The San Francisco call., 1909-09-09
HIS AFFIDAVIT
RANK PERJURY,
EQUALRERS SAY
The State Board viii Prosecute
Henry Hart, Appraiser of
Los Angeles
Falsely Charges Members With
Having Urged Him to
Raise Figures
I Special Dispatch 70 The Call

Special Dispatch 70 The Gall
SACRAMENTO, Sept. S-A prosecu-
lion for perjury is the sequel TO the
stormy session Of the state board Of
equalization recently held in Los An
zeles. The board voted tonight 10 pro-
ceed against Henry Hart. formerly ap-
praiser for the Security savings bank
Of Los Angeles. Hart is accused of
having sworn to false statements in an
affidavit in which he charged that the
board coerced him into placing higher
valuations on property than his judg-
ment dictated. Hart has occupied a
high position in the financial field in
the southern part OF the state and is at
present in at his home there The
board regards the case $ so fragrant as
30 require criminal proceedings.
OISTT RBED MEETING
The affidavit. from which the perjury
charges have sprung, formed the chief
source Of disturbance at the Los An
Seles hearing. The state board of
equalization had selected three apprais-
CTS 10 Judge property valuations in
ham and Narcoe and Henry Hart
Their estimates showed Hsrpham and
Narcoe near agreement and Hart far
below. Al the suggestion Of the mem
bers of the state board the three ap-
praisers conferred and later returned
. one set Of valuations which all signed.
During the inquiry into the Los An
L
w Hopkins and the real estate board
Of Los Angeles We're willing TO accept
Hsrt's first estimates, but declined TO
be guided by his revised valuations.
Hart himself was i'll at his home.
During the noon hour % the Los An
geles hearing William Garland. presi-
dent Of the real estate board. visited
Harts home and returned with an af-
idaEit in due form and signed by Hart.
in this affidavit Harr charged that the
members OF the state board had sug
gested that he alter his first figures
and had urged that I compromise get
together and stand with the distorted
and extremely high appraisements on
the same property by TWO other ap
praisers'
MEMBERS DENY 1T
The charge made by Hart met with q
unanimous denial from the members
of the state board. the secretary and
The two other appraisers-all who were
present al the interview with Hart
The decision of the board to proceed
against Hart was contained in the fol-
lowing resolution adopted at tonights
meeting.
Whereas. in accordance with law.
one Henry Hart, o. the city of Los
al
state of California. who was duly
appointed and employed by the state
board Of equalization to appraise
and ascertain the actual cash value
Of certain property in the said
county Of Los Angeles for the pur-
pose of equalization of assessments
as between the several counties Of
the state. has signed and sworn
to a certain affidavit which said
affidavit was presented and read
at a meeting held by this board in
the county assessors Office in the
city Of Los Angeles on the 31st day
Of August. 1903; ana
Whereas. the said Henry Hart in
said affidavit. accuses the members
Of this board of tampering with and
using undue influence. in the fol-
lowing language: that I compro-
mise, get together with and stand
with the distorted and extremely
high appraisements on the same
property by two other appraisers
etc. and.
ABSOLUTELY FALSE
Whereas the charges contained
in said affidavit are absolutely false
and without any foundation in fact
and this board cha<ges that in the
presentation OF said affidavit the
said Henry Hart was and is guilty
OF the crime or perjury; therefore,
Resolved. that the secretary of
the state board Of equalization be
instructed to lay before the attor-
ney general Of the state of Cali
fornia all the facts in this natter,
both written and oral. and request
the attorney general to advise this
board as TO the proper method or
procedure to commence proceed
ings against the said Henry Hart
for the crime Of perjury.
Chairman Alexander Brown OF the
board addressed A letter to Hart charg-
ing that the contents of the affidavit
constitute a plain case OF perjury" and
notifying him that proceedings would
he