A.B. Gates being duly sworn deposes and says:

I reside in Los Angeles County, in the vicinity of the Pico oil springs and have resided there about four years. I have on several occasions seen oil running to waste in the creek, which oil must necessarily have come from the Pico oil claims, as there was no other place for it to have come from. This was during the time that said wells were held by the California Star Oil Works Company. About two months ago, shortly after the hearing in the case of Baker and others against the Cal. Star Oil Works Co, et al, in this court, I saw oil running in the creek as far down as two miles below the oil wells. There must have been a large quantity running to waste at that time, but I can not say how much.

A.B. Gates

June 17, 1878