The San Francisco call., 1910-01-14
District Attorney and Treasurer
of san MateO Accused of
Wrong Doing
Two Bankers Indicted for Fail
ure to Pay Interest on the
County Funds
Justice Accused of Combining
the Work of Judge and
Debt Collector

fftti - accused of malfeasance
[ in office.
District Attorney Joseph }.
Bullock.
County Treasurer PhiIander 7. Cham
berIaiu.
Justice Of the Peace Walter q. Love
land.
Indictments returned against;
Dr. ,. g.. Ross. president of the First
national bank of Redwood City.
O.. r. Behrens. cashier of the First
national bank Of Redwood City.
Secrecy Is Observed
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call
REDWOOD CITY. Jan. 4S.-Although
The greatest secrecy has been main
tained bv members Of the grand jury,
which was ip session here all day yes
terday. il was learned today that the
inQuisitor.aI body returned accusations
or malfeasance in office against three
county officials and voted indictments
against the president and cashier Of
the First national bank OF san Mateo
county.
Upon the advice Of Attorney General
T.. s. webb. who was consulted by
George A. KerteI At san Francisco,
nothing was said Of the charges yes
terdsy-
The accusations of malfeasance re
tarned against District Attorney Jo-
eeph j. Bullock and County Treasurer
p. p. Chamberlain result from the graft
charges that have stirred san Mateo
county for more than a year.
Cbarra af Fa,o-i-r pTrks
The particular accusations are based
au the complaint that Treasurer Cham
berlafu has lent the county's money 10
fnree hanks i'm the county without eX-
acting the per cent interest demand
ed. as minimum. by law. and that
District Attorney Bullock has aided
Chamberlain in his improper conduct.
indictments against Doctor Ross and
j.. p. Behrens We're returned because
the two bank officials. by their action
IN receiving the money, were partners
ro The crime charged by the grand jury
Justice as Debt Collector
Justice Of the Peace Walter G. Love
land is accused on a charge totally
different from the one under which the
other four men have been placed under
The frown Of the law. He is charged
with having acted in the dual capacity
OF Judge and debt collector. and in par
ocular reference TO two suits brought
before him the members Of the grand
Jury believe they have uncovered evil
oences OF improper conduct.
The grand jury has declared for the
last three years that County Treasurer
Chamberlain kept county funds aver
aging s225.00o in the banks of San
AIateo county. notably in the vaults OF
rhe First National bank of Redwood
city. for which the county should have
received > per cent interest or about
$4,000.
Refusal TO Demand Interest
After investigation a resolution was
brought before the san Mateo super
Nisors at their last meeting directing
Attorney Bullock TO begin suit against
the financial Institutions for the recov-
cry Of the interest due. This resolu-
tion. however. the supervisors defeated
by a vote Of three to two. and the
three officials who voted against the
measure were summoned before the
grand jury to explain their action.
supervisors d. E. Blackburn. John H.
Coleman and Joseph Francis, who had
opposed the measure, accordingly ap-
pesred before the grand jury yesterday
morning and the Investigating body
vas busy with them for several hours.
Then in the afternoon County Treas
urer Chamberlain and Justice ST the
peace Loveland, who had been sum-
moned to testify before the board. were
called in.
Judge Defends His Acts
Under the leadership of Foreman G.
A. Kerteu the citizens forming the
grand jury wasted no words in making
their charges clear TO the men before
them. Justice of the Peace Loveland
was told that he was strongly sus-
pected and had been charged with hav-
ing acted IS a collector OF debts al
lowed by him as judge. The charges
were made in reference to the Early
Eckley collections and the Ciracusa-
Lindsey suit. Loveland defended him
self valiantly, but, nevertheless, the
accusation Of mslfeasance issued.
Next County Treasurer Chamberlain
was ouizzed as TO moneys placed in
local banks. Chamberlain stated that
county Institution because the vault in
the new city hall was not yet COM
pieted and. further. that the banks re-
fused TO pay interest TO the county. SO,