Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-31
FIGURES ALTERED
ASSERTS DEPUTY
COMMISSION HEARS MORE OF
NUNNALEY CASE
Assessor Lewis Wlelds the Big stick
Over Clerks in His office.
How Ring Was
Purchased

Political wiseacres and others we're
busy last night when the civil service
commission proceeded with the exam
inaton Of Oscar Nunnaley, chief deputy
in the office of the city assessor, who
is facing charges of incompetency, per-
nicious activity in politics and inciden-
tally few other charges that were un-
earthed during the course of the ex-
animation.
Evan Lewis wore a characteristic
smile and figuratively speaking carried
the big stick"
Last nights proceedings were marked
by startling admissions on the part of
the witnesses. denials, bitter charges
and an intelligent insight into the in
side life of city office.
From the testimony introduced last
night it appears that the hours of the
day were spent in a free indulgence in
horse gossip. while often the deputies
discussed the literary merits of certain
books. How to win at the racing
game" and BILLY the Kid" were the.
books most talked about. ,
A. C. Doan. deputy in the assessors
office, was the first witness called to
the stand, and his testimony was
against the best interests of the ac-
cused deputy.
Doan landed some heavy blows at
the cause of Nunnaley.
SAYS Figures Were Altered
The witness after careful examina-
ton declared without hesitation that
the figures in the assessment book had
been altered. but he was unable to
trace such alterations to direct point.
on cross-examination by Attorney
Meserve in behalf of the chief deputy,
Doan admitted that such alterations
might have been made in the due
course of business. whereupon the re-
form movement tumbled several
notches.
Interest in the proceedings ap-
preached fever heat when Harry Cord,
has BEEN deputy, took the stand.
The assessment made in connection
Il.
reduced, but why-"who knows"' Cord
gave it up.
He asserted that the chief deputy
occasionally returned to his desk after
lunch. none the better for his expert
ence at the Imperial, but in answer to
another question from President
Thomas of the commission in respect
to the lunch, Cord said
"Well, L guess we all ate and drank
the same amount"
The diamond ring incident was again
aired before the commission, and some
interesting testimony in this connec-
ton was handed down to Los Angeles
political posterity.
1t appears that it was agreed be-
tween himself and Nunnaley that it
would be a fitting testimonial of Wis
mer's general worth and they accord
ingly decided to levy tax on the dep
uties for this purpose.
He also volunteered to say that some
of the deputies 1abored with their pens
all the time, others, when they felt like
it,
A. A. Bailey at one time held down
desk in Wismer's office, but its all
over now" and yesterday he loomed up
prominently as an aide-de- camp to the
man with the big stick.
At the request of Nunnaley he
agreed to furnish an estimate on the
fair valuation of the Lockwood prop
erty, which it appears he turned in at
SS4OO.
This was in November but according
10 his testimony the chief deputy
urged him to date the assessment back
to March.
Bailey baked however, saying that
it was out of his line.
Il thought this was an unusual re-
quest" declared Bailey He too, it ap-
pears, was i'm OH the diamond incident,
but so light that il could be hardly no.
ticed.
He suggested that 81 would be a fair
allotment as his share of the burden,
but Nunnaley thought otherwise and
urged him to pay SIS.
If there was witness last evening
that night be called a comedian, it
proved to be Harry Cole who intro
duced himself as the map man.
Took Receipt
Cole told the commission that he
handed Cord $40 on the diamond ring
deal, "and l got receipt" added Cole
OaughterN