The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28

public moneys as such Tax Collector Of said
city and county Of San Francisco.
Wherefore 1 respectfully recommend that
your honorable Board of Supervisors approve
my action IN suspending said Edward J:
Smith from the office OF Tax Collector. and
that he the said Edward ]. Smith be finally
and permanently removed from said office
E E. SCHMlTZ,
Mayor City and County Of San Francisco
Dated ADril p. 1905
After the charges had been read the
Mayor stated that City Attorney Long
had suggested that they be verified.
Emmons Blackburn Ryan. tax at
torney for the Southern Pacific Com
pany, was first placed on the stand to
show the payment of the money for
the companys taxes to Smith. Ryan
stated that Smith had made hurried
call on him at his Office on April 4
last and asked him to pay the second
installment of taxes.
SAYS DEPUTIES WERE IDLE.
Smith told me that his deputies had
nothing to do and were lounging
around and he wanted them to be
working He mentioned that the
French bank and others were going to
pay their taxes. took Smith to
Treasurer N. T Smith Of the company,
who gave him a check for $24,37S.4S.
We received two vouchers in the sums
of S6694.72 and ST., ,683.76, together with
the receipted tax bills from the Tax
Collector. On April 1S Tax Collector
Smith was given another check for
$i4, ,735 03, made payabel TO his order. 4,
This check came back to us in the
regular order indorsed by John E. Nc
Dougald, City Treasurer. l do not
think that E. ]. Smith ever came to
US before in person to collect taxes
I saw no reason for the irregularity,
except for the one he assigned at the
time, that his clerks had nothing to
do
James w. McCabe, acting Tax Col
lector, identified the signature of E. j.
Smith on the Endorsement Of the check.
so far as 1 know said McCabe,
1.-The money for the taxes paid by the
Southern Pacific Company has not
been turned into the city treasury and
the corporation stands delinquent on
our books.
Chief Deputy Treasurer Louis A
Devote testified to his having cashed
the check for Slabs 03 signed by f..
Black Ryan, which Tax Collector
Smith had presented to him on Thurs
day of last week. Devote also told Of
his having cashed the personal check
of z. ]. Smith for $15,590 0S on the
Crocker- Woolworth Bank, which re-
turned the check last Wednesday
marked no funds"
PINS DEVOTE DOWN.
Supervisor Brandenstein asked par
ticularly as to the cashing of the two
checks with the object of placing the
responsibility for the amounts on De-
voto.
In point of fact, you cashed the
check for $14,735 03 which was in
tended for the payment of taxes, but
the city was in nothing, as you had
previously paid the amount in funds
of the city to Smith. You also cashed
his personal check for $15,590 0S with
money belonging to the city.
If Brandenstein's contention is cor
rect either Devote or City Treasurer
McDougald will be liable for $780,
725 Ii of Smiths shortage.
John r. Smith, who reported to the
Mayor that his brother was a de-
faulter. was the next to take the stand
and was evidently overcome with his
emotions and the terrible strain to
which he has been subjected. He was
but briefly questioned and told in
trembling tones that his brother had
left him last Thursday afternoon, say
ing that he was going on trip to Los
Angeles.
4 have absolutely no idea of his
whereabouts" said Smith, as he with
difficulty restrained the tears from
yelling to his eyes.
Deputy Treasurer Perkins told of
how Cashier Gray had stated that
there were no funds TO the credit of
Tax Collector Smith in the bank and
had not been for some time when
been cashed by Chief Deputy Devote,
was presented for payment.
George z. Starr, treasurer of the
United Railroads. told of converse
ton he had with Tax Collector Smith
to the effect that the City Treasurer
could handle silver when the taxes Of
the corporation were paid.
SMITH ASKS FOR SILVER.
Smith called me up on the tele-
Phone said starr, and told me he
would take $4,000 in silver the next
day. He did not do so. and the next
day he called me up again and said the
money would be taken. but he did not
specify the time. / heard no more
about the matter from him. We have
always paid our taxes in coin TO the
City Treasurer. Once we paid Smith
$2s,500, for which he gave us a per-
sonal check, but later he gave us a
check signed as Tax Collector, which
was cashed."
Thomas p. Andrews. foreman of the
Grand Jury, was put on the stand to
tell of the evidence of deputies in the
tax Office that Smith had not seen for
q week.
Il have information" said Andrews,
that Smith was assisted on Thursday
afternoon by a colored man, who car
ried dress-siIit case
The colored man is said to be Bill
ly'' Sampson, who was one of a nu-
merous bcdyguard who lived off the
bounty of Tax Collector Smith when
he had money to throw to the birds.
Us there any one present to appear
for E. J. Smith" asked the Mayor.
No one answered, and City Attorney
Long said that some showing should
be made that the police officials have
been making efforts to find Smith.