The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-09-07
PROSE ECUT|ON Of
60 j n TY CLERK
GRAHAM URGED
Marin Citizens Are Split
Over Discovery of
Funds Withheld
UP TO SUPERVISORS
Members of Board Accept
Money and May Take
Further Action
FUND FOUND IN SAFE
Official Borrows $500 on
Note When Deficit of
$500 Is Discovered
UP TO SUPERVISORS
FUND FOUND IN SAFE

pTuU 4S 11SCOVGTeU
SAN RAFAEL, Sept. 6.-The
discovery made by Expert Ac-
countant F. Greenhood that
money belonging to the county
had been withheld for years from
the treasury by County Clerk
Robert E. Graham of Marin
county is causing bitter discus
sion among north shore citizens,
who are divided into two squarely
opposing camps-those who, out
of friendliness to the derelict Off
cial, would let the matter drop.
and those who insist that the entire
truth be given to the public and
punishment meted out to Graham if
1t is found he is amenable to the law
The fight reached the board of super
visors yesterday when it became known
that the amount involved in the irreg-
ularity finally had been turned over to
the treasurer by Graham Some of the
supervisors assert that the board COM
pounded a felony wliesa Ii accepted the
long overdue money; others of the
board claim there is no good making
a fuss over the affair, seeing that the
county finally came into its own.
The entire report of the expert is
being clamored for by. the people of
San Rafael, many of whom do not hesi-
tate to assert that previous irregular
| tiles In the county clerks office have
been frequent and have been covered
up by friends rushing to the assistance
of the official and making good the
amount, while fellow officials discreetly
held their tongues. The fact that Gra-
ham could hold out $500 for nearly
three years without a shortage being
discovered is pointed to by many as
good reason for complete airing of
the county courthouse business meth
DDS. Merchants all over the town are
complaining at the secrecy with which
the entire transaction has been shroud
| ed. and declare that Graham has been
embarrassed for funds and is exceed
ingly poor pay" Grocers, butchers and
bakers. small tradesmen. are putting
| their claims together and have alleged
unpaid bills against Graham OF about
| 81, 2,o00
According to the report submitted
to the supervisors by the expert a few
days ago the shortage was located in
funds received by the county from the
state for the prosecution Of cases grow
| ing out of San Quentin. such as that
of Oppenheimer, the fiendish convict.
who is on trial for his life in San
Rafael The county charges the state
for the care of such prisoners and the
cost of prosecuting them.
| Such bill was presented to the
state during Aguirre's administration
and amounted to $266.15. 1t was paid
about three years ago. Afterward an
other bill of $3.50 was paid to the county
clerk by the state. Expert Greenhood
found the record of the bills in the
entries
| in Grahams books showing that the
money had been received He began
to Investigate.
Meantime Graham was borrowing
money. He got $500 from S. A. Pacheco
on note and left his bills unpaid The
expert followed the claims to San
Quentin. He found they had been prop
| erly audited and then he went to Sac
ramento and located the warrants. They
were indorsed by Robert r. Graham.
county clerk. and had been paid. The
! larger amount was paid to Graham
by a check on the Hotaling bank and
the smaller sum was cashed by him at
| the Marin county bank.
Treasurer T. ]. Fallon never received
| It. though he reports that the county
| clerk is supposed by law to turn over
| all his collections at the end of each
month Nearly three years passed since
the $o6616 had been cashed by Graham,
and about Is months slipped by since
the county clerk had received and
cashed the $3.50 check, but the treas
urer never received the money. The
only way the facts were established
was through the work of the expert,
who reported the mater to the super
visors last Wednesday. They asked an
explanation from Graham
why. here It Is said Graham. OPEN
ing the big safe in his Office and show
ing the money He declared that the
coin had been there all the time and
that it had not been turned over to the