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." Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. 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. During his long tenure at the Flea Market, Venzon apparently developed a close relationship with George Bumb Sr. 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. Advertisements. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. 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. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. Jeff entertained offers to buy the club, the highest bid, he recalls, coming in at $40 million. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) 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. 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 as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. In February 1994, nearly one year after the San Jose City Council gave Bay 101 its blessing, the state denied the Bumbs and their partners' gaming license application. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. 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. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Christopher Gardner In February 1994, nearly one year after the San Jose City Council gave Bay 101 its blessing, the state denied the Bumbs and their partners' gaming license application. Eight months later, the frame of the weapon was found in a Salinas pond near Venzon's home with the barrel and slide missing. "He worked for me." 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. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. But Jeff was confident. It pitted Bumb against Bumb. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. 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. 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. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Well, George, whether you want to believe it or not I do love you and you are like a father to me." Bryant, who acts as emissary for the family and its patriarch, thinks the Bumbs are a misunderstood bunch. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. "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. Eight months later, the frame of the weapon was found in a Salinas pond near Venzon's home with the barrel and slide missing. "I don't need their help," he barked at Werner. In February 1994, nearly one year after the San Jose City Council gave Bay 101 its blessing, the state denied the Bumbs and their partners' gaming license application. After learning of the incident, Jeff and wife Elizabeth did not report the matter to police immediately. Tim and George Jr. would appeal and reapply, the hope being that the club would open as soon as possible. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. The couple even had a purchase contract for a $850,000 house on Golf Links Road. And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. 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. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. Hamilton, where Latin mass is conducted on a regular basis. Or at least he thought he didn't. "They didn't teach anything about this. And then there's the stuff that never made it into headlines, like the alleged murder-for-hire plot out at the Flea Market. "I'm a big boy." There were flowers everywhere. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. 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. 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. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. "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. 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. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. 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. 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. "I did a great job," Bumb says of the sprawling gambling club, furiously chomping on a piece of Wrigley's Doublemint, the gum he chews when he's not sucking on an unfiltered Camel. The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. 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. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. 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. 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. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. `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. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. The air conditioning is on, but beads of sweat surface on Bumb's forehead, between a pair of fierce-looking blue eyes and a receding blonde hairline. 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. 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. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. You think this didn't break my heart?" The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) 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." 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. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. "The thing they probably value most is their privacy," Bryant explains. "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. When he was jailed, the desperate cop wrote a 15-page handwritten letter in pencil to George Bumb in May 1997 asking the Flea Market owner to bail him out. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. One of George Bumb Sr.'s granddaughters explained to police that her family was very old-fashioned: "The woman gets the short end of the deal; she is a whore. The guy doesn't get a slap on the hand." 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. 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. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. "I don't need their help," he barked at Werner. "I liked my name," he maintains. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. According to Jeff, there was tremendous pressure from his father and others in the family to keep the incest a secret. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. After learning of the incident, Jeff and wife Elizabeth did not report the matter to police immediately. They recorded the conversation. Or at least he thought he didn't. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the 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. Dealers stood at the tables, ready to deal the cards. One of George Bumb Sr.'s granddaughters explained to police that her family was very old-fashioned: "The woman gets the short end of the deal; she is a whore. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. Tim and George Jr. worried that pressuring state and city officials to deal Jeff back in at Bay 101 would backfire and authorities would close down the card room. 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. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. 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. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. I'm on the hook for $15 million. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. There were flowers everywhere. 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. Werner said no. EVERY DAY THE CLUB stayed closed, the Bumbs lost more money. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. 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. "I don't need their help," he barked at Werner. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. One of George Bumb Sr.'s granddaughters explained to police that her family was very old-fashioned: "The woman gets the short end of the deal; she is a whore. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. 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." 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. "It's a very strong family. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. "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." "They had to find Snow White and Cinderella," Tim Bumb says, "and that was George and I." Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. 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. He also pulled off an armed robbery of the Aloha Roller Palace. 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. 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. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. And he [Jeff] wants me to violate the condition which says in it that I sign away my rights and they close us down. she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. "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."