Seattle’s fire chief indicted for fraud — and he saw it coming

Albert B. Hunt, chief of the fire department, was indicted by the grand jury in Tacoma at 2:30 yesterday afternoon, charged with “obtaining citizens’ money by fraud,” and arrested at 8 o’clock last evening at headquarters on Columbia Street by E. S. Bridges, chief United States deputy marshal, who came over specially from Tacoma to make the arrest, reaching the city at 6:15.

Bridges went up to headquarters on his arrival, but found the chief away at supper. He waited for his return, and at about 9 o’clock read him the warrant. Chief Hunt expressed no astonishment at the arrest and made no comment. The bail had been arranged, and he asked the deputy to go with him downtown to find a bondsman. The chief found William Gilbart, the butcher, on Second Street, who agreed to be one of the two sureties required, and the trio went to Judge Hanford’s office, where Mr. Gilbart was accepted. Then commenced a chase after the second bondsman. Everybody was out for the evening, and as a last resort the chief and his guardian went to the Seattle Theatre, where the former expected to find someone, but, owing to the large crowd present, it was impossible to pick out any one person. After an hour spent in the search the chief gave it up, and he and the deputy returned to Judge Hanford’s private office, where the judge agreed to let the chief go for the night on his own signature to the bail piece and that of his friend Gilbart, with the promise that he would secure the second bondsman this morning.

The chief gave the promise and later bade good night to his very kind friend, the deputy, who took the train back for Tacoma, while the chief returned to his duties at headquarters.

When seen by a reporter of the Post-Intelligencer last night, Chief Hunt positively refused to say anything on the merits of the charge, but did say this: “It was no surprise to me, for I have been looking for this for some time. I knew my special friends were making the effort before the grand jury. A number of them went over there to appear with evidence against me. One of my men also was subpoenaed, namely, Charles Van Alstine, who went over yesterday, so you see I had no reason to be surprised at the sight of the deputy sheriff, and I wasn’t. That’s all there is to it.”

Chief Hunt would not say whom he would get for his second bondsman this morning, but felt sure he would have no trouble to secure the right party, as he was anxious to get someone who was in no way connected with politics.

Chief Deputy Bridges could give no information as to the finding of the indictment except that the true bill was returned at about 2:30 yesterday afternoon and that the warrant was issued by Judge Hanford. The trial of the cause, he said, would come in a very few days in Tacoma, of course, but he could give no reason for thinking so.