The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16

ployed in the handling of the property
Itself. I don't recall exactly what was
said.
Cant you give us the substance
of it? Al would like to give you
the substance of it. 1t is more OF a
about what happened, but 1 can't recall
the words themselves, in fact what
the substance was. 1t is more of a
proposition here, go ahead and do
this and don't ask any questions
Q.-From the situation at the time
in regard to the franchise itself In
the board. what you had been hearing
along. you gathered the impression
that Ruef was opposed to it up to that
time and they had to take him in? That
the mayor was favorable? Al had
gathered the impression the mayor was
favorable yes, sir, and gathered the
impression the thing was being un-
doubtedly held back.
Q.-And Ruef was the man who was
obstructing it? Al kept pretty well
away from any of that railroad END
of the business. 1 may have gained
that Impression.
Q.-Isn't that what led you to think--
Al had a hunch as to what this
thing might be for l couldn't swear
positively.
Q.-Did you ever talk with any other
member of the company about the mat
ter? About the matter of $4,000
to Ruef? 1 don't think I did, outside
of the time when I took the checks
down to the bank.
O. Who did you talk to then? Al
went to Mr.. Gregg and Endorsed these
checks and asked him if could get
some paper money and / imagined al
the time he understood what was do
ing.
Q.-Was anything said? A.-Nothing
said about it at all.
Odd Mr.. Joe OBrien ever talk &c
you about it? A.-No.
O.-Did you hear that there while
with the company that Ruef had want
ed that Judge Cope had seen Ruef ano
Ruef wanted $4,000? A.-No, the
first I knew of that was today.
Q.-Who told you today? A-Joe
Green, just outside the door, the first
1 heard and what Mr. Heney spoke Of
that Judge Cope had gone to see Ruef
was Just outside the door here.
Q.-Was this question ever passed
on at directors meeting, the matter OF
this $4,000? A-No.
O.-How was that disposed of in the
books? Al believe it was charged
up to purchase of property in the gen
eral account, property account
couldn't say exactly. l don't know ex-
actIy how it was charged
O.-Who was book keeper at the
time? A.-Miss Irene Rademacher.
Q.-Do you know where she is nowi
A.-No.
Odd this payment of money take
place since the fire? A.-No, before.
Q.-Was it 1905? A.-No, it was
spring of 190e-sometime. would say
about March.
Q.-Before the earthquake? A-Yes
sir. much before the earthquake. II
may have been in February. about the
middle, not later than the 18th o.
March.
Q.=When you presented those checks
for $4,000. did Mr.. Gregg offer you
currency right of? A.-No, 1 asked
him for It: Here are two checks.
would like TO get some large bills.
Q.-Why was that made in two
checks: do you know why it was not
in one? A.-Something-I had forgot
ten that proposition. I can explain
the transaction. Harry Umbsen and
Myself owned block of land and we
owned it jointly and it was supposed
to be for the purchase of that half and
half; that was the reason.
Odd you deed the land to them
A.-Yes, sir; gave a deed and got a
deed back afterward.
Q.-So as to cover the transaction
A-(Nods head affirmatively.)
Q.-Was this deed executed subse-
quently to the time you took the money
over there? A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-Long afterward2 No. the fol-
lowing week.
Q-when did you get the deed back
immediately Al think almost inn
mediateIy, If not the same time.
Q.-Was your deed recorded, the
deed you gave to them? Al believe
it was, it might not have been.
Odd you record the deed back to
you folks2 Al did after the fire.
Q.-Not until after the fire? A-No
Q-Who arranged " = at rigmarole
about signing the deeds? A.-Mr
Green, J. E Green.
Q.-Where did you sign the deed-in
whose office? Anime.
Q.-Who was the notary took the
acknowled glnent? Al think it was
Mrs. Adeline Copeland.
Q.-Whose office was she in? A.
Eleventh floor Of the building.
Q.-Just by herself? A.-Had Offices
up there; she was notary and hat
girls doing stenography and typewrit-
ing work
Q--Do you know who prepared the
deeds? A-The deeds were prepared in
my own office.
Q.-Are you sure of that? A.-Quite
by my own stenographer, yes sir.
Q.-You Were tolc to have these
deeds, so you really understood the
transaction fully, didn't you? Al
understood that end of the transaction
fully, yes, sir
Q.-Was that property of Umbsen-
was that in Umbsen & Co.'S name, OIL
Mr.. Umbsen privately? All. p. Umb.
sen.
Q.-Harry Umbsen? A-Yes. sir.
Q.-When he indorsed it and gave
you the check, he understood what il