People v. Wolden

Defendant was indicted on 10 counts of accepting bribes (Pen. Code, § 68) and one count of conspiracy (Pen. Code, § 182) to accept bribes. One bribery count was dismissed on defendant’s motion, and the jury failed to reach a verdict upon another. It found him guilty of the conspiracy charge and eight counts of accepting bribes. He was sentenced to prison and appeals.

Defendant was for many years the tax assessor of the City and County of San Francisco. The essence of the charges is that he accepted bribes to lower assessments upon personal property.

Defendant argues that a “fictitious rule of…