Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-16
Basis of the Charges Made
Against District Officials

| Today's investigation is the result of
the report and recommendations Of As
sistant Corporation Counsel White ~, the
matters concerning the excise board
turned over to him for investigation by
| the Commissioners.
| After citing facts brought out during
the investigation conducted by the United
States attorney concerning financial trans
actions between Mr.. Kalbfus and Michael
]. keane, attorney for the Abner-Drury
Brewing Company, Mr.. White says:
THE above facts are not in my opin-
| ion, sufficient cause upon which to frame
charges of inefficiency, neglect Of duty
or malfeasance in office, but. obviously,
there has not been a full disclosure of
the facts. 1t seems to me an investi-
| cation should be held, unless it be true
| that no possible financial other rela-
| ton between brewer, barrOOm 1icensee
! Tor applicant for such lcense) and men,
Der of the excise board can render the
latter inefficient within the meaning of
the act of Congress, and that, therefore,
the investigation must be futile. l am
of the contrary opinion
Referring to Mr.. Williams, the ASSISTANT
! corporation counsel says:
Met Family Emergency.
Il also attach a, statement by Mr.. Will
liams which satisfies me that under stress
of an emergency in his family he formed
a financial relation which. since he has
had time to reflect, he recognizes is in
consistent with his official position.
believe. however, the Commissioners
should investigate this with other mat
ters."
Mr. Whites report is voluminous af-
/ fair, containing twenty-six typewriter
pages. He reviews thirty-one license
cases, covering a period of from 1904 to
!
having a bearing on the Kalbfus and
/ Williams charges.
| Attached to the report of the assistant
corporation counsel is the substance of
| an oral statement by Mr.. Kalbfus and
a statement by Roger Williams. which,
| 1t is stated, were made TO Mr.. White
| after he had communicated to them the
fact that he had decided to recommend
as follows:
The substance of Mr. Kalbfus' state
ment in Mr.. Whites words is:
Began With Land Deal.
HE first met Mr.. Keane some years
ago in connection with a Mexican min
ing company. in which he had invested
500. At the meeting there We're also
present Messrs. Darneille and Drury,
who were also interested in the mining
company. They all lost money in it;
he made money-he always makes money.
He thought that if Mr.. Keane was good
enough for Messrs Darneile and Drury
he was good enough for him. Some time
after that he was entertained at Mr.
| Drury's home. Mr.. Drury was then a
banker and was not running a brewery.
He knew that he owned a half inter
est in the Abner-Drury Brewing Com
pany- While at Mr.. Drury's home. which
has since burned down. he told Mr.
| Drury that the latter should have a home
nearer the city and in the discussion
he lon ~
| referred to. Drury asked him what 1t
was worth and his opinion was given.
Drury then said to buy the land for him
| at that price If he could do so. He saw
one OF the Shoemakers. who is related to
Mrs. Black, I'm the effort to get the land
and later saw another one. Still later
| he saw Mrs. Black at the Center market
and learned that both the Shoemakers
| We're giving him the double cross
He Immediately purchased the land
| from Mrs. Black. giving her a check for
200 to bind the bargain, taking her
receipt. and then rushed up to the banl,
| upon which he had drawn the check to
| make arrangements to have the check
made good, as he did not have sufficient
| money to pay the check. After this Mr.
| Drury refused to take the land. About
two years had elapsed since Mr.. Drury
| told him to buy ii and he had not men
| time. He then told Keane, who is a
very intimate friend. that Drury had got
ten him into d bad fix. as he had bought
the land and had no money with which
to pay for 1t.
'keane said he would see Drury and
the result that Kalbfus borrowed
$1,000 on property assessed at $4,000 and
/ for which he is pay per cent interest
/ Allen T.. Walker also advanced $500
making total of $4,000. which. with the
Il 5000 borrowed. equaled the purchase
| price. kalbfus five-thousand- dollar loan
i is the one represented by the note for
Il that sum to Alma l.. Rnck. His state
/ ment that all negotiations in this matter
were made by Walker with Mr.. Glover
/ had reference ito the borrowing of the
/ S23 00O. and his statement that he does
| not know the present cost condition of
| the property relates to its development
only. He understands that Mr.. Drury
| loaned the 5000. The reason he decided
this property to Walker is that Maj
| Judson told him it did not look right for
member of the excise board to have
| property of this kind standing in his
/ name. kalbfus wrote the affidavit which
/ Keane signed. and then knew that Keane
Il represented the brewing company in
/ some matters. while Mr. Darr was paid
an annual retainer as its general coun-
4 sell"