The San Francisco call., 1910-02-18
DONAHUE BACKED
BY GRAND JURY
Investigation Into Auditors Ac-
counts Declared to Be Free
From Political Animus

OAKLAND, Feb. 17.-There is no pol
ittcs in the present investigation into
the affairs of the office of County Audi
tor George S. Pierce, according to a
formal statement issued today by Fore
man Jean Poirfer of the grand jury,
and, furthermore. according to the re-
port, District Attorney Donahue has
been entirely free from political or per-
sonaI animus in his actions with regard
to this investigation.
The investigation is not yet finished
and wilF be resumed at the next meet
ing of the grand jury. Experts We're
put to work on Pierce's books several
months ago because of the complaints
from other county officials that his
deputies were incompetent and did not
keep the work of the office in good
condition. Pierce was a witness today
before the grand jury. Myron Wh1d-
den. former auditor; Superintendent
of Schools George w. Frick, County
Tax Collector James Barber and Charles
Husband, a deputy in Pierce's office,
were the other witnesses.
PIERCE ACCUSES DONAHUE
Pierce caused a tempest when he
appeared in the grand jury room by
the direct charge that the investiga-
tion was instigated by Donahue be-
cause Of the latter's desire to strike
over the shoulder of Pierce at Justice
of the Peace Geary, who aspires to
succeed Donahue Pierce is a close
political friend of Geary. The county
auditor openly defed the district at
torney and promised to furnish charges
against him.
A partial report was issued by the
grand jury with reference to Donahue's
part in the investigation. 1t was In
refutation of Pierce's charges and reads
as follows:
The. grand jury. in carrying out the in,s
struetiOns of the superior court, determined
more than six months ago to make an nyes-
tlgation of the county Offices of Alameda
county. Therefore the grand jury at that
time determined to make an Investigation
of the county auditors Office among other
county offices. This investigation was not
prosecuted then because OF the inyestlga-
tion into the public administrators ofnce-
Those offices had relation to each
other so far as the grand jury Investigation
The grand jury having completed its work
in connection with the public adminlstra-
tors office is now concluding the inyestiga-
tions already begun in the auditor ofnce.
There is nothing specially significant about
this investigation at this time. Politics has
at any time entered into any of the m
yestigatiOns Of the grand jury, aud certainly
has not in the instance of the auditors Of
nee. therefore the grand jury IN TINS III
yestigation has simply been performing
duty imposed upon ii by the plain reading
of the statute aud by the specific instruc-
tions of the superior court.
ADVISOR TO JURY
The district attorney is the legal advisor of
the grand jury. lie may Mt all times appear
before the grand jury for the purpose of Civ
ing information advice relative TO any
matter cognizable by them. Therefore it was
necessary in this investigation for the dis
trict attorney to become familiar with the
way the auditors office being conducted.
In the performance of this duty the dis
triet attorney withdrew from the auditors
office certain claims against the county of
Alameda which the district attorney be
lieyed did not constitute proper charges
against the county treasury. Warrants had
been drawn by the auditor on these claims
and they were ready for payment upon pre-
sentation to the county treasurer. This ae-
ton of the district attorney prevented pay
ment of county moneys on erroneous claims
This grand jury is familiar with this ae-
tion of the district attorney and thoroughly
approves of his honest course in thus saving
to the county of Alameda moneys which
would otherwise have been paid ont on these
erroneous Claims. VAN B. PoIRIER.
Foreman of the grand jury.
II n IRWIN secretary Of the grand Jury.