The San Francisco call., 1905-01-14
CHARGED WITH
GRAIN FRAUDS
Jacob, Herman and Josua
Eppinger and J. Deming
Indicted by Grand Jury
ELECTION CASE HALTED
Prohibition Writ Prevents
Examination of RebstOck.
Who Is Awaiting Trial

The Grand Jury returned indictments
yesterday against Jacob and Herman
Eppinger, Josua Eppinger and James
Deming. charging them with fraud in
connection with the gigantic warehouse
certificate swindle.
| Jacob and Hermann Eppinger, broth
ers, were the principal members of the
firm of Eppinger & Company, and are
already under accusation in court,
Jacob Eppinger having had a trial in
which the jury disagreed. Josua is
son of Herman Eppinger and took d
prominent part in the business of the
company.
Deming was superintendent of the
| firms warehouses at Crockett. He was
the only member of the quartet to be
arrested last night. Captain Erickson
| and E. H. Aigeltinger furnished bail in
the amount of $4,000 and Deming was
released from custody.
1t appears that when Bernard Eft
| linger, who was associated with the
Eppingers, returned from Europe re-
Gently he became provoked at the
stories that he learned had been cir
culated about him during his absence,
emanating chiefly, he belieyed, from
the Eppingers. He. therefore, resolved
to turn the tables and went. to certain
grand jurors to do SO. He told them
of many new, discriminating matters
against his former partners, it is said.
On this evidence yesterdays indict-
ments were based.
Ettlinger also implicated Josua Ep-
pinger and Deming, who, he said were
involved in the wholesale issuance of
bogus warehouse certificates by which
banks were defrauded out of hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
The Grand Jury took no step against
the Election Commissioners and Regis
trar George P. Adams for alleged ir-
regularities in appointment of precinct
boards for the primaries held last Aug
ust. To make out satisfactory case
it is desired to have the testimony OF
Joseph Rebstock, who is now awaiting
trial on the indictment found by the
former inquisitorial body. He was an
inspector in the Almshouse precinct.
But the Grand Jury ran against a
snag when it undertook to call Reb-
stock as a witness, for a writ of pro-
hibition is out in his behalf and to
question him concerning matters in
Of court. For the time being. there
fore, the jurors are stalled in their
purpose to set prosecution on foot
against the election officials.
Last evening Messrs. Andrews,
Bowes, Bundschu, Stafford and Fink
ing of the Grand Jury met at the
Mills building rooms and spent several
hours taking evidence in the Baldwin
Theater matter, which was investigat
ed by the Lilienfeld Grand Jury. The
witnesses called were w. 8. Leake,
Charles Leonhardt Jr., W.. Tiffany
and Inspector Fitzsimmons a,of the
Board of Public Works. The action Of
the board in ordering work stopped
several times when the ten-cent show
house was being fitted up and Abe
Ruefs connection with the company
are under inquiry. 1t was said at the
former hearing that Ruef forced him
self into the corporation by means Of
his influence with the Public Works
Department, but the allegation was
denied, not only by Ruef himself. but
also by the members of the company.
The committee will resume it's hear
ing this afternoon at o'clock.