The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-10-29
RECENT WEALTH
IS TRACED TO
BOOK KEEPER
Purchase of Valuable Property
Considered Evidence Against
Tomalty
Prosecution Claims to Have
Strong Case Concerning
Treasury Thefts
Whole ring May Be Landed
and BanteI Will Be Sued
for Missing Taxes

Suddenly acquired wealth, the pur-
chase of property in one of the fash
ionable residence districts of the city
and the furnishing of home without
regard to cost were matters which
yesterday engaged the attention of
detectives employed to investigate the
career of James c. Tomalty. now held
in the city prison on charge of hav-
ing falsifcd the public records in con-
nection with the looting of the city
treasury. According to the state
ments of officials connected with the
prosecution this quick transition from
comparative poverty to wealth in To-
maltys case was of such a character
that 1t caused friends and relatives TO
marvel and express the opinion that
Jim had been declared in on some of
the Ruef graft"
From the standpoint of the prosecu-
tion yesterday was considered one of the
: most productive days since the discov
cry of the fact that the city had been
robbed of large sum of money. The
developments of the day served not
/ only to draw the web tighter around
! Tomalty. but also to shed a great deal
of light on the actions of those who
are suspected of having been impl-
Gated in the gigantic steal. Although
| none of the alleged accomplices of To-
4 malty have been taken into custody up
/ to the present time ii is the opinion of
men prominently connected with the
/ prosecution that within Tie next few
4 10 ont iro " zt lF16
charged with conspiracy 30 defraud the
city of the missing money.
EXPECT TO PROVE GUILT
| So far as Tomalty is concerned. the
/ prosecution entertains not the slightest
doubt that the evidence already in hand
will convince a jury that he is guilty of
the offense charged Relying solely on
the handwriting of the defendant him.
self and his utterances since his arrest,
! the states attorneys hope to prove the
! guilt of the defendant.
! II was officially stated yesterday that
the matter would not be brought to
the attention of the grand jury before
Monday unless unexpected Develop
ments warranted hurry calling" of
the inquisitorial body to consider the
matter.
Rumors were current yesterday to the
effect that the detectives in the em-
ploy of the prosecution had succeeded
in bringing to light extensive business
| transactions in which Tomalty was in
terested within period Of six months
after the earthquake. 1t was stated
that Mrs Mary Devlin, a sister of Mrs
Tomalty, July "a, 1905, acting as To-
maltys agent. purchased from Mrs.
E. n. Fritz of 101 Frederick street the
house and lot at SCI Ashbury street
IN rrvvn DAVNENTS
| The price paid for the Ashbury street
property by Mrs. Devlin, who is a seam
stress and lost her. home in the fire.
was $500, all of which was paid in
/ two payments. Immediately after the
purchase of the house Mrs. Devln sug-
gested to Mrs. Fritz that the latter
! might make many valuable sugges-
tions in regard to furnishing the house.
Mrs. Fritz, who is a woman of refine
ment and culture, consented to make
suggestions in regard to the furnish
| ings, and planned an artistic interior
Old rose draperies solid unfinished ma
hogany furniture, the finest cut glass,
bronze bowls and expensive vases, were
some of the details which figured in
this residence.
| 1t is claimed by the detectives that
the cost of furnishing the house was,
at q conservative estimate, $1,000,
which taken with the cost of the prop
erty, $500, brought the total to $15,-
| 500, which amount was expended by a
man who had lost his home in the
earthquake. and has never claimed to
! have had more than $500 at any one
time in his life.
COyCEALS ACQUIRED WEALTH
The fact that the property stands in
the name of Mrs. Devlin, 1t is claimed,
will be shown to be another evidence
that Tomalty wished to conceal his
newly acquired wealth.
All efforts to obtain information at
the beautiful Tomalty residence were
met with curt refusal on the part of
the father of Mrs. Tomalty.
At the city prison last night Tomalty
refused to answer questions regarding
the Ashbury street property, saying
that he was acting on the advice of
counsel.
An attempt was made yesterday by
friends of Tomalty's to furnish the
/ $4,000 bond required. but when the
sureties were examined 1t developed
that they were unable to comply with
the statutory requirements The rela-
tives of the accused man after their
futile attempt expressed the hope that
they would be able to furnish the bond
today.
II am we'll satisfied with the evidence
we have against Tomalty," said Assist
ant District Attorney Harrison when
asked for statement regarding the
case yesterday. He refused to discuss
the matter any. further.
CONSIDERS CASE PERFECT
From authoritative sources it is
| known that the prosecution considers
its case against Tomalty as absolutely
perfect. 1t is stated that lists writ
ten by Tomalty himself together with
books in which original entries were
made from the demands presented for
payment, will be the principal docu-
mentary evidence against the defend
| ant Supporting this the prosecution
| will use the utterances of the prisoner
| himself since his arrest.
Tomalty has admitted that he in
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