STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
District Attorney James Hamilton opened the second round of his battle with the Imperial County Board of Supervisors this morning by charging that, indeed, a “deal” was made to hire former assistant county attorney John Pattie at $1,000 a month to defend indigent clients.
Last Friday Hamilton had charged that the hiring of Pattie as “assigned counsel” had been illegal. On Saturday, Tom Boley, chairman of the supervisors, announced that the wording would be changed to “public defender” and that would make everything legal.
This morning Hamilton agreed that the change in wording — “assigned counsels, under law, may only be appointed by judges” — would make the hiring legal.
40 years ago
The county auditor-controller’s office is so beset with “incompetence” and “deficiency” that it is unable to properly account for $1.8 million of county assets, a grand jury report said.
The report filed with the Superior Court today condemns the capability of the office and hints at possible illegalities in the operation.
It is the third grand jury report in as many years blasting the operation.
Written by the Certified Public Accountant firm of Calderon, Osborn & Jaham, the report says deficiencies are so rampant that, “There is no assurance that the resources under county government administration are accurately accounted for.”
The function is precisely what state law mandates for the auditor-controller.
Moreover, the report states, “Nothing came out of our attention during the course of our engagement that would indicate a defalcation (embezzlement) or similar irregularity.”
30 years ago
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH SPA — A year after he stepped down from his PTL television ministry because of a sex scandal, Jim Bakker returned to the pulpit at a trailer park here Sunday.
Tammy Faye Bakker introduced her husband to 225 suntanned retirees at a service at the Fountain of Youth Spa and RV Park north of Niland, according to a report in Monday’s Charlotte Observer.
Family members had been asked to keep Bakkers visit a secret from the media, however, word of his return to the pulpit was leaked to the Charlotte Observer and reporters were sent to cover the event.
“This has been a long, hard year for us,” Mrs. Bakker said during her introduction. “I am very happy to introduce to you my husband. I would like to welcome him back to the place where he belongs, in the pulpit, ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Bakker, who resigned after admitting having a sexual encounter with church secretary Jessica Hahn, preached about friendship for 30 minutes, then grinned and hugged members of the congregation.