The San Francisco call., 1909-01-09
Prominent Witnesses Sum-
mOned to Appear Before the
Grand Jury Tuesday
Alameda County Authorities
Proceed TO Hasten the
Prosecution
Daring Promoter Pretends He
Did Not Know He Was
Violating Law


OAKLAND, Jan. S.-Wiiliam @. Hen
shaw, president OF the Union Bank of
Savings OF Oakland; Tyler Henshaw.
his brother; Cecil T. Walker. president
Of the Interurban motor express COM
pany, and the Henshaws' private secre-
iary; James A. Murray, the Monterey
millionaire; Harry T. Creswell, his at
torney; Chief Of Police Wilson and Cap
tain Of Detectives W. J. Petersen of
Oakland have been subpenaed TO appear
next Tuesday before the Alameda
county grand jury to tell what they
know concerning the astounding forg-
cries committed by Frederick B. Signor-
District Attorney Donahue of Ala
media county decided today that the
conditions surrounding the remarkable
raid upon Murrays fortune TO the ex-
tent of the attempted floating of $780,
OOo worth of forged paper required a
closer inquiry than that of a police
court examination.
HENSHAWS TELL EXPERIENCE
After a conference this morning
which was attended by Donahue. the
police officials the Henshaws and their
attorneys, George W. and Percie c.
Black. the decision was reached TO turn
the evidence over to the grand jury.
This conference centered largely
upon Banker Henshaw and his brother.
who narrated their experiences with
Signor in about the same line as has
already been made public by Signor
since the first disclosures of his opera
tions with Murrays signature We're un-
covered Details Of the Henshaws'
statement TO the district attorney and
the police were withheld. Under in
structions from Donahue none of those
who took part in the conference would
disclose what occurred
The official sealing OF lips was held
10 be the proper procedure pending
the hearing before the grand jury.
on VERGE OF COLLAPSE
Signor unbosomed himself with some
caution last night to Chief Wilson and
Captain Petersen. He refused to tell
them how he had learned that he. was
sought by the detectives, but 1t was a
fact that information reached him soon
after Murray had sworn to a complaint
charging Signor with forging the
capitalists name to a note for 100000,
made pay able TO William G. Henshaw.
rs there a complaint against me?'
queried Signor, when he entered the
police station.
There is replied Captain Petersen,
and quickly adding. you may consider
yourself as under arrest
Signor, in spite OF an attempt to
steady himself was on the verge of
collapse when Captain Petersen took
formal charge Of him. At that time
Petersen had in his pocket the forged
notes and drafts, also the forged power
Of attorney which Signor had prepared
10 back up his dealings with the Hen
shaws while he was tossing Murray's
name around on almost s1,000.000
worth Of apparently gilt edge nego-
table paper.
SIGNOR SAYS HE WAS FOOL
Petersen asked:
What did you do this for, Signor2"
Il was a fool replied the pris-
oner
That admission was followed by a
general discussion of the case. Signor
had conceived the idea that he had
committed no Illegal act in his for
geries. Whence came that notion he
did not essay to explain to the police
officials. His insistent story was that
ne ldQ 10 dcrtcAdl4Et III sllo utdlt anu
that it was of his own contriving.
Murray has held closely to the opin-
ion that a gigantic conspiracy had
been evolved to loot his estate. Dur
ing most Of the time these big notes
and drafts We're drifting from Signor
to Tyler Henshaw, thence to William
6. Henshaw. with a side trip Of the
$500. 600 draft TO Chicago and Kansas
city banks. According to the run of
the story this draft was to be used
in taking up four $100 600 notes pur-
porting 70 have been made by Murray
on the purchase Of S4O0. 900 in bonds of
the Henshaws' southern California ce-
ment plant.
SignOr several days ago went to L.
$ Church of the law firm of Shook &,
Church and discussed his affairs with
that attorney. Church. at Signor's re-
quest. went to the city prison TODAY.
The attorney said tonight that he had
not yet decided whether he would nm
dertake the defense Of the accused
forger.
1T depends entirely upon future de-
velOpments. I want to ascertain whe+h-
er il will be TO my advantage to take
up the case" he said. -Signor has
written TO his relatives in the east
and 7 viii reserve my decision until he
receives a reply from them. As far
AS I know, there is no one else who
IS interesting himself in securing conn
sci to defend Signor"