The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
CONFESSES THfFTS
FROM THE DEAD
Attache of Public Administra-
tor Arrested and Admits Loot
ing Unclaimed Estates
Flood Admits Forging Claims
and duplicates Attorney j. S.
De Lancey in Plot


under arrest following his return from
q vacation trip to Vancouver. B. c..
with his wife, A. J. Flood. clerk in the
office OF Public Administrator George
Gray. made a confession this afternoon
20 Captain of Detectives w ]. Petersen
Of series of embezzlements beginning
over two years ago. in which he de-
clares John S. Delaney, attorney for
the public administrator, and also un-
der indictment. received an equal share
Of the plunder.
The specific charge against Flood is
the forging of the name of E. James
F1nney, an undertaken, to an order for
si15 funeral expenses against the es-
tate OF A L. Poundstone, a Grand Army
veteran, who was buried in the pot
ter's field in March, 1907.
In the presence of Captain Petersen,
District Attorney Donahue and Gray,
Flood tearfully told OF his transgres-
sions. exonerating the public official
who had employed him OF any blame,
or even knowledge of the irregularities
in his office.
LEARNS OF DISCLOSURES
Flood talked freely TO Captain Peter
sen from the time the latter boarded
the steamship City of Puebla, which
brought the indicted clerk from Van
couver. He stated that he had read an
account of the investigation into the
affairs of the public administrators Of
Zee while making a short stay at Van
couver. The accused man and his young
wife took the first steamer for San
Francisco.
Captain OF Detectives Petersen, ac-
companied by Detectives Holland and
Of
today TO await the arrival of the City
OF Puebla from Seattle. Petersen left
Holland and Green at the wharf and
went out on a revenue cutter to meet
the incoming steamer. He boarded
the vessel near the bay entrance,
placed Flood under arrest and took him
aboard the cutter. After making the
run into the bay the prisoner was
transferred TO the San Francisco police
launch and brought TO the Oakland
side.
BY arresting Flood before he reached
the San Francisco docks Captain Pc
tersen outwitted his attorneys, as well
ASIDE Lancey's, and Floods father, who
were awaiting the arrival of the in
dicted clerk. Petersen feared that IL
Flood were allowed to land before he
was arrested his friends would sue
ceed in persuading him to be silent
Besides admitting his guilt in the
Poundstone case Flood confessed to
having signed the name of Public Ad-
ministrator Gray, per A. j. Flood" TO
a money order for $50 belonging to
the estate Of Lorenz Wilcox, which
Flood cashed. Wilcox was buried at
the expense Of the county.
Flood talked freely" said Petersen
tonight and often teerfully. He had
decided 10 return and face his accus-
ers. not brazenly but full OF remorse
and shame. on account OF the trouble
brought upon himself and his wife and
family"
Flood had lived with his wife at 1892
Twenty fourth street. The couple left
for the north two weeks ago and the
exposure in the administrators Office
followed within a few days.
In addition 10 the fact that Flood,
after refusing to handle the estate of
Loenz wilcox, cashed a money order
for $50 payable TO wilcox, without re-
porting the incident, inquiry at the
county treasury showed that he had re-
fused 20 deal with two other estates
where small amounts of money were on
deposit Bank books belonging to Gus
tave Uirich. who died May 4. 1906, and
who had an account of se1.49 with the
German savings and loan society of
San Francisco, and to Mrs. Martha ia
cobs. who died within the same week,
and who had TO her credit s20.19 at
the Union savings bank of this city,
were deposited by the coroner with
County Treasurer Kelly. In each case
Flood was said TO have contemptuously
refused 10 look after personal effects
on the ground that there was nothing
in II for his Office.
CONTINUE PROBING OF OFFICE
-
real estate engaged in by Attorney
John s. De Lancey and A J. Flood, the
two indicted members of Public Admin
istrstor George Gray's staff, formed the
theme Of Investigations pursued by
District Attorney Donahue and his dep
uties earlier in the day. AS a result
the allegation was made that agents
who had assisted in finding purchasers
were regularly held up" by De Lam
cey and Flood when commissions were
allowed by the court for their efforts.
Donahue has under consideration the
records Of the estate of Mrs. Katherine
F. Sypolt who died leaving real prop
erty which was sold for SIS, 1000 Dona-
hue said that evidence had been found
to show that Walter Leimert had been
given a commission of s4I2.50 for Sc
curing S. c. Hoard for purchaser at
an auction sale, where Hoard's bid of
S1460O was reported as the highest and
best The sale was not approved by
the court. and later the bid of s. S.
Hawley for $4,000, made through A.
r. Derge as agent, was accepted by
the court and the property sold TO him.
Yet the Leimert commission was said
20 have been paid. Leimert in all prob
biiity will be a witness before the
grand jury at it's next meeting. when
the affair Will be thoroughly thrashed
out
Attorney Clarence Crowe1l court
commissioner for Alameda county, ad-
n1itted today that he had been offered
De Lancey's former position by Gray,
but on account of press of duty had
been compelled TO refuse It. No ar
rangements have been made to fill
Floods position-that of clerk at a
salary OF 500 a month
Flood was released at 10 O'Clock
tonight on a bond for $4,000, furnished
by his mother. by Mrs. Page, his
mother in law, and by Al White.
ola MRED TNrnnDCEc