Thomas D. Harp
Encyclopedia
Thomas David Harp was a California State senator representing Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties in the late 19th Century.
area, probably at Ceres
. When he died on May 23, 1900, he left a widow, Elizabeth Henderson, and six children. He earlier was married to Margaret Jane Kittrelle. Harp was a member of the Masonic Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 in Modesto.
to represent Merced
, Tuolumne
and Stanislaus
counties. The next year he came under suspicion of taking a bribe for his vote in "the division of Colusa County" and the creation of Glenn County. When the time came for him to testify before a San Francisco-based grand jury
, "it was found that he was absent." Other witnesses, though, spoke against him, and he was indicted for malfeasance
on October 30, 1891, but he quickly left the state for Missouri, and a bench warrant could not be served.
Later it was reported that Harp was indicted by the grand jury "for bribery in connection with the bill for reassessment of the railroad company's property for the several years in which it escaped taxation by the decision declaring the assessment illegal." Senator W.H. Williams of San Francisco was also indicted.
Biography
Born on August 29, 1824, in Overton County, Tennessee, Harp was the son of Sampson Harp and Deborah Grace, who had ten children. The family moved from Johnson County, Arkansas, to San Joaquin County by 1860, and he became a pioneer farmer of the ModestoModesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
area, probably at Ceres
Ceres, California
Ceres is a city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. The population was 45,417 at the 2010 census, up from 34,609 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Modesto Metropolitan Statistical Area.-General:...
. When he died on May 23, 1900, he left a widow, Elizabeth Henderson, and six children. He earlier was married to Margaret Jane Kittrelle. Harp was a member of the Masonic Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 in Modesto.
Political career
Harp was nominated on August 28, 1890, by the Democratic convention of the 30th Senate DistrictCalifornia's 30th State Senate district
California's 30th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Democrat Ronald Calderon of Montebello.-District profile:...
to represent Merced
Merced County, California
Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced...
, Tuolumne
Tuolumne County, California
Tuolumne County is a county in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The northern half of Yosemite National Park is located in the eastern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,365, up from 54,501 at the 2000 census...
and Stanislaus
Stanislaus County, California
Stanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the...
counties. The next year he came under suspicion of taking a bribe for his vote in "the division of Colusa County" and the creation of Glenn County. When the time came for him to testify before a San Francisco-based grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
, "it was found that he was absent." Other witnesses, though, spoke against him, and he was indicted for malfeasance
Malfeasance
The expressions misfeasance and nonfeasance, and occasionally malfeasance, are used in English law with reference to the discharge of public obligations existing by common law, custom or statute.-Definition and relevant rules of law:...
on October 30, 1891, but he quickly left the state for Missouri, and a bench warrant could not be served.
Later it was reported that Harp was indicted by the grand jury "for bribery in connection with the bill for reassessment of the railroad company's property for the several years in which it escaped taxation by the decision declaring the assessment illegal." Senator W.H. Williams of San Francisco was also indicted.