Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. When Vice President Al Gore called to personally invite the elder Bumb to a fundraiser at the Los Altos home of real estate magnate George Marcus, Bumb put the VP on hold for several minutes, ultimately making Betsy take the call. EVERY DAY THE CLUB stayed closed, the Bumbs lost more money. "What am I going to say to the vice president?" The only reason we are driving around in his Lexus today is because he knows I have read the bizarre and bitter contents of a 2-foot-high stack of documents down at the Santa Clara County Superior Courthouse. The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. "They didn't teach anything about this. You think this didn't break my heart?" The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. I'm on the hook for $15 million. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. Christopher Gardner On March 17, 1993, the City Council gave Bumb and his partners the green light to open a 40-table card room on a 10-acre plot of land off U.S 101. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. You know the school we went to?" As a compromise of sorts, he was debating whether he should apply for a license as a gaming-club manager instead of as an owner. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. Other allegations were more dubious: Investigators chased after a tip that the Bumbs were skimming cash from the Flea Market parking lot, an accusation that was never proven. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. Werner said no. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. The teenagers had been drinking booze earlier in the night. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. But his dream, which now seemed so close to being a reality, was about to become a nightmare. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. But there was no gambling done that night. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. Behind the scenes, the Bumbs suspected their potential gambling competitors and a disgruntled former Flea Market employee of giving investigators unsubstantiated material to use against them. You know the school we went to?" He and his brothers had a plan, he says. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. You think this didn't break my heart?" Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. Still Standing: Jeff Bumb, Bay 101's ostracized founder, boasts that despite various local, state and federal investigations over the years he has emerged squeaky clean. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. "They didn't teach anything about this. At one point in the investigation, sheriff's detectives had Jeff's daughter call Matthew while he was working at the Flea Market to confirm the sexual activities. Soon after his confession, the word started spreading in the family about what happened. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. Jeff's grandfather, Frank Bumb, had met his wife, Mary, at a card parlor in San Francisco where they worked. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. ON AUG. 11, 1995, Jeff sat in his Flea Market office scribbling on a piece of paper, plotting his grand return to his peach palace. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. In a statement to police, Jeff's daughter recounted how the first incident had happened the year before on the Fourth of July at a family beach house near Santa Cruz when the older boy allegedly started fondling her while she was asleep on the living room couch. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. "My issue with [George Bumb Sr.]," Jeff Bumb complains about his father, "was his control of where you lived, what kind of house you bought, where your children went to school, who your friends are, whether your children went to college, who they would marry, what kind of wedding they would have." Current Address: JFGU Crest Dr, San Jose, CA. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. The Bumbs' reputation as an unconventional, insular, wealthy, large brood keeps tongues in political circles flapping. "We made it very clear to Jeff and everybody else concerned," Tim says, "that I'm not going to stick my neck on the line here. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" As a compromise of sorts, he was debating whether he should apply for a license as a gaming-club manager instead of as an owner. For all his quirks and controlling behavior, the old man is regarded as a benefactor by most family members and some Flea Market employees who know their boss to be capable of great generosity. About 20 percent of the 130 students there are Bumb relatives.) Police reports would suggest she had, "for about a year," been giving "blow jobs" to 19-year-old Matthew Bumb, son of George Bumb Jr. "The thing they probably value most is their privacy," Bryant explains. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. Deputy chief Tom Wheatley says that police wondered if Venzon, or someone, destroyed the barrel to prevent a ballistics test from tracing a fired bullet to the gun. The couple even had a purchase contract for a $850,000 house on Golf Links Road. At one point in the investigation, sheriff's detectives had Jeff's daughter call Matthew while he was working at the Flea Market to confirm the sexual activities. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." He wanted to relocate and expand Sutter's Place in Alviso from a five-table card room to a 40-table one, matching the size of Northern California's largest card room, Garden City in San Jose. "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. But there was no gambling done that night. Jeff was also getting word from his nieces and nephews that his father said at a family poker game: "If it was up to him, all the grandchildren would marry each other." Campaign records show that Bumb & Associates and Bay 101 have made at least $587,000 in campaign donations since 1994 to local and state politicians and ballot measures. And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. In fact, on the day he was arrested, records show that Venzon pawned a 14-karat-gold diamond cluster ring and a ladies' gold tennis bracelet for a total of $298 at American Precious Metals, a jewelry store at the Flea Market run by Joseph Bumb. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. Even though all the lights were out, she told police that she knew it was Matthew "because the moonlight shined into the room through the large windows that faced the ocean." Now that their gaming license had been denied, a decision needed to be made--quickly. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. Police reports would suggest she had, "for about a year," been giving "blow jobs" to 19-year-old Matthew Bumb, son of George Bumb Jr. Some improprieties did turn up: Bumb & Associates, a partnership including the four brothers and their father, had failed to file required reports disclosing more than $100,000 in political contributions made between 1989 and 1992. It wasn't the money, either. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Some improprieties did turn up: Bumb & Associates, a partnership including the four brothers and their father, had failed to file required reports disclosing more than $100,000 in political contributions made between 1989 and 1992. He babysat the construction site every day for almost five months. Originally he was scheduled for questioning on March 10, 1997, but the old man's lawyers explained that their client was extremely ill, suffering from "severe life-threatening conditions," practically on his death bed. But there was no gambling done that night. "My issue with [George Bumb Sr.]," Jeff Bumb complains about his father, "was his control of where you lived, what kind of house you bought, where your children went to school, who your friends are, whether your children went to college, who they would marry, what kind of wedding they would have." But his dream, which now seemed so close to being a reality, was about to become a nightmare. At one point in the investigation, sheriff's detectives had Jeff's daughter call Matthew while he was working at the Flea Market to confirm the sexual activities. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." "I mean," Jeff later said at a deposition, "it was a time of hurt and heartache for us--and not my father, not my mother, not my brother George, not my brother Tim, not Brian could care less." He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. In a statement to police, Jeff's daughter recounted how the first incident had happened the year before on the Fourth of July at a family beach house near Santa Cruz when the older boy allegedly started fondling her while she was asleep on the living room couch. "And when I visited you at your home I told you that other than God you are the only person I've gotten down on my knees for," Venzon says on page 7. For all his quirks and controlling behavior, the old man is regarded as a benefactor by most family members and some Flea Market employees who know their boss to be capable of great generosity. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. Eight days after the molestation incident was reported to police--and one day after Jeff Bumb formally refused his father's $6.9 million buyout offer--George Bumb Sr. sent Jeff a curt typewritten memo informing Jeff that he was terminated effective immediately and had to clean out his desk before 5pm. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. The district attorney's office says that Bumb attorney Ron Werner turned the letter over to authorities immediately after it came in the mail. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. Or at least he thought he didn't. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. The court saga evolved into a battle of wills between a father--a man who wouldn't even let the Vatican tell him what to do--and his oldest son, determined to break free from the old man's grasp. First, Jeff tried to have the Bumb & Associates partnership dissolved after accusing his family of trying to force him out without paying him a fair price. When Vice President Al Gore called to personally invite the elder Bumb to a fundraiser at the Los Altos home of real estate magnate George Marcus, Bumb put the VP on hold for several minutes, ultimately making Betsy take the call. Christopher Gardner At the time, San Jose, like cities throughout the state, was strapped for cash, looking at an $11 million budget shortfall. "I'm a big boy." One month later, the state attorney general's office made a devastating announcement: Authorities had come across issues of "such magnitude" and "concern" that they would need at least another month to decide if gambling should be allowed at Bay 101. According to Jeff, there was tremendous pressure from his father and others in the family to keep the incest a secret. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" Eight months later, the frame of the weapon was found in a Salinas pond near Venzon's home with the barrel and slide missing. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. They recorded the conversation. You think this didn't break my heart?" On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. They recorded the conversation. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. When Jeff and Brian were denied licenses for Bay 101, Tim (above) and brother George Jr. jumped in. "He worked for me." The gambling palace Jeff Bumb--the oldest son who is often described as the most entrepreneurial of the four brothers--had in mind was going to take a lot of effort and political skill. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. Though authorities were never able to prove a paid snuff plot, Jeff Bumb believes the allegations were a factor contributing to authorities' mistrust of him. "We made it very clear to Jeff and everybody else concerned," Tim says, "that I'm not going to stick my neck on the line here. "He worked for me." Christopher Gardner "It made you tough, made you get a thick skin." Eight days after the molestation incident was reported to police--and one day after Jeff Bumb formally refused his father's $6.9 million buyout offer--George Bumb Sr. sent Jeff a curt typewritten memo informing Jeff that he was terminated effective immediately and had to clean out his desk before 5pm. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. During his long tenure at the Flea Market, Venzon apparently developed a close relationship with George Bumb Sr. Realizing that, Jeff offered to pay higher card-room taxes (next year the city expects to collect $4.5 million from Bay 101) and pick up the tab for security. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. When family patriarch and Flea Market mastermind George Bumb Sr. was invited to attend a party with President Clinton in San Francisco a couple of years ago, he refused to go and sent his community relations specialist, Betsy Bryant, instead. (That thing that involved Jeff when Bay 101 was scheduled to open but didn't.)" Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. ON AUG. 11, 1995, Jeff sat in his Flea Market office scribbling on a piece of paper, plotting his grand return to his peach palace. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. George Bumb Sr.'s loan-repayment demands came in July 1996, just as his oldest son and his wife were about to move to Los Gatos and break away from the family and its eastside enclave.