The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-26
INDICTED LAWYERS
HEARING DELAYED
John S. de Lancey Appears for
Arrangement, but Court
Grants Time to Plead
District Attorney Says More
Light Will Be Turned on PUB
lie Administrators Office

OAKLAND. Aug. 25.-Attorney John
s de Lancey, indicted yesterday on a
charge Of passing a forged claim for
S1l5 for the approval of the superior
court during the performance of his
duties as attorney for Public Admins
traitor George s. Gray. appeared for ar
fragment before Judge Everett ],
Brown today. but secured delay until
Tuesday. August 81. when he viii be
called upon TO plead.
a. J. Flood. clerk TO Gray, who was
indicted with De Lancey on a charge of
having executed the alleged forgery,
autographed to Attorney John McVey
that he had started for home from
Seattle and would arrive Friday morn
ing. He viii be arEested as he steps
from the steamer
PETTY GRATING CHARGED
District Attorney Donahue announced
that De Lancey, as well as Flood. had
taken active part in petty grating on
undertakers who were employed to
bury persons whose estates We're adj
ministered by De Lancey and Flood.
Information received by Donahue out
side the grand jury room showed that
in numerous instances De Lancey had
collected amounts ranging from $40 TO
500 from the undertakers. This will
be the subject of further investigation
by the grand jury
MANY COMPLAINTS MADE
Information from the general public
is solicited by Donahue regarding all
cases in which Gray, De Lancey and
Floyd have been concerned, where
suspicion had arisen regarding DISPOSE
ton Of property intrusted TO their care.
Donahue has received a number of COM
munications on this subject and each
complaint viii be carefully investigated.
Donahue praised the attitude assumed
by undertakers who were examined be-
fore the grand jury yesterday. He said
that on realizing the situation they
frankly admitted making payments to
De Lancey and Flood for commissions
and convinced him and members of the
grand jury that they had no hopes Of
getting orders from the public admin
istrator's Office except after acceding to
demands made upon them for trim
mings."
GRAY'S CoNDICT Considered
Donahue announced that many ses-
siOns of the grand jury might be re-
CURED to investigate Gray's office,
which at first he was thought to have
practically aboieated in favor of De
LduCey ana ElOOu. gray S responsible
ity for the conduct of his Office before
thes law viii be thoroughly thrashed
out.
Accompanied by Attorney NJ c. Chap
man. whom he had retained for his de-
Tense. De Lancey appeared in Judge
Browns court early this morning. DON
ahue explained that the transcript of
testimony taken yesterday had mot
been completed and as the law required
that De Lancey be furnished with a
copy upon being formally arraigned
after Indictment Donahue asked for a
continuance until Tuesday. This was
concurred in by Chapman and De Ian
cey was released on $4,000 bonds, fur
nished by a surety company.
CAUSE OF INDICTMENTS
The indictments which were returned
after an investigation showed that
though a. /. Poundstone had been
buried in the potter's field at the county
infirmary. charge of Sis had been
bank account of $500, and had been al
lowed by the court. The signature of
z. James Finney was attached, but
Finney declared 1t a forgery and was
sustained by Experts Carl Eisensehimel
and Theodore Kytka. The handwriting
Of the claim was said to have been
Floods and he was indicted for the
supposed forgery. De Lancey presented
the claim to the court and secured its
approval. The uzoney was then paid
10 Flood.
De Lancey's indictment was based on
the assumption by the grand jury that
he must have submitted the forgery
knowingly TO Judge Ogden.