Imperial Valley press., 1929-06-27
IS
GIVEN BY
SHERIFF
Gillett Said To Have
Returned $4,000 To the
County Treasurer.
MONEY ACCEPTED
Statement Denies Any
Intent To Defraud the
People.

Qua dtClllCllC OC1l1CS kA1Iy
Intent To Defraud the
People.
1t was learned from authoritative
| and authentic sources today exclu-
sively by a representative of the
Imperial Valley Press, that Sheriff
Charles L. Gillett, now on trial in
superior court on charges Of mis-
appropriation of public moneys and
failing to account for same, has ten
dered the sum Of approximately
| $4,000 in cash to the county Treasure
er covering the amounts contained
in the seven counts Of the second
indictment.
The money was accepted by the
county treasurer, it was said.
The tender was made, according
to the information received, because
the sheriff, after making a private
audit of his books, was copvinced
there might have been mistakes and
oversights made and although he
was not absolutely sure he wished to
empress the fact in making the ten
der of the $4,000 that he had nc
intention Of defrauding the. county
NJ any money that was due it.
The seven counts Of the second
indictmerr dealt with duplication OF
| expenses, asil money, etc.
It was also learned that a letter
to the colnsy board Of supervisors
is in process of being drafted set
ting forth he items ans the pos.
sible mistakes as wei! as explana-
tions
Hampered by a flood Of ob5ec-
| tions, most of which were sustain.
ed, District Attorney Elmer Heald
spent the entire morning endeavor.
ing to introduce a single item Of
evidence in the trial Of Sheriff 9.
L. Gillett, charged with misappro-
priation of public funds and the
omitting to account for same.
The defense offered several
times to stipulate that the sheriff
received the moneys in question
and kept it to feed prisoners under
the impression that he was permits
ed to do so with the approval OF
the county board Of supervisors and
the district attorney.
Heald refused to stipulate to the
| defense admission and took up yes.
| terday afternoon and all this morn.
ing endeavoring to introduce evt.
dence to the same effect as thas
which the defense admits.
Mrs. Ida M. Robinson, former
bookkeeper at the county Jail oc.
cupied the stand most Of yesterday
afternoon and this morning. It is
likely that she will continue to
testify the rest of the afternoon
and possibly tomorrow.
The former bookkeeper who re-.
signed last February after suffer
ing an accident in which she broke
her arm has been testifying to var.
ious entries made in her books on
the civil side Of the Jail from mem.
orandum and records furnished her
by the sheriff's department during
the time she was employed at the
Jail.
Attorneys Clash
Several heated verbal clashes oc-
Cured during the session this
morning, particularly between
Harry Horton, one of the attorneys
for Gillett and District Attorney
Heald. Judge Finney, during ONE Of
the passages Of hot remarks, saw fit
to reprimand both and ask that the
discussion be confined to the mat.
ters on trial.
Heald first objected to questions
asked Mrs. Robinson by Horton. Hc
claimed the defense attorney was
endeavoring to cross examine the
witness prior to the introduction Of
evidence by the state. The attor.
neys started pickering and Judge
Finney was forced to rebuke them.
Horton then attempted to intro
duce prosecution exhibits as de-
fense exhibits, particularly one
page in one Of the record books.
Judge Finney overruled Horton.
The defense then claimed Heald
was endeavoring to introduce evil
dence that was not taken from orig
inal records and from conclusions
and hearsay.
When Head again examined Mrs.
Robinson he was repeatedly object
ed to by Ernest Utley, another Of
Gillett's attorneys, on the grounds
that the district attorneys ques.
tions were leading.
The particular matter over which
much of the pickering occurred was
the attempt Of the state to intro
duce check stub received by the
sheriff attached to check from
the immigration service for ths
payment Of meals fed to federal
prisoners.
ILL s..,Y xIa a. A 90.