Fred E. Stewart

Fred E. Stewart (c. 1881–1942) was a member of the California State Board of Equalization from 1926 to 1942, representing 18 northern counties from Sacramento to Bakersfield.

[1][2][3] Stewart was appointed in 1917 as superintendent of the California State Belt Railroad, which operated on the San Francisco waterfront.

[6] The Los Angeles Times reported: Startling charges of graft and corruption in the investigation of California's liquor control administration, which involved prominent political figures of the north and south, held the attention of the state last week.

Starting from a single complaint of a $500 pay-off to settle a law violation, the scandale became a snowball rolling downhill with charges of "shakedowns" and "favoritism" being hurled on all sides.

"[8] The investigation of the relationship between the wine industry and the government continued over the years, and in November 1939 Stewart, fellow board member William G. Bonelli and seven other people were indicted in by a Los Angeles grand jury for conspiring to obtain $15,000 from California wine makers.