The San Francisco call., 1904-06-24
OK NEWS OF THE COUNTY OF. ALAMEDA
GRAND JURY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
TURNS IN ITS FINAL REPORT
Much Talk of Extravaganza and Misspent
Money---Credit Hard to Get-Improve-
ments Effected in Municipal Institutions

OAKLAND, June 23.-The Grand
Jury submitted its final report to-day
and was discharged by Judge B. F..
ogden. One indictment was returned.
Former Constable Ed Weidler was
found guilty of malfeasance in office
and embezzlement A bench warrant
was Immediately issued for his arrest,
but il is believed that he is now in
Canada.
In regard to the conduct of the coun-
ty affairs the jury made an exhaustive
investigation and had the following to
say on the. extravaganza in county
management:
We beg TO report that In the matter OF
the Contra Costa Water Company's assess
ment the erasures referred 10 were made by
clerks in the Assessors office during the per
formance OF their official duties and had no
effect disastrous to or jeopardizing the In
terests OF taxpayers.
In the matter Of the mutilation OF the rec
OF ds in the Recorders office we found that
the binding of about seventy-hve books had
been mutilated but the evidence obtainable
by the jury was insufficient 10 incriminate
any person or persons
The Grand Jury found that the Coun-
ty Jail has been kept in first-class con-
dition under the administration Of
Sheriff John Bishop, with the single
exception that the Chinese quarter,
which is used for the United States
prisoners, is somewhat overcrowded.
Regarding the charges brought
against the management of the Coun-
ty Infirmary the report was as fol-
lows:
The jury made thorough investigation into
the charges brought against the management
OF the County Infrmary, more particularly
regarding fraud in drugs. and we beg TO
report could find evidence TO support
the charges brought against DR.. Clark.
After investigation OF the charges or ex-
travagance in furnishing the cottage OF the
superintendent this body finds the charges un-
founded.
There has been considerable criticism re-
gRrding the expenditure of money for the
County Inhrmary: inasmuch as this is a
charitable institution and the expense per
very moderate, We recommend that additional
facilities be granted and the institution be
made thoroughly up-to-date.
RACETRACK CENSURED.
The Oakland race track came in for
a severe scoring at the hands of the
jury in the following words:
We deplore this insufhciency in the statutes
and the number OF loopholes left for the
escape Of guilty parties because Of technicali-
ties and vague laws.
This applies in particular TO the racetraclI
at Emeryville, the very hotbed and source
OF crime. The county stinks with this evil,
and all honorable consideration should be given
to the limiting of its corruption.
Emeryville was incorporated for the purpose
of prohibiting interference with the vice to be
carried on within its boundaries. millions of
dollars spent and as a reward we receive
defacations and ruin to our institutions. both
public and private.
We recommend that a more definite law be
passed governing poolseling and the necessity
Of combining all horseracing within the State
to two weeks in the year.
The jury investigated the matter of
slot machines and caused all money
paying machines and gambling de-
vices to be abolished throughout the
county, except such machines as are
run as merchandise machines, which
they were advised are run under the
protection of the law. With regard to
street signs and distractions the jury
recommended the regulations govern
ing and regulating billboards, fences
and street distractions, more particu-
larly in front of buildings in course of
erection, be thoroughly revised and
enforced, especially within the fire
limits of the city, these regulations to
include proper passageway and pro-
lection TO pedestrians in front of
buildings in course of construction.
The Grand Jury submitted the fol-