The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-09-05
MARIN COUNTY
CLERK'S BOOKS
SHOW SHORTAGE
Genial Bob" Graham Has
tens to Make Up Dis
crepancy Found
FRIENDS GIVE HELP
Pay Over Several Thousands
and Attempt to Keep
Scandal Secret
TROUBLE OVER DEBTS
Lawyer Said to Have Been
Collecting Salary for
Creditors Benefit
TROUBLE OVER DEBTS

Startling disclosures concern
ing irregularities in the handling
of Marin county funds by Robert
E. Graham, county clerk, were
made behind closed doors at the
meeting of the Marin county
board Of supervisors in San
Rafael yesterday morning, and
before night Grabam's friends
made up the shortage, which is
said to have been several thou
sand dollars. Every effort has
been made to prevent knowledge
Of the scandal becoming public.
: The report that the misuse of
county funds had been traced to
Graham was made to the super
visors by F. GREENWOOD, repre-
sentative of San Francisco
auditing company, who has been en-
Gagged for some weeks examining the
books OF the county clerks department,
and is but a partial report OF his find
ings. Every department OF the county
government Is to be thoroughly IN
'westigated and 1t is possible that the
present exposure is only the first of a
series.
NO RECORD OF VOUCHERS
According to the information placed
before the supervisors yesterday, Gra-
ham has made It q practice for several
years 10 withhold sums Of money vary
ing IN amount for long periods after
receiving 1t. but already has made good
the greater portion OF the shortage.
The discrepancy is said TO have
amounted at times TO several thousand
dollars, but OF late 70 have fallen TO a
dgure which made Il possible for
Graham's friends TO meet the situation
and cover the defaications within a
Few hours after the secret leaked out
The real basis for the report made
BY GREENWOOD was the absence IN the
county books OF any accounting for
certain vouchers which went through
.Graham's hands. Some OF these vouch-
ers date back several years, among
them being several from San Quentin,
on which Graham made collections. In
dorsing them Marin county. by Robert
z Graham. These vouchers with the
Endorsement have been traced from San
Quentin through San Rafael and TO
Sacramento.
Several county officials are said to
have suspected irregularities in Gra-
hams department for some time, as II
has been necessary for Sheriff W. P.
Taylor and other county officials to re-
sort to extreme measures on several
occasions and undergo considerable de-
lay before obtaining funds which
should have been on hand-at the time
called for. It Is believed that IT was
Graham's method TO withhold funds
for his own use from time to time,
covering his tracks by different means
and to return the money at such time
as suited his convenience.
For some time Frank Holland has
been conducting the work OF the clerks
Office. Graham remaining away a great
deal on the plea OF illness. This, 1t IS
now said, was brought about by worry
over the condition Of his accounts
There also had been some political fric-
ton between Graham and Holland,
which may have contributed TO the
formers condition and led to the un-
earthing OF the Irregularities.
TROUBLE OVER DEBTS
While every effort was made TO sup
press the facts. Of the case yesterday,
the formal report sooner or later must
be made public. and Mayor NJ. J. Pc
drotti OF San Rafael himself admitted
last night the nature OF its contents.
A rumor was current in San Rafael
that Graham has recently had serious
trouble over personal debts and that