The San Francisco call., 1905-05-09
CANNOT FIND
JAMES 'CABE
Deputy Who Acted as Tax
Collector Temporarily Is
Sought Without Success
SCOTT MAKES CHANGES
New Official Drops Extra
Clerks Who Were Kept on
the Roll by Predecessor

James w. McCabe, who acted as Tax
Collector after reno Il of defaulter
Edward j. Smith. has been missing
since noon yesterday.
Expert j. w. O'Conno-. representing
the Grand Jury, and A. Wenzeberger,
representing the Natl al Surety Com
pany. have been going over the state
ments McCabe filed with the Auditor
and the Treasurer. The documents
show evidence of having been drawn
up in haste and there are many
erasures in them.
Shortly after noon Foreman Andrews
sent Detective Tom Gibson to find Nc
Cabe. The detective found that his
quarry had left the tax Office, but had
not gone to his home. Up to midnight
no trace of him was found 1t is not
thought, however, that he has. left
town Foreman Andrews believes that
the Grand Jury will institute steps to
have McCabe removed.
Leona Brooks, the woman for whom
Tax Collector Smith stole the city's
money and deserted his faithful wife,
did not arrive yesterday Chief Dinan
is anxiously awaiting her coming. He
believes that she will be valuable
witness.
The woman is being shadowed by
Pinkerton detectives. The supposition
is that Smith has cached some of his
loot and that she knows where 1t is
hidden. She will be watched wherever
she goes.
SCOTT TAKES OFFICE.
Mayor Schmitz yesterday handed
Joseph Harry Scott his commission as
Tax Collector to succeed Edward ].
Smith, who absconded with the citys $
funds Scott's appointment had been
decided upon by the Mayor last Sun
day evening.
Scott at once took the oath of Office
before County Clerk Greif, after fur
nishing his bond in the sum of $780,
600 with the Aetna Indemnity Com
pany as surety. Mayor Schmitz noti-
fled the Board of Supervisors OF
Scotts appointment.
James w. Simpson, Chief Deputy
Tax Collector under Smith. Immediate
ly filed his resignation with the new
Tax Collector, who thereupon appoint
ed George B. Benham to the vacancy.
Benham was formerly president of the
San Francisco Labor Council.
Scott also appointed oscar Curtaz
cashier to take the place of John r.
Smith. who has held the position ever
since last October, having beep put
InGrG TO Keep the lufQS Out VI luC
hands of his brother, Edward. Curtaz
is a brother-in-law of Scott, and is
the latter's personal appointment.
There are two other positions in the
Tax Office not under civil service.
namely, that of assistant cashier, held
by e. H. Hulford, the father-in-law Of
James B. Smith, and expert searcher.
held by Hugo Herzer. The positions
of chief deputy and cashier are the
only two not legally under civil serv-
ice, but the defaulting Tax Collector
succeeded in inducing. the Mayor to
recommend the creation of the other
two places, which recommendation
was indorsed by the Board of Super
visors.
CLERKS ARE SAFE. /
The clerks and deputies are Under
civil service, and are secure in their
positions. Neither Scott nor the Mayor
made any move yesterday to remove
Deputy James w. McCabe. who was
appointed acting Tax Collector when
Smiths embezzlement was uncovered.
Unless the Grand Jury takes action
McCabe will be left undisturbed, as
far as the Mayor and new Tax Col
lector are concerned.
On motion of Supervisor Comte the
Board of Supervisors requested the
new Tax Collector to notify delinuuent
properly OWNERS Oh tnelT QellnQuGncy.
Comte said this was the only way In
which the exact defalcation of ex-Tax
Collector Smith can ever be known.
Tax Collector Scott said yesterday
that upon discovering the extra num-
Der of clerks in the Office he imme-
diately proceeded to reduce the force.
The men were taken on during the
rush season of the year, and were not
dropped, although the work requiring
their presence had long since finished.
The names are as follows: Otto +.
Tiessen, William t. Knorp, P. A. Nc
Carthy, Florence j. McAuliffe, William
H. Mccarthy. Stanley A. Horan, Par
ker Crittenden, Arthur p. Rhodes
Robert McCord and William H. Will
Hams.
Senator Billy" Sampson. the negro
who carried Smiths valises to the de-
pot the day he left this city, has at
last been located by Deputy Sheriff
Coyle. He was closely questioned by
Foreman Andrews of the Grand Jury,
but little information was obtained