The San Francisco call., 1905-04-30
Representatives of Banks
in Which Tax Collector
Smith Deposited City
Funds Answer Questions
FUGITIVE'S BROTHERS
CALLED TO TESTIFY
Relatives of the Thieying
City Official. Are Among
the Witnesses Called to
Explain First Shortage

The Grand Jury began to thrash out
yesterday the evidence Of the existence
OF q conspiracy behind Tax Collector
Smiths first shortage Of s165,OO0. Rep
resentatives Of five banks In which the
defsulting official deposited money be-
longing to the city that should have
been kept in the Treasurer's Office were
called as witnesses.
Evidence that the funds were juggled
IS now il the hands Of the jury and
the bombsheu of which Foreman An
drews spoke on Friday is almost ready
TO be exploded.
There are just a few links missing in
the chain Of evidence which may not be
completed until tomorrow. The re-
suits Of yesterdays Investigations are
closely guarded. The Grand Jury is on
the verge of uncovering a scandal that
VIII involve more than one city official.
A unique feature Of the investigation
was the fact that James B. Smith, the
Grand Juror and a brother OF the de-
faulting Tax collector, was called as
a witness in connection with his broth
ers dealings with the banks.
John r. Smith, the younger brother,
was also called. When they had fin
ished questioning him James B. Smith
retired from Judge Lawlor's court,
where the jury was meeting, and took
no further part in their deliberations.
One Of the bank officials who were
questioned closely is P. Z. Bowles, pres
ident Of the American National Bank,
Of which James B. Smith is a director
At various times James B. Smith had
deposited large sums of the citys
money in this bank.
BANK OFFICIALS QUESTIONED.
The other hank officials who were
called were F. W. Wolf, cashier of the
San Francisco National Bank; c. F.
Buckner. cashier Of the Crocker- Wool
worth Bank; John d. Mckee, cashier
Of the Mercantile Trust Company; T.
4. Holland Of the Western National
Bank: James, 3. Gleason, cashier of
she Union Trust Company, and Stewart
+. Smith OF the Mission Bank.
George sNareoe of the Treasurer's Of
fee was put through a long course of
questioning. T. w. Knerr, the Tax
Collectors Clerk who stamped the
Southern Pacific Company's tax. bills
at the order Of Edward J. Smith, was
again called before the jury
After the bills had been receipted
and countersigned by the defaulting Of
fetal they were soon after returned TO
the Southern Pacific Company. The
Grand Jury is making a strenuous ef-
fort tc end out who took them back.
The jurors are certain that the messen-
ger was a person who knows Of other
crooked dealings of Smith. All the
employees Of the tax Office will be asked
10 assist in finding out who the man
was. He is believed TO be an attache
ofethe Office
The police have received news that
the defauleer succeeded in crossing the
Mexican border. Trace Of him was lost
near the City Of Mexico. The woman
who accompanied him in his flight was
not with him when he was last seen.
It is believed that Leona Brooks be-
came tired Of the flight with the GRIM
inaf and left him.
The Mexican police are on the look
out for the defaulter. but it is thought
that by this time he is out Of the
country and on the way TO Honduras
LICENSE GRAFT ENORMOUS.
The Grand Jury viii at an early date
take up the Subject of the enormous
graft IN the license office. The Finance
Committee ofsthe Board Of Supervisors