Amador ledger., 1909-05-28
DEFAULTER OF OVER $4,000
Chas. II. Turner, Grand Secretary
ofN. S. 6. w., Short to That Ex-
tent.

Chas, II. Turner, grand secretary
Of Native sons, has been found short
in his account TO the tune of over
$4,000. An expert examination of his
books shows this defaication during
the past year. 1t is supposed that
the beginning of the leakage dates
further back. He has held the Office
of grand treasurer for six years and
was a candidate for reelection before
the last grand parlor which was held
in MarysviIle last month. Charges
we're preferred against him at that
time. Nothing definite was develop
ed, but certain suspicious entry in
his accounts led to the belief that
something was wrong. When his
successor Fred II. Jung, was elected,
an expert examination was started.
and soon disclosed that a system of
EN- bezzlement had been going on, the
leakage being $4,000 during the one
year. Turner passed his early years
in jackson. Here he was schooled
and lived during the years of his
minority. Here he was married.
Many years ago the family removed
to San francisco, where he has most
lv resided ever since. His wife is a
sister of A. Camlnetti of this county.
His friends and relatives keenly feel
the blow resulting from his dishonest
actions. The Call of the 26th says of
this affair:
The discovery was made yesterday
bv grand trustee Louis Ii. Mooser
and an expert accountant delegated
by the grand parlor to examine 1ur
ner's books. The National surety
company, which was on Turner's
bonds during his inoum bency, was
notified of the defalcations yesterday,
and today criminal proceedings will
be taken against the former official.
Irregularities we're discovered in
Turner's books during the week prior
to the meeting OF the grand parlor at
Marysville, but the discovery was not
complete and as it then appeared
from a cursoIy examination of the
books that Turner had made good his
peculation the grand officers CON-
prom mised with the man, telling him
that if he would not run for re-elec-
tion his conduct would not he
exposed.
After the grand parlor has adjourn
ed more extensive examination was
made of Turner's books, with the
result that it was found that he had
misappI opriated more than $4,000
during the last year. Of this sum
So, 400 was taken from the per capita
tax fund of the order and the balance
from returns on supplies sold by the
grand parlor to the subordinate par
lors.
1t is said that Turner has admitted
his thefts to the officers of the grand
parlor, explaining that he had no
system of stealing, "but that he took
the money when he needed it,"
Turner shortly before had changed
the system of booking IN the office.
A new set of books had been started
and arbitrary balances established.
On Friday, April %, there was a
meeting of the grand officers held in
the local headquarters of the order in
the Delbert building, Van Ness
aveuue and O'Earrell street.
The grand officers asked M ooser at
that time TOR his report ou the
finances of the order. Mooser replied
that he could not accept the books as
they stood, owing to the recent
change in bookkeeping. He added
that in the books as they stood he
had found that during the months OF
April and May, 1903, Turner had
turned in 81 l,OO0, which was not
charged to any fund. That seemed
suspicion entry.
Turner admitted, 1t is stated, that
he had borrowed 81 900 from the
funds of the order and had paid the
sum back In that crude and unwieldy
way.
nmediately, when that breach of
faith was made known, the grand
officers ordered the resignation of the
grand secretary. Turner arose from
his seat as If to comply with the re-
quest and started toward his desk
But as he neared the door he drew a
revolver from his pocket and declar-
cd that he might as we'll die as be
disgraeed. Then he lodged out of
the door and into the lavatory of the
building.