The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-05
EVENTS ON FRANCISCO
AFFIDAVITS DENY
CHARGES OF SHAY
Former Governor Pardee Takes
Hand in Dalton Leslie
Blackburn Dispute


OAKLAND. Aug. fit. was affidavit
day for Henry p. Dalton today, and
three sworn statements in his behalf
were made public by way of denial of
the charge made against him yester-
day in the affidavit of Frank M. Shay,
the county assessors former deputy,
to the effect that he paid Dalton $500
out of his salary in monthly INSTALL
ments of SIS.
Former Governor George c.. Pardee
made one of today's counter affidavits
TO dlsprove Shay's charge. Assessor
Dalton made another, while the third
was made by Thomas M. Robinson,
Dalton's chief deputy.
The two county officials deny that
either of them ever received a cent
from Shay out of the latter's salary.
Shay's statement that he gave $500
personally to Dalton and another $500
to Robinson for Dalton's use is called
by the assessor a plain lie,'' while
Robinson's denial is equally emphatic.
PARDEErS AFFIDAVIT
Pardee's affidavit recites that Shay
told him, two days before he made the
affidavit made public yesterday, that
the story he had given Dalton or
Robinson money was false. Accord
ing to Pardee, Shay in his presence
said last Friday that Leslie Black
burn, Dalton's former friend and pres
ent bitter enemy, who came out with
a public statement last week that
Dalton had taken money from Shay.
was prevaricating. Shay was severe
in his denunciation of Blackburn on
that occasion, the former governor de-
clares, and used bad language with
NfA. IT. T.rl
%, Pardee says. On August 1, Shay
made his affidavit in which he accused
the assessor and his chief deputy of
accepting $500 out of his salary of
$125 month.
In addition to these affidavits, Dali
ton produced a signed statement by
Shay, made also before he made the
affidavit. to the effect he had never
told Blackburn that he had given Dali
ton or Robinson money. and that
Blackburn's statement, made just pre-
viously, was a fabrication.
GRAND JURY FORMING
The grand jury is being impaneled for
the current year, and will probably be
at work before the end of the month.
1t is not being called especially to in
yestigate charges that have been made
in the Dalton Blackburn controversy,
but it is not unlikely that it's atten-
ton will be directed to them before
long. No grand jury has been in ses-
sion for several months. District At
torney Donahue, who will cooperate
with the grand jury in its labors, said
today that the grand jury would in
vestigate any charges that were
brought to it's attention.
The fight over the county assessor
ship has developed more acrimony
than has been seen in Alameda county
politics for many campaigns. The
struggle between Dalton and I. Harri-
son Clay, who seeks to displace him
for the republican nomination, has
caused politicians to leave in the
background the other contests for
| nomination. Signed statements on one
side or the other of the controversy
are made public daily.
ATTACK ON DALTON
Dalton was attacked by one such
statement, signed by Karl E. Hanson
of 1880 East Twenty fifth street
Hanson declares that Dalton is not
sincere in the guise of an opposer OF
corporations on behalf of the people
He also cites the present employment
of Otto l.. Hasse as a deputy under
Dalton as circumstance casting re-
Election on the assessor. Hasse was
indicted in 1905 for presenting fraud
ulent claims for supplies furnished
county onlceS. he nad previously Deei
employed in Dalton's office. He was
tried three times, the jury disagree
ing at every trial, and was finally dis
! charged with the consent Of the dis
| trict attorney, as there seemed to be
| no chance to convict him.
To this latter charge, Dalton said
today that he had given employment
| to Hasse some time after he had been
discharged from custody because he
had found him capable and honest, and
because Hasse was destitute. Il see
no reason why 1 should not continue
to employ him. he declared.