The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-12-28
Says That in Transactions
He Did Know OF He
Was Overridden
INSISTS ON TELLING
Fallen Financier Declines
Cooks Advice to Avoid
Inquisition

Il was away much of the time
and could not follow all the trans
actions of the California safe de-
posit and trust company, but in
many matters ]. Dalzell Brown
acted entirely at variance with
my ideas and advice. Especially
did I oppose his actions in re-
gard to the timber deals in which
the bank was involved. .'-Testi-
nony of Walter J. Bartnett be-
for the grand jury yesterday.
Il am willing to sacrifice all
my property, even to our home
On the island off Sausalito, which.
7 value at $4,000. to aid the Cali
fornia safe deposit and trust conl-
pany voluntary statement of
Mrs Walter J. Bartnctt before
the grand jury.
Walter ]. Bartnett and Mrs Bartnctt
were witnesses before the grand jury
yesterday at their own request. For
an hour and half the indicted director
of the California safe deposit and trust
company sat in the jury room, and un-
der the searching questions of Assist
ant District Attorney WilliamA Hof
Cook he told what he knew of the af-
fairs of the corporation. Although
there were many questions and answers
the grand jury did not receive as much
enlightenment from the witness as it
had anticipated. Bartnett devoted him
self to an endeavor to prove that he
was absent when many of the trans
actions were consummated by the
bank Although he did not directly
charge Brown with wrecking the bank,
Bartnett, in his mild manner, threw
strong implications against his former
friend and present jailmate.
SUSPICIOUS OF LOANS
James Treadwell was not mentioned
by Bartnett in particular, but the wit
ness declared that he was suspicious of
the heavy loans and investments made
by the bank with the Treadwell Ell
Dorado lumber company.
Assistant District Attorney Cook said
at the close of the session that Bart
netts testimony had made little difrcr-
ence in the investigation.
The case of the people is not altered
in the least by the testimony of Bart
nett" said the prosecutor. That indi-
Gated that more indictments against
Bartnett and Brown and probably
against ]. Dalzell Robertson and James
Treadwell may be returned when the
grand jury meets next Monday
Yesterday the grand jury gave nc
consideration to the Cotton estate Sc
curities case in which indictments al
ready have been returned. The entire
session. was devoted to the investiga-
tion of the loans made by the bank
OF the s10,oo0,ooo in loans, approx
mateIy ss,oo0,00o was turned over tc
! the Treadwell interests OF this sun
$3.50, 900 was loaned to the El Dorado
lumber company on its unsecured note
and s1.6s4,02S.6s was invested by the
bank in the stock of the concern.
IGNORANT OF DEALS
1t was to these transactions thai
Bartnett declared that he particularly
Eobjected.
Il was away from the bank much Of
the time, he said. "and I knew nothing
of many of the transactions. But O
much of the business which Brown
proposed ! did not agree upon; cspe,
cially did l not approve of the heavy
aid rendered the timber enterprises
But Brown went ahead and invested
money in those projects. In many IN
stances his policy was opposed to ny
IDEAS
4 Mrs. Bartnett was also witness
Under the law Of California woman
cannot be forced to testify agains
her husband, and yesterday Bartneti
gave his consent that Mrs Bartneti
should testify. Her testimony was II
i the form of 81 denial of any knowledge