Whenever trouble arose at the Flea Market with city code or building inspectors, the Bumbs sent Jeff to settle things. He also runs day-to-day operations at the family-owned Flea Market. `He drives by every day on his way to his Maverick Consulting development business in Mountain View, but he never gets off the Brokaw/First Street exit to pay a visit. Don't Shoot: George Bumb Sr., the publicity-shy patriarch of the Bumb family and creator of the Flea Market, in a rare photo which appeared in California Today magazine in 1980. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. Tim Bumb says writing a letter on Jeff's behalf would have violated the agreement with the police chief and put the club in jeopardy. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. 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. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. According to Werner, molestation of his daughter became part of a laundry list of damning things Jeff threatened to disclose if his buy-out demands weren't met. 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. Snow White or Cinderella? And for nearly a month, they did. 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. Eight months later, the frame of the weapon was found in a Salinas pond near Venzon's home with the barrel and slide missing. That promised to be a hard sell to the San Jose City Council, which would have to authorize both the new site and the expansion. I'm on the hook for $15 million. "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. After learning of the incident, Jeff and wife Elizabeth did not report the matter to police immediately. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. When the Vatican eliminated Latin from the Catholic mass in the '60s, George Bumb Sr. responded by building his own chapel, named for the rebellious St. Athanasius, at the base of Mt. Tim now runs Bay 101, which he says is no easy task. When Jeff and Brian were denied licenses for Bay 101, Tim (above) and brother George Jr. jumped in. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. Tim and George, under pressure from then Police Chief Lou Cobarruviaz, had already signed an agreement a year earlier that prohibited Brian, Jeff and their father from having anything to do with the card room. Eight months later, the frame of the weapon was found in a Salinas pond near Venzon's home with the barrel and slide missing. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. 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. 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. You think this didn't break my heart?" According to Jeff, there was tremendous pressure from his father and others in the family to keep the incest a secret. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. "What am I going to say to the vice president?" Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. And then police remembered the old rumors about a murder plot at the Flea Market, where Venzon had worked as a security guard for more than 15 years. But Jeff says that privately he and his brothers had an oral agreement--which Tim Bumb now corroborates--that would one day let him repurchase his shares and become a partner in Bay 101 again. "Jeff is a wheeler and dealer," explained his Uncle John, the Flea Market's executive vice president and owner of the Skeeball Arcade. "He worked for me." 1590 Berryessa Rd San Jose, CA 95133 1390 Berryessa Rd San Jose, CA 95133. Just so everyone got the point, Jeff Bumb announced to the press that he and Brian were divesting from Bay 101, and records show he eventually sold his shares for $1.4 million. Christopher Gardner Jeff didn't mind, though. Just so everyone got the point, Jeff Bumb announced to the press that he and Brian were divesting from Bay 101, and records show he eventually sold his shares for $1.4 million. It pitted Bumb against Bumb. The Bumbs had a plenty of experience with a cash business through the Flea Market, which they've run for almost 40 years. And for nearly a month, they did. They recorded the conversation. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. Jeff's grandfather, Frank Bumb, had met his wife, Mary, at a card parlor in San Francisco where they worked. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. But Jeff and his family started hearing that instead of showing concern and support for his daughter, George Bumb Sr. and others in the family were blaming his freshman daughter for the incident and not her adult-age cousin. The Flea Market has a rich history that began in 1960, when George Bumb, Sr., the patriarch of the family, opened it with only 20 vendors at the time. George Bumb Sr., an avid card player, held a regular weekly family poker game at his home. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. "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." The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. 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. 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. "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." And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." He babysat the construction site every day for almost five months. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. "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." There were flowers everywhere. And for nearly a month, they did. George Bumb Sr., an avid card player, held a regular weekly family poker game at his home. Snow White or Cinderella? 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. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. The investigation was given a shot in the arm after the arrest of Johnny Venzon in 1997, a cop who made headlines for burglarizing homes while on duty to pay for his mounting gambling debts. Earlier this year, a month before Venzon was sentenced to 14 years in prison, district attorney investigator Michael Schembri closed out the Venzon case, noting in a court filing, "No new information has been uncovered relating to the murder for hire case [at the Flea Market] which our department investigated several years ago." He and his brothers had a plan, he says. Just so everyone got the point, Jeff Bumb announced to the press that he and Brian were divesting from Bay 101, and records show he eventually sold his shares for $1.4 million. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. Snow White or Cinderella? According to Werner, molestation of his daughter became part of a laundry list of damning things Jeff threatened to disclose if his buy-out demands weren't met. (That thing that involved Jeff when Bay 101 was scheduled to open but didn't.)" A nurse was present to monitor his condition. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. 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. "I'm a big boy." It wasn't the money, either. Werner said no. 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. 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. He asked longtime family attorney Ron Werner if his brothers could write a recommendation letter for him, something state officials had told him he would need to be considered eligible for a gaming license. Unlike other partners, neither Jeff nor Brian had buyback provisions in their written agreements, an intentional omission meant to appease state gaming officials who wanted them out of the picture. It wasn't the money, either. That promised to be a hard sell to the San Jose City Council, which would have to authorize both the new site and the expansion. And for nearly a month, they did. At the time, San Jose, like cities throughout the state, was strapped for cash, looking at an $11 million budget shortfall. he asked. PRSE Greenside Dr. SAN JOSE, CA2000-2019. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. So Jeff, Brian and the remaining non-family partners backed out of Bay 101, handing everything over to Tim and George Jr. So Jeff, Brian and the remaining non-family partners backed out of Bay 101, handing everything over to Tim and George Jr. Well, George, whether you want to believe it or not I do love you and you are like a father to me." AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. 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. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" According to Jeff, there was tremendous pressure from his father and others in the family to keep the incest a secret. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. 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." Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. Three years ago, the Mercury News listed the Bumb family in the Top 10 of the valley's most generous political contributors. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. 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. Jeff Bumb says he believes that state and local investigators at the time of Bay 101's limbo were investigating a rumor that Jeff had tried to get someone killed, a charge Jeff denies. Tim and George Jr. would appeal and reapply, the hope being that the club would open as soon as possible. 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. 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. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. 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. 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. It wasn't the money, either. I'm on the hook for $15 million. "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." Tim now runs Bay 101, which he says is no easy task. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. Today, Bumb family enterprises include the local Premium Pet Stores chain, Air One Helicopters and, of course, Bay 101. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. During his long tenure at the Flea Market, Venzon apparently developed a close relationship with George Bumb Sr. "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." Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. "What am I going to say to the vice president?" The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. 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 Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. Werner said no. And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. FROM THE START, Jeff's three brothers and father didn't share his enthusiasm for opening a lavish gaming house. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. Unlike other partners, neither Jeff nor Brian had buyback provisions in their written agreements, an intentional omission meant to appease state gaming officials who wanted them out of the picture. You think this didn't break my heart?" she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. 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. "My wife broke the code," he says, "and I supported her." "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. 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. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. 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. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. 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. It pitted Bumb against Bumb. A FEW DAYS AFTER returning from his son's Oct. 13, 1995, military graduation in San Diego, Jeff and his wife, Elizabeth, got some appalling news: Their 14-year-old daughter had been involved in a sexual relationship with an older male cousin. 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." Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. "They didn't teach anything about this. They recorded the conversation. 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." Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. Most of George Bumb Sr.'s five dozen grandchildren have grown up in the 95127 ZIP code and have attended the family-run K-12 Catholic school, St. Thomas More, located on Flea Market grounds since 1978. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. 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. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed.