The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
EX-SECRETARY
OF NATIVE SONS
SHORTBIG sum
Charles II. Turner Admits TAX
ing More Than $4,000 of
Trust Funds
Crime Discovered When Finance
Committee and Expert Ex-
anime Books
Threatens Suicide When First
Confronted With Guilt at
MarysyiIIe

vice presioent OF the Otoet, calASo
Turner into the conference and asked
him TO explain that strange entry.
Turner admitted, it is stated, that he
had borrowed $1,000 from the funds
of the order and had paid the sum back
in that crude and unwieldy way.
THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF
Immediately, when that breach of
faith was made known. the grand Off
GERS ordered the resignation Of the
grand secretary Turner arose from
bis seat as if 10 comply with the re-
quest and started toward his desk.
But as he neared the door he drew a
revolver from his pocket and declared
that he might as wen die as be dis
eraced. Then lie lodged out OF the
door ard into the lavatory OF the
building.
The grand officers were stunned by
the tragic turn which the disclosure
was about to take and were glued to
their chairs with horror for a moment.
Then one Of them rushed after Turner
and grappled with him, wrestling the
cooked weapon from his hands.
1T was pointed out to the official
that such a course or action would be
a strong indication Of guilt, which was
not then charged against him.
On the next day, Saturday. the grand
officers again met. Then they told Tur
ner that the mess would be hushed up
il he would not run for reelection at
The grand parlor. Turner said that he
would give the grand officers their an
swer al Marysville.
on the opening day of the grand par
lor Grand President Charles NJ Belshaw
severely condemned Turner's lax
methods Of conducting the affairs of his
Office but did not charge dishonesty.
MIpHDRANs FROM FIGHT
Turner had not yet answered the
grand officers regarding. his candidacy.
His friends made a very gallant fight
for his reelection. as he had not told
them OF the trouble he had had with his
accounts nor of the ultimatum OF the
grand officers. Belshaw's criticism was
characterized as politics" in favor of
Turner's opponent, Fred H. Jung of
Stanford parlor
But on the morning of the day on
which nominations were made Turner
quietly withdrew from the fight and
Jung had an open field. He was
elected.
Ate rthe grand officers had returned
10 san Francisco from MarySville they
again took up the matter Of Turner's
books and at every meeting since il
has been the subject for serious dis
cussion.
At a meeting held 10 days ago. pre-
sided over by First Grand Vice Presi-
dent Ryan Louis II. AIooser and an ac-
countant were directed to make
thorough examination of Turner's
books for the past year. Yesterday ii
was discovered that the shortage for
the year just closed amounted to $4,000
Turner lived in this city at 1852
I.arkin street with his wife. He has
grown son, Charles II. Turner Jr Mem
bers Of the grand parlor have inter
viewed Turner DUNG the week and
have. found him IN a respondent mood
lie has theatened 10 kin himself and
his wife if the defalcation was made
public
MAKES MEAGER EXPLANATION
He has made bu the most meager
explanation Of his peculations. He
told the grand officers that the method
was simply TO help himself TO funds
as he desired
on their face the books were cor
rect and the peculation was bsfiing
one Tor the grand officers and the eN-
perts 10 solve For Turner would take
the money as il came in from the sub
ordinate. parloTs and appropriate il
before ii could be entered on the
books As The total receipts of the
order for year are between SIS, 600
and $4,000, and Turner took more
than $4,000, the portion of his theft
is amazing. There have been no errors
found in the books OF Grand Treasurer
John McDougalG.
More than half Of the money taken
10y Turner. or about So 100 was from
the per capita tax fund. The balance
-
from the money due the order on sup
plies sold to the subordinate parlors
1t is only By closely examining the
records Of the subordinate parlors for
the six years during which Turner held
Office that the fun amount of his
shortage can be determined
Turner'S salary amounted to be-
tween $500 and $4,000 a year. 1t is
not known bow he spent the money
he embezzled from the grand parlor
4 warrant charging Turner with
felony embezzlement viii be sworn
out today by grand officers OF the Ma
tive Sons or by the officers of the
surety company which was on his bond.
POPULAR MEMBER OF ORDER
Turner has for a number OF years
been one OF the most popular MEM
bers OF the order. He belongs to AL
catraz paTlor. Time and<again he was
elected to the position OF grand secre-
tary without opposition He had a
large following, not only in San Fran
cisco, but counted his greatest strength
among the parlors throughout the
state. From regular attendance at all
conventions and celebrations of the
Native Sons he had gained an acquain-
tance with the leaders in almost every
parlor in the state.
Turner was always a hard worker in
the interests Of the order and until the
recent exposure no one suspected that
he had not been upright in all his
transactions. The preparations for the
annual sessions were intrusted 10 Tur-
ner and ii was his boast that he never
failed TO have everything in ship shape
When Turner was seen at his home
last evening he at first denied the truth
OF the charges, but when IL was assert
ed that the grand officers had absolute
proof against him he refused TO make
any statement.
The Boyson Apartments. Twenty