The San Francisco call., 1909-11-24
ABUSES UNEARTHED
BY GRAND JURORS
San Mateo Supervisors Ques-
toned About Nonpayment of
Interest on Deposits
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

Especial Dispatch 10 I he Call
REDWOOD CITY, Nov. 2s.-Why is it
that San Mateo county is not receiving
interest from the money deposited by
County Treasurer P. p. Chamberlain
in the First national bank of San
Mateo county, the Bank of South San
Francisco and the Bank of Burlingame?
why is it that after four years of
delayed construction work the county
courthouse is not completed, and the
supervisors have not limited the time
in which the building must be COM
pleted?
Why is it that j. ]. Carroll pris-
oner serving three months sentence
in the county Jail, was seen in an in
toxicated condition upon the streets of
San Mateo last Saturday night?
GRAND JURY INQUIRIES
A searching investigation into the
reasons why such conditions should ex-
ist was begun by the new grand jury
at it's first session today. and Foreman
George A. Kerten and other members
are well pleased with the first days
work.
Supervisors James It. Casey, P. H.
McEvoy Joseph F. Francis, ]. H. Cole
man and D. E. Blackburn were ques-
toned as to the delayed construction
of the courthouse and the failure of
the banks holding county moneys to
pay interest.
Each of the five supervisors was on
the stand for about 15 minutes. Casey
and McEvoy testified that they had
tried to have a resolution passed in
or inc ha iPf aft tn
suit to recover the accrued interest
on the county's money deposited in the
three banks, but that it had failed of
adoption because of the opposition of
the other three members of the board.
This resolution, introduced by Chair
man McEvoy and seconded by Casey,
was suggested by the 1908 grand jury,
but after it's defeat no action was
taken to recover the interest.
PRISONER DRUNK IN STREET
Concerning the unreasonable delay
of the new courthouse, the supervisors
declared that the work had been pushed
to the best of their ability. and that
they had deemed it necessary to grant
the contractors sufficient time to finish
the building in a workmanlike and eff
cient manner.
This afternoon Jailer Lorton was
called before the inquisitors and asked
how it happened that Carroll, a pris-
oner in the county jail, was roaming
the streets of San Mateo drunk on Sat
urday night, and had told his friends
that he was Just out for the night?
Lorton declared that the prisoner es-
capped Saturday evening, rode in a
wagon to San Carlos. and thence took
the train to San Mateo, but volun-
tarily returned to the jail Sunday
morning.
Carroll was questioned bS the grand
jury and as his story coincided with
that of the jailer the inquisitors de-
cided to drop the investigation for the
time being.
GAMBLING UNDER sEARCHLIGHT
The grand jury will meet again
Tuesday. November 80. E. j. White
of San Francisco, the expert appointed
to Investigate the books and records,
and also a stenographer, will be pres
ent. White was employed by the 1908
grand jury and did satisfactory work
Charges that gambling has been con-
Quoted openly and without Intervention
from the county officers in and around
Colma and the county line will be
Investigated. Several instances where
victims have been brought into this
county and f1eeced by gang of sure
thing" crooks, right under the noses of
the county officials, have been brought
to the attention of the grand jury, and
it is that body's intention to investigate
each case. A wheel of fortune oper-
ated upon the street in front of Mil
lett's training quarters aud gambling
hall where victims were trimmed"
opposite Coffroth's arena are under in
vestigation.