously. eteal. pBrioln ana carry away certain
money ana property 20 wit the sum OF Sle IS
United States
Unger was arrested at his home. 1914
Fell street by Deputy United States
Marshal George H. Durham. He took
his arrest calmly and said that he had
intended giving himself up. He asked
for time 10 procure bondsmen, which
was granted The bond was fixed at
$1,000 and T z. Coghlan, fingers broth
er-in-laW, and Harry Corbett acted as
sureties.
While awaiting the arrival Of his
bOndsmen Unger was nervous and re-
fused 70 make any statement. He
seemed confident that he would be
cleared OF the charge, but did not care
TO discuss details.
his attorney. Bert Schlesinger, was
equally uncOmmUnicative. I have not
had time 10 discuss the case with my
client YET" he said. and accordingly
cannot enter into details All we can
say is thar there were errors or irregu-
lariues in Bookkeeping ana as soon as
these were discovered the amount was
promptly made good. The Government
has lost nothing, and I am sure Unger
has not been guilty OF any intentional
wrong doing"
The small amount Of money alleged
10 have been stolen by Unger viii not
protect him from punishment in case
Of conviction. as the act Of Congress
under which he viii be prosecuted
makes no distinction regarding
amounts. The penalty is fxed at i'm
prisonment a. hard labor for a period
not exceeding five years or a fine not
exceeding 5000. or both such fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion Of the
court.
Attorney Schlesinger expressed sur
prise At the arrest Of Tnger and shows
2 Letter from Collector StrattOn to
Tnger. dated November 9. in which
Cnger is informed that certain charges
have been made against him and he is
requested 10 appear before the collector
on November = and show cause why
he should not be dismissed.
The case wiz come up for preliminary
hearing before Judge Heacock NOvem-
Der - al 10 O'Clock in the morning.