Newspaper Page Text
WOLFE IS QUESTIONED ABOUT THE MURDER
He Wore Garments Like
Those Worn by The
odore Durrant.
I
HIS HAT WAS SIMILAR.
George R. King Tells What He
Knows About the Death of
Miss Williams.
THE PRISONER GROWS ANGRY.
He Issues Orders to His Keepers,
and Will Lose His Privileges
In Consequence.
Dark coats with long skirts and slouch
hats, the fashion of the day, played another
important part in the Durrant hearing
yesterday.
It was noticed by close observers among
the spectators that when Elmer Wolfe
was called to the witness-stand yesterday
morning he wore a long dark blue over
coat similar to that worn by Durrant on
the fatal Friday night and which now
reposes among the gruesome articles which
have gone to constitute the people's
exhibits. It became patent that the coin
cidence did not escape the lynx-like eyes
of Deuprey and Dickinson, for as soon as
the witness was turned over to them by the
prosecution Mr. Deuprey asked Wolfe to
remove his coat in order that a comparison
could be made between the two garments.
Wolfe objected at first He avowed that
he had no particular reason for desiring to
keep his coat on, but he displayed a certain
amount of nervousness which became
apparent as the counsel persisted in the
effort to get the two coats side by side.
The witness, who had chewed gum or
some other plastic substance throughout
his examination, gave a number of extra
triturations and as his jaws increased their
speed the sun and weather painted color
on his cheeks deepened.
He finally consented to oblige the de
fendant's attorneys, and his coat and that
of the accused were placed side by side.
Thru the similarity in shape and color be
came apparent, and to every observer the
thought must have occurred that at night
no difference would be noticeable between
the two coats. The same is also true with
regard to the slouch hats.
The incident, though having no particu
lar significance so far as the witness is con
cerned, has a direct bearing on the general
identification of the defendant. The coat
and hat he is said to have worn on Friday
night, April 12, are so common among
young men who make any pretension to
keeping in touch with the styles of the
day that hundreds of them might have
been noticed on any street in the City the
same night without exciting passing notice
or comment.
So far the counsel for the prosecution
has failed signally in establishing conclu
sively the identity of the accused with that
of the man said to have been seen by sev
eral witnesses on the fatal Friday night in
the vicinity of Emmanuel Church. Their
case up to the present writing is weak. As
has been said none of the witnesses called
for the purposes of identification have
been positive in their opinions or their
recollections. They have differed one from
the other and not one has been able to say
that Durrant was the man. though he did
wear a long-tailed coat. They had all seen
the coat, hue none have been able to say
he or she saw his face. Then, too. they
have been much in doubt as to his build,
his height and his voice.
It will also be remembered that much of
the evidence brought out so far differs
materially from the stories told by the
same witnesses to the newspaper repre
sentatives and at the inquest. For par
ticular example it is understood that Dr.
Vogel said when Durrant arrived at his
house the latter was much excited and had
blood on his hands. On the stand Dr.
Vogel said Durrant was overheated and
that his hair was disheveled, but not a
word passed his lips under oath concern
ing his excitement and the problematic
blood-stains. He also testified under cross
examination that Durrant acted perfectly
natural while at the church gathering that
night. This latter statement was cor
roborated by all the other witnesses who
were at the house the same evening.
Elmer A. Wolfe was the first witness to
take the stand.
"What is your occupation?" asked Mr.
Barnes.
"I am an accountant."
"Where is your place of business?"
"I am not employed just at present."
"Where is your residence?"
"At 630 Twenty-third street."
"Do you know Theodore Durrant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you know Dr. Vogel?"
"Yes, sir."
"Did you attend the Young People's
meeting at Dr. Vogel's on Friday evening,
April 12?"
"I did; yes. sir." _,
"Whom did you go with?"
"Miss Miriam Lord."
"Did you see Mr. Durrant there that
night?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was he there when you got there?"
"No, sir; he got there after the business
meeting, at about half- past 9 o'clock."
"What time did you leave Dr. Vogel's
that night?"
"About half-past 11."
"Did you leave there alone?"
"No, sir; there were MissFales, Miss
Lord, Miss Stevens and Dr. Vogel."
•Did you see Durrant after you left the
house?" :,
"Yes, sir; he joined us about 100 feet
from the house. He went with us as far as
Twenty-third and Capp streets and then
left for home." i -. " ... ■ '■ ';'■."• ."
"Did he say anything when he left you?"
"He said something about going to
Mount Diablo the next day, and that he
must tret up early."
"Where did you go after you left Miss
Lord at her house?"
"I went up Twenty -third street to our
place of residence and changed my clothes,
and then went to mv brother's stable, at
the cornerof Twenty-fifth street and Orange
alley, to get mv horse. When 1 got there
I remembered that I had left my horse at
the company's stable, and there I went
subsequently." ':.",?:
"Did you see any one standing near the
Emmanuel Baptist Church when you
passed there on your way home?"
"Yes, sir; as 1 ncarcd the corner of Bart
lett and Twenty-fourth streets I saw a man
standing near the corner."
"Did you recognize him as Durrant?"
"No, "sir."
"How was the man dressed?"
"He wore a long dark overcoat and
slouch hat."
"Had you been in attendance at the
Young People's meeting before?"
"Yes, sir.''
"Did you know Minnie Williams in her
lifetime?"
"No, sir."
Cross-examination then followed.
"How far is your place of residence in
town from the Emmanuel Baptist
Church?" asked Deuprey.
. 'About a block, perhaps."
Witness then described his movements
on the afternoon of Friday, April 12. prior
to the Young People's gathering at Dr.
\ogels, including bis visit to a barber
shop on Valencia street and a stroll about
town with bis brother. He ate supper at
the « reamerie between 5 and 6 o'clock and
then went to look for a book which he de
sired to get for his sister. He did not auc
ceed in getting the desired book, and took
the Mission-street car a few minutes before
7 o'clock.
"How long did you remain at your
rooms?" asked Mr. Deuprey. -'„**'•
"About five minutes."
"What course did you take from the cor
ner of Mission and Twenty-third streets to
your rooms?" " -
"I walked up Twenty-third street."
"Where did you go to when you left your
rooms?"
"I came out of the house about 7:30 with
my cousin, Walter Wooden."
"Where did you go?"
"Up to the corner of Twenty-third and
Valencia streets. We separated at the cor
ner of Twenty-second and Valencia
streets."
"Where did you go then?"
"Down Twenty-second almost to Folsom
street."
"Where did you stop?" ._'.-->
"At Mr. Fit-Patrick's, 411 Twenty-second
street, to deliver a note which I had
brought from the house."
"Whom was the note for?"
"I think it was for one of the girls."
"From there where did you go?"
"To Miss Lord's house on Capp street,
and from there we went to Dr. Vogel's
house."
"What clothes did you wear at Dr.
Vogel's house that night?"
"The same that I had bought downtown
that afternoon."
"Have you any part of those clothes at
home?"
"Yes, sir."
"Is that overcoat you have the same you
wore that night?"
"Yes, sir."
"And that hat you wore that night also?"
"Yes, sir." ! 7V' :
"Would you have any objection to tak
ing off that overcoat for a minute?"
"Yes, sir, I would object."
"Have you any particular reason for
objecting?''
"No, sir; I simply don't want to, that is
all."
"Will you let me look at that hat?"
Witness handed over his hat and Mr.
Deuprey compared it with that worn by the
defendant on the fatal Friday night. The
hats were almost identical.
After handing back witness' hat Mr.
Deuprey asked if the court would order wit
ness to remove his overcoat for a moment.
Judge Conlan said he did not know
whether he had any authority to compel
witness to remove his coat, but he could
see no reason why the witness should not
wish to oblige counsel for the defense in so
small a matter. Then Mr. Wolfe took off
his coat, the gum which he had been chew
ing during the examination suffering an
incessant mastication as the jaws of wit
ness received a nervous impulse in their
action.
The coat was held up beside that of the
prisoner, and the lengths and general style
were found to be the same. There was a
slight difference in the color, Durrant's
coat being a darker blue, though at night
the difference could not possibly be
noticed.
Coming around by a tortuous interroga
tory route to the meeting at Dr. Vogel's
Mr.'Deuprey asked:
"Do you * know the exact time that Dur
rant arrived at the Young People's meet
ing?"
"About half-past 9."
"Could not Durrant have been in the
house some time before you knew of his
arrival?" ' "
"I don't think so. I heard the bell ring
and in a minute Dr. Vogel said, "Here's
Theo.' "
"Where did you go after leaving Miss
Lord?"
"I went north on Capp street to Twenty
third, and along Twenty-third to my
house."
"After arriving at your house how long
did it take you to change your clothes?"
"A very few minutes."
"What* time did you leave your room?"
"About 5 minutes after 12 o'clock." y-' :
Then followed a series of questions rela
tive to the witness' movements from the
time he changed his clothes, went to his
brother's stable at the corner of Twenty
fourth street and Orange alley, and from
there to the corner of Twenty -fourth audi
Howard streets, where he took the car to I
the junction of Twenty-fourth street and I
Potrero avenue. When he got at the
stable where he had left his horse he found
two men William Potter and Rob
ert Buchanan.
"What did you do when you got your
horse?" was next asked.
"I saddled him and rode to our ranch in
j San Mateo County, a distance of five or
six miles."
"Did you come into town the next day?"
"No, sir."
"When did you next come into the
City?"
"On Sunday morning."
"What is your height?"
"I don't know."
"About what height?"
"About 5 feet and 8 inches."
"What is your age?"
"Twenty-live."
"Do you know what your weight is?"
"No." About 160 or thereabouts."
Wolfe was soon after dismissed with the
request that he remain in the courtroom,
as the counsel for the defense thought he
might be needed again.
George R. King of 521 Capp street, the
organist at the Emmanuel Baptist Church,
was then called.
"How long have you been the organist
at the church?"' asked Mr. Barnes.
"About two years."
"Have you had anything to do with the
Sunday-school?"
"Yes, sir; I have been the secretary and
looked after the library and books."
"Do you know Durrant?"
"Yes", sir." ■'.. V ■;••
"Did he hold any office in the Sunday
school?" ;,''
lie was the assistant superintendent."
"Have you a key to the church, Mr.
King?"
"No. sir."
"Did M*-. Durrant have a key to the
church?"
"I think he did."
"Did you have a key to the library?"
"Yes, sir."
"D.id Durrant also have a key?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you know who put the new lock on
the library door?"
"Yes, sir; Theodore Durrant and my
self."
Witness was shown the broken lock and
identified the same.
"Do you repieraber when you and Dur
rant put that lock on the library door?" in
"I think it was the last Saturday
March."
General Dickinson broke in with the
question as to how witness could identify
the lock.
"By the nicks and the way in which it is
cut," responded the witness, rehandling
the brass mechanism and pointing out the
features of identification.
"What was the object in putting that
lock on?" asked Mr. Barnes. - „", V.
"The old lock was so simple that it was
easily picked."
"You kept the Sunday-school books in
that room?-'
"Yes, sir."
"Who had keys besides yourself and
Durrant?'*'
"No one."
"Were you in the church on the night of
Friday. April 12, between the hours of 7
and '■) o'clock?"
"No, sir."
"Were you in the church at any time
that day?" v . ■
"Yes, sir; I was there in the morning to
practice.*'
"Did you notice anything wrong with
the lock that morning?" ,
"No, sir." . ; ;> f0.i.1
"You had to pass the door in going to
the organ loft?"
"Yes, sir."
"How did you go into the church that
day?"
'■Through the front door."
"Did Durrant ever say there was any
thing peculiar about the key he had to the
lock on the library door?"
"Yea, sir; I believe he "did. He said
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1895.
something about the way he had to* handle
the key in making it work."
"What did you do with the key you had
to the door?"
"I gave it to Sergeant Burke of the
police force." " t'. :-;
"Is this the key?" handing witness a key.
• "I think it is, though of course I cannot
positively identify it, as there are no
particular marks on it."
The lock was then handed witness, and,
on slipping the key into the ward, it shot
the bolt.
Cross-examin ation General Dickinson
handed witness two keys, one "People's
Exhibit .1" and the other "People's Ex
hibit W," and the latter announced that
they were identical and both operated the
lock. ' " v : :;■
No further questions were asked by the
defense.
On the redirect witness answered that by
the lock in question the door to the library
could not be fastened from the inside.
"Do you know what tools you used in
fixing the lock on the door?"
"We used one of those combination
handle and tool attachments."
"One of those where several small tools
come in the handle?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you know whether there are any
tools kept in the church?"
"Yes, sir; Dr. Gibson had two, a ham
mer and chisel. I have used the chisel."
At 12:05 o'clock a recess was taken till
2 p. m. -v.-..;.
The afternoon session was opened with
the calling of Officer Riel, but as there was
no response Dennis Welsh, a police officer
of Alameda, residing at 2076 San Jose ave
nue, took the stand. ,
"Did you know Minnie Williams?"
"Yes, sir; about two years."
"Did you know Theodore Durrant?"
"By sight, yes, sir."
"Did you ever see them together?"
"Yes, sir."
"What was the last time, as near as you
can remember, when you saw them to
gether?"
"About the 30th or 31st of March."
"Where was that?"
"On Park street and Encinal avenue."
"When did you last see Durrant in Ala
meda?"
"On the Bth of April."
"Did you talk with him then?"
"No, "sir."
"When did you see him last to talk with
him?"
"The night of the 25th of February."
"What occurred then?"
"I was on watch at the police station
and Durrant came in and said he could
not get any place to sleep in the Park
Hotel; that he had missed the last boat
and wanted some place to stay. He lay
on a settee in the station until about day
light." * \;
Cross-examination — "How long have you
been a police officer?"
"About eight years."
"In Alameda all that time?"
"Yes, sir."
"How did you come to be a witness in
this case?"
"I came over here to the Coroner's in
quest to see the body of Minnie Williams."
"Why did you want to see the body?"
"Well, because I was curious to see what
kind of a butchering job had been done."
"What day was that?"
"I think it was Tuesday."
••Well, what did you do at the Morgue?"
"I went to a fellow at the Morgue and
asked to see the body, but I did not see it."
"Who was the fellow in the Morgue you
saw?"
"I don't know."
"Was that fellow in the Morgue dead or
alive?"
"Alive, of course."
"How did you come to be a witness in
this case?"
"Well, I told Officer Gibson that I knew
the girl, and that I had seen her with Dur
rant in Alameda, and I asked him if Dur
rant was the fellow that did the killing."
"How long did you know Minnie Wil
liams?"
"About two years."
"Do you remember where you first met
her?" -n ':-;■
"No; I cannot tell just where I first met
her." : '.'/-
"When did you see her last to speak with
her?"
"It was last October."
"How did it come about?"
"It was one night on the street, and she
asked me if I would walk home with her,
that it was dark and she was afraid."
"How far away did she live from where
you met her?"
"About three blocks; and as it was on
my beat I walked home with her."
"Can you name any man, woman or
child who ever spoke to you about Minnie
Williams?"
"That would be a hard matter for me to
tell."
"Then, how did you know who she was
and where she lived?"
"Well, it is our business to find out the
names of people on our beats and where
they live.
"Where was she stopping at that time?"
"With a daughter of Mr. Nolan's."
"How do you know?"
"The same way that we know anything,
by inquiring."
""Did any one ever tell you that she lived
with Mr. Nolan's daughter?"
"That would be a hard thing to say."
"Was this daughter of Mr. Nolan single
or married?"
"That I cannot say."
"Did you ever see Mr. Nolan's daughter
with any children on the street?"
"Not that I know of."
"Do you think she was married?"
"I think she was, though."
"Do you know the name of her husband
or what his business is?"
"I cannot tell."
"How often did you see Minnie Williams
at Mr. Nolan's daughter's?"
"Oh, I can't tell."
"Was it once, twice, three or four
times?" >'..
"Yes, I suppose so; and many more
times, probably."
"Well, your memory seems to be much
clearer as to the times you have seen Dur
rant and Minnie Williams than on other
subjects?"
"Oh, I don't know. We brother officers
have talked the matter over, but never as
to what should be testified."
"How long has Mr. Nolan's daughter
lived on your beat?"
"Oh, about a year and a half."
"Have you seen Minnie Williams there
any time lately?"
'■■Oh, I can't tell. I think it was about a
year ago."
"How do you fix that time?"
"No, I can't tell. I don't keep dates."
"Did you use to see her going in and
out as though she was going back and
forth to the city?"
"I may. I don't know whether she was
working there or living there."
"You knew her well, did you?"
"Yes, tolerably. She was short and had
dark brown hair."
"What was the last time you saw her?"
"I think it was the last of March or first
part of April." :•-. >
"How do you fix the time?"
•Well, because I was on duty then."
"I thought., you were on duty all the
times?"
"But we change our watches from day
to night."
"You haven't refreshed your memory
lately, have you?"
"No, sir. I said the officers sometimes
talked the matter over when the papers
came." '-*
"When did you first meet Durrant?"
"Oh, I think it was some time last sum
mer. I used to see him get off the train at
Chestnut street, and then I have seen him
and Minnie Williams get on the train?"
"How long did you remain in conversa
tion with Durrant the night last October
when you saw Durrant at the Chestnut
street station?" ' -';*':;',;
"Oh, I can't just tell; a lew minutes."
"When did you speak to him next?"
"In the latter part of December at the
same station. He took the twenty min
utes to 12 train. 1 think he usually took
that train'" -^''':-i'^
"How did you know the last time you
met him was on Sunday night?"
"Because it was private business of my
jwii which made me remember it."
"Well, tell us your reason."
Witness hesitated, and the defense asked
,he court to compel an answer.
The court instructed witness to answer
fhe could, and witness said; ' ';•*">■ *?^v,-: *
"Well, I'll tell you. I was up to the
Catholic church, and had to run to get
back on my beat when I heard the train
coming." " ""';<- *yv'. :>.j:J.
"What officers came in the police station
at the time Durrant asked to stay all
night?"
"Officers Chano and Delaney."
"How do you know that was on the 25th
of February?" . -fr.;- -.; rp.
"Because an engine on the narrow-gauge
broke down on that night."
"Did Officers Chano and Delaney speak
with Durrant at that time?"
"Oh, I suppose so. I think it natural
they should."
"You haven't thought about what you
were going to testify to or refreshed your
memory by consulting the records in the
police station since this hearing was set?"
"No, sir."
After some further questioning witness
was dismissed, and Dr. J. S. Barrett was
called.
Prosecuting Attorney Wakeman sug
gested that as the testimony of the next
witness would be of a delicate nature it
would be well for the ladies to leave the
courtroom. ,
Judge Conlan took the same view of the
matter, and a general hegira of the femi
nine portion of the spectators followed.
Dr. Barrett took the stand and sat ner
vously stroking the down on his adoles
cent upper lip. evidently nursing a vain
regret that the" gaudily attired female con
tingent had seen fit to leave the courtroom
while waiting for the lawyers to have their
traditional fling at the iEsculapian dis
ciple.
But the lawyers only consulted. As the
medical witness sat nervously and ex
pectantly in his seat he might have been
mistaken for a young dry goods clerk or a
member of the Burlingame Country Club
waiting for a lesson in drag-driving from
Captain Wainright, or a leader of the
Cotillon Club resting after the social
triumph of an evening of unusual eclat —
anything, in fact, but a regularly gradu
ated physician about to give evidence of a
grave and important character at a trial
when life and death were the stake.
He was dressed with the exquisite grace
and neatness of a dancing master and his
hair, if laid under surgeon's silk plaster,
could not be smoother or more glossy. His
eye and lips smiled sweetly on counsel and
court, and it was a bitter disappointment
to him. when the smooth voice of Deuprey
was raised in preferring a request to the
court that an adjournment be taken until
Tuesday morning of next week. Mr. Deu
prey thought it would be impossible to
finish with the young medico before ad
journment or midnight; and the court,
glancing at the witness-stand, thought so,
too, and an adjournment was ordered.
The police have not relaxed their vigi
lance and wariness as to female visitors to
the City Prison, who desire to .«ee Durrant
and afterward testify in .lis behalf.
Though Mrs. Williamson was the only one
who gained access to the courtroom, there
have oeen several others who desired to
inform the court that the accused was the
wrong man. Four of them were at the
prison yesterday and day before, two of
them claiming to be the vicegerents of
Jesus Christ wanted to bear witness to the
prisoner's innocence. One of them said
she knew by the glance of his mild eye
that he was as guiltless as the babe un
born, and still another thought the size
and shape of his neck preclr. led all possi
bility of his being capable of even . enter
taining such indescribable and incompre
hensible motives toward any human being,
man or woman.
The arrest of Durrant seems to have
brought to the surface all the spiritualistic
cranks in the community, and some new
advocate of his innocence appears on the
scene daily. Most of them never had an
acquaintance with the prisoner and merely
judge him by means of some esoteric or
hypno-psychic system of their own.
It is expected all the testimony for the
prosecution will be in Tuesday, and from
what the defense has allowed to be inferred,
but little time will be consumed by that
side before the case is submitted to the
court.
Accordingly a decision may be expected
from the court next Wednesday.
IN BAD TEMPER.
Durrant Becomes Very Insolent to the Ser-
geant in Charge of the Prison.
Durrant is chafing under constant con
finement and has given several exhibitions
of an ugly temper. Last evening he was
as autocratic as a Czar, and gave orders to
Sergeant Shields as if he were not a pris
oner charged with murder.
Durrant's mother called on him early in
the evening and was with him for some
hours. When his mother arrived Durrant
asked that his cell be cleaned and a water
bucket be removed. Sergeant Shields or
dered a "trusty" to see that Durrant's de
sires were carried out. Durrant then said,
in a most haughty tone: "I want you to
see that you keep this place clean. " It is
what yon are paid money for, and you will
have to attend to your duty better in the
future."..
This caused some lively words between
the sergeant of police and. the arrogant
alleged murderer, and Durrant flew into a
passion which took his mother some time
to overcome. It was not exactly the action
of an insane man, so the outbreak on Dur
rant's part was attributed more to his ugly
temper than to an attempt to prepare the
way for an insanity dodge. In the future,
however, Durrant will not be granted
special privileges, and he will be treated
just like an ordinary prisoner. He was
never any too popular and his outbreak on
Sergeant Shields, who is a most accom
modating officer, has done him no good.
Proof against misrepresentation always
—Dr. Price's Baking Powder. The people
know and like it.
STRIKE OP THE SAILOES.
Another Vessel Leave* for the Sound
With v Non-Union Crew.
A number of vessels are lying at anchor
off Meiggs wharf waiting for crews, the
owners of which have declared their inten
tion of keeping them there all summer
until they are tilled with non-union men.
The bark General Fairchild got to sea yes
terday with a crew of non-union men.
The craw was furnished by John Cane, the
new assistant shipping master of the Ship
owners' Association. Cane got the men
together on Thursday afternoon and kept
them hidden until the early hours of yes
terday morning, wken he slipped them
aboard while the vessel was out in the
stream.
About noon yesterday word was received
at the office of the Sailors' Union that two
men had been shanghaied and were being
kept on the Fairchild against their will.
Secretary Furuscth immediately went to
the harbor police and reported the occur
rence.
Sergeant Mahoney was on duty at the
time, and he advised the secretary to go to
Meiggs wharf and report the matter to
Sergeant Bunner. Furusetb started for
the wharf and the sergeant telephoned to
the police station. He received an answer
to the effect that Officer Ferguson had
boarded the Fairchild and mustered the
crew, and that all of the men had declared
themselves satisfied with their berths.
Before Secretary Furuseth reached Meiggs
wharf the Fairchild had gone to sea.
Among the • vessels lying off Meiggs
wharf is the bark Arcturus. Her destina
tion is Birds Inlet, where she is to take on
a cargo of lumber for Santa Rosalia. The
schooner Azelea'is waiting for a crew, to
take her to Grays Harbor, and the schooner
General Banning will load for Seattle as
soon as she can get a crew to man her. :
Among the vessels lying* in other parts
of the stream are the schooner Orient and
the barks Sonoma and Chehalis. The
Orient is destined for Grays Harbor. The
Sonoma is bound for I the Sound, from
where she will proceed to Unalaska, and
the Chehalis has a cargo on board for
Siberia. The Chehalis has all her crew in
but two men. -;..-,;• ■■ _---■
It was rumored yesterday that Mr.
Mighell, who recently threw all his vessels
into the Ship-owners' Association, would
remove several of his vessels from the
coast.' "It is understood that the -ship
Eiwell has been chartered to go to Aus
tralia. '' • ''' " v !,'•'"*'->/;-.-:'- :-■' ■
ROGUES HAVE GONE EAST.
Sudden Departure of the Man
agers of the Royal Secur
ity Exchange.
FOREIGN BOND SWINDLERS.
Hundreds Mourn the Loss of
Securities Which They Had
Purchased.
The Royal Security Exchange, conducted
by Morris Hirsch and Louis Waschmann
in room 92, Donohoe building, appears to
be a thing of the past, and hundreds of
people who have had business relations
with that concern are wondering where
their money has gone. To the few who
have made inquiries the answer was plain,
that it went with the principals on the 7
o'clock overland train for the East Thurs
day morning. '
The circumstances surrounding the dis
appearance of Messrs. Hirsch and Wasch
mann, who operated the exchange, indi
cate that they left the city in order to es
cape the delivery to several hundreds of
their customers of foreign bonds and other
securities which were purchased on the in
stallment plan. Many of these contracts
were about to mature, and, foreseeing
Morris Hirsch.
[From a photograph by D. Sewell.]
trouble in the event of non-delivery of the
goods, the firm closed its doors and went
eastward, ostensibly to "open branch
offices in New York and St. Paul."
The office of the Royal Security Ex
change was open for business until Tues
day, when a card was placed on the door
announcing that the firm had removed to
room 13, 530 California street. This notice
was visible for two days, when it disap
peared, and those who called yesterday on
finding the office vacant indignantly de
nounced Hirsch and Waschman as thieves.
Threats were made to inform the police
and attempt, if possible, to secure the ar
rest of the fugitives.
In settling up their affairs here Hircsh
and "Waschman employed E. J. Quillinan
as their agent in the collection of various
payments still due on contracts for bonds.
This gentleman was seen yesterday and
took occasion to deny that Hirsch and
Waschman had been engaged in shady
business transactions or that they had fied
from the City.
"The office of Hirsch & Waschmann, "
said he, "will hereafter be at 667 Broadway,
New York. It will be in charge of Mr.
Hirsch, while Mr. Waschmann will estab
lish a branch at St. Paul. I have their
power of attorney to receipt for collections
still due and act as their agent in this city.
I must admit .they left no bonds with me.
All persons who are entitled to them will
receive them from New York on the ex
piration of their installment period."
Mr. Quillinan could not give any definite
information concerning the movements of
the absent brokers, but it was his opinion
that they would return in several months,
He was not aware that Mr. Hirsch had on
Wednesday evening made appointments
with several of his customers to meet them
at noon on the following day, when at that
moment he knew that he would leave by
the early morning train. '.Neither did Mr.
Quillinan know that both Hirsch and
Waschmann had announced to their
friends that they did not expect to leave
the city before May 1. : ...v
A peculiar circumstance in connection
with the closing of the doors of the Royal
Security Exchange was the fact that Mr.
Hirsch had a number of circulars printed
announcing the approaching departure for
the purpose "of establishing branch offices
in [.astern cities." Although these circu
lars were printed three weeks ago, he gave
them in charge of a boy with instructions
to mail them on April 26. They were
mailed yesterday, thirty-six hours after the
departure of the members of the firm for
New York. .-".-.:
Morris Hirsch, the senior member of the
firm, has been engaged in the bond brok
erage business here for two years. He was
formerly agent for a notorious bond
swindler in New York, and while in his
employment gained an intimate knowledge
of the business, which he put to practical
use here. Although he arrived here almost
penniless, it is said that he cleared up not
ess than $12,000 in the two years, he was
working the field.
, The business of the Royal Security Ex
change was to sell foreign bonds, ranging
in value from $12 to $130, on monthly pay
ments. The time limit on the purchase of
these bonds was twenty-six months. They
included the Royal Italian Red Cross bond
of 1885, Hungarian Jo Szio of 1888, Holland
White Cross of 1888, Royal .'Servian Gov
ernment of 1888. These bonds are legiti
mate and are good security to investors,
provided the purchaser on the installment
plan receives them at the expiration of the
twenty-six months. Hundreds of persons
have been paying from $1 to $10 monthly
for these bonds to Hirsch & Waschmann,
but as they have not the genuine bonds to
deliver, it follows that all who have paid
them money in the past will be minus both
their money and bonds.
The firm has been the subject of fre
quent complaint to the police, out the evi
dence against it was of such a character
that no conviction could be secured. They
were arrested eight months a_;o on com
plaint of Miss L. Moore of 2295 Sacramento
street, who charged them with obtaining
money by false pretenses. Miss Moore
testified that she was induced by Mr.
Hirsch to exchange a foreign bond of $100,
which had been in her possession five
years, for a certificate of $30u. Subsequently
she found that the Royal Security Ex
change certificate was valueless, and. she
demanded the return of her bond. The
failure of Mr, Hirsch to comply with the
request led to his arrest.
No conviction could be secured in the
Police Court, and Miss ; MoOre -brought a
civil action, which has been set for trial on
Tuesday next. Miss Moore charges fraud
in the complaint and prays the court that
the defendants, Hirsch and Waschmann,
be adjudged guilty thereof, and be incar
cerated in jail. ~
Since the disclosures made in the trial of
the Moore case the local business of the
firm - has suffered considerably. Agents
were sent to the country, however, and for
the past three months business was very
lively.
"I expected this," said M. Solomon, the
broker at 821 Market street. "The swin
dling methods adopted by Hirsch and
.Waschmann were ' bound to be exposed
some time. They advertised the sale of
bonds and received money in that way
without intending to furnish purchasers
with the goods after they were paid for.
They would sell a $100 bond for $50 in
order to get business, for the reason that
every dollar they received in this way was
clear gain. I have received numerous let
ters from their victims in the country, and
my office at times has been besieged by peo
ple from this city, who have been vic
timized by them. The technicalities of the
law, however, protected them, because
they claimed that their contracts had not
expired. They are about to expire now,
and in order to escape deliver}* of the
bonds they have concluded to quit the
town. Their victims are numerous, no
doubt, but the individual losses are slight,
ranging from $10 to $100 in each case. For
this reason it will be difficult to get a sin
gle person to commence criminal proceed
ings, as the expenses necessarily will be
heavy." ■■■'.. ■;.'.-,,■ ■•:'.:
The statement that Hirsch will open an
office at 667 Broadway, New York, is
looked upon as a joke. This is the office
of Bishop & Co., the well-known bankers
and brokers. Some years ago Hirsch had
his mail sent to that address, and since
that time he has claimed it as his head
quarters in Gotham.
Mr. Quillinan is beginning to realize that
he has a task on his hands in accepting the
agency for Hirsch & Waschmann. Many
persons have already called upon him for
hews concerning those srentlemen, but the
only result of the interviews was a warm
display of feeling on the part of the visi
tors, who declared that they had been
robbed. It is quite likely that these will
pool their issues shortly, with a view of
-vising ways and means for the recovery
of their hard-earned money.
FOGS AND THE FERRIES.
How the Boats Are Steered in
Murky Weather Across
the Bay.
*b-
Dangerous Rocks That Are In Mid-
Channel Which Must Be
Avoided.
The summer has a drawback to the men i
of the pilot-house who handle the spokes ;
and steer the good boat clear of all obsta- |
cles. It is the fogs, and those . murky
clouds which are manufactured outside the i
Golden Gate are now beginning to make I
their annual visits to the harbor. The |
Oakland pilots have not so many diffi
culties to encounter as their brethren of j
j the Sausalito line, though at times even ■
they have been compelled to suspend !
I traffic, so dense and dangerous was the
j fog. Captain J. T. MeKenzie, a veteran on I
the Marin County line, explains how the !
ship may be securely steered in the thickest
sort of weather. The course differs several
points with the boat.
The San Rafael hauling out of her slip
at Sausalito on a foggy morning will be
laid, steering by the port compass, on a j
southeast course. Now eleven minutes are |
allowed the boat to make Arch Rock, keep
ing that dangerous spot well on the port
hand side, and therefore passing it to the
! westward. Here the steamer's course is
I changed to east-southeast, which will keep
J her pointing to the end of the Lombard
i stree wharf. When this is made, she is
brought to the southeast, and this course
fetches her abreast of her slip.
Returning in foegy weather on a flood
j tide the course is northwest oy west, then
i from Lombard street northwest by west j
half west, and passing Alcatraz well to the
northward and eastward, then west by I
north for five minutes, and lastly west, j
; which will make the Sausalito slip. Dur
! ing these trips two men are kept on the !
I lookout forward, the bearing of shipping j
I anchored in unusual places is taken, and j
! the tides and currents closely calculated.
The pilots are bitter in their complaints j
of that indifference of the Government j
which permits two such dangerous points i
as Arch Rock and Shag Rock to remain in
the harbor. The former has been the i
cause of numerous marine casualties. The j
ship Flying Dragon struck on Shag Rock |
in a fog and sank. The steamer Oregon, I
with 600 passengers on board, has scraped
against it, and the schooner Orient ran up
on it last year. Those Sausalito pilots are
hard worked, their watch being from 6
a. m. to 6 p. M. every second day, and the
tension in handling those boats when the
safety of so many passengers is concerned
is not easy on the nerves.
The Government vessels Gedney and
McArthur are now making a survey of the
harbor, and their report will probably urge
the removal of these rocks. Anita rock, off
the Presidio wharf, and Mile rock, outside
the Gate, should be included. Although
I Blossom Rock is buoyed, there are 27 feet j
| of water at the lowest spring tide over the |
i small pinnacle which was not destroyed in j
I the blasting.
The majority of mortals rely upon
others' thoughts and ideas. Dr. Price's
Pure Cream Baking Powder is the univer
sal vicar of household economy and com
fort.
A COMEDY OP EEKOES.
The Man Will Not Be Likely to Be led
Away Again hy a Tea Gown.
Mrs. B. was summoned to the door one
morning by an old-clothes man, but she
resolutely told him that she had nothing
for him, until he took out an old chamois
skin purse, and opening said:
"Look, lady, I gif you gold for any old
ting what you got to sell."
This was too much temptation, and soon
she had the contents of her wardrobe spread
out for his inspection. Her heart misgave
her, though, for her husband had positively
forbidden her ever to sell any of her old
clothes. She only hoped he would never
find out. and with the money she could
buy such fine new ones.
There was one gown that she did not
hesitate to part with. It was a flowered
tea gown, with a big bow on the side, and
long sash ends of gorgeous ribbon, and Mr.
B. particularly liked that dress because she
had served afternoon tea in it for him often
during their engagement. However, the
man offered a good price for it and it went
with the rest. >:V
When Mr. B. came home in the evening
his wife had a guilty look as if something
lay on her conscience. But she ascribed it
to a headache, and the old clothes deal re
mained a profound secret.
A week or two later Mrs. B. asked her
husband to do the marketing. She usually
attended to this herself, but was going to
have company and could not spare the
time.
Mr. B. accordingly took the market-bas
ket on his arm and went from stall to stall
purchasing supplies, when he suddenly
saw his wife standing near him haggling
over some vegetables.
"Great Scott!" he said under his breath,
"and in that tea gown, too. I wonder what
next!" -'" -Ui; ;■;;-:, U>
He stepped up to her and gave her a vig
orous rap on the back.
The next moment he saw moons and
stars. Whack, whack, whack, came the
blows from a castiron fist, and a shrill
voice screamed in his ear: •
"You impudent wretch, I'll teach you. to
know a lady when you see one. Take that,
and that, and that."
He escaped with his life and hurried
home for repairs. The cat was out of the
bag, and it had scratched him severely,
but never, never again .will Mrs. B. sell
any of her old clothes.— Detroit Free Press.
) The Turkish Government is the least
enterprising of any in the matter of elec
tricity. . Enormous sums of money have
been offered for electric lighting and tele
phone privileges, but they have all been
refused.
It does not appear that any baking pow
der, when presented in competition with
the Royal, either at the Government tests
or before world _ fair .juries, has ever re
ceived favor or award over the Royal or
made an equal showing in purity, strength
or wholcsomenesa.
HORSES WILL BE HUNGRY.
The City and County Treasury
Empty and Supplies
Exhausted.
CONTRACTORS CALL A HALT.
A Grave Situation— Salaries of Em
ployes to Be Withheld for the
Purchase of Food.
The theory that the treasury of this City
and County would become exhausted in
the course of so many days or weeks as .
result of reckless drafts upon it for election
and other expenses has given way to a con
dition.
The treasury is exhausted and trades
people refuse to honor the requisitions of
the Supervisors. Superintendent "Weaver
of the Almshouse says his cattle are
hungry, and within a few days, unless re
lief is given, the 900 inmates will be crying
for bread.
Fire Commissioner Bohen says there is
no food for the horses of the department
and no coal for the engines, and none can
be had until there is money to pay for it.
The gravity of the situation was mado
known at a meeting of the Finance Com
mittee of the Board of Supervisors yester
day afternoon, at which both the Mayor
and the City and County Attorney were
present.
Chairman Taylor announced that what
they all knew would take place about this
time had taken place. The contractors
were refusing to deliver supplies with the
knowledge that the treasury would be
empty for some two months until the rev
enues from the new tax levy begin to
come in; that it was absolutely necessary
to devise some means for tiding over the
interval; that he had conferred with the
City and County Attorney and ex-Judges
McKinstry and Rhodes with the hope of
discovering some way out of the difficulty
through the law, but without making any
headway.
Under the law the claims of every fiscal
year must be paid out of the funds of that
year, and the only way of making an extra
tax levy to meet a contingency such a.
this is to get the sanction of the people by
a special election — so it is held. That
takes time and is expensive, and some
sanction of the law for other methods is
desirable, and to that end it was hoped
that some method of getting before the
.Supreme Court in quest of a favorable de
cision could be desired. Just how to get
there and what to do in case they did was
not clear. In the meantime the situation
is strained.
Mayor Sutro said something must be
done and at once. He presented the fol
lowing letter which he had received from
Superintendent Weaver of the Almshouse,
and who was present at the meeting:
City and County Almshouse, )
P. L. Weaver. Superintendent,^
San Francisco, April 28, 1895. >
Mayor Si'tro— Dear Sir: I sent this day a
requisition duly signed by Jos. King, chairman
of the Hospital Committee, to Scott & McCord
for a load of hay, and they refused to deliver
it on the ground of no money in the City treas
ury to pay the bill.
Our cattle and horses are hungry and we
have no feed. We have three days' stock of
flour on nand and no more will be delivered on
your contract when that is gone, and 900 peo
ple crying for bread.
I ask you, with all others in authority, what
I shall do in this emergency? Yours respect
fully, P. L. Weaver,
Superintendent City and County Almshouse.
Fire Commissioner Bohen, who was
present, stated that the Fire Department
horses were in need of feed, coal was run
ning short, and the contractors had re
fused to supply any more.
"We must provide for these things," said
the Mayor. "Tor these and for the people
in the jails and hospitals; that is first con
sideration. After that we can consider
other things. But we must pay our debts,
all of them."
Clerk John A. Russell explained the sit
• uation at length. He said it did not grow
out of a shortage in the levy of last year as
made to cover current expenses or those
that could be foreseen, but from expenses
that had arisen since and were in large
measures beyond the influenca of the Su
pervisors, such as the election expenses,
which had gone far beyond the
limit placed upon them. As for the
expenditures of the several funds
for the operation of the machinery of the
government they were well within the
estimates, but there was no money, be
cause it had been eaten up in other'ways.
He thought it well to go into court with an
agreed case and simply tell the truth about
it. It being shown that these expendi
tures were for the running of the govern
ment and beyond the discretion of the
Supervisors the law would be found suffi
ciently elastic to permit of assuring the
supply contractors that they could be paid
with the funds of the future. So assured,
they would continue to keep the larders of
public institutions full. As it is now, how
ever, it is almost a sign of insanity to asK or
expect it of them, with the City owing them
$210,000, and when they ask for it" being
met with the declaration that their claims
are illegal.
City and County Attorney Creswell went
all over the ground from a legal stand
point. He could see no way of getting be
fore the Supreme Court without a case to
go with. He suggested as a means of tid
ing over the immediate difficulty that the
clerks and other employes of the City and
County be called upon to withhold their
warrants till the end of the month and al
low the money to be used in the meantime
for the purchase of supplies.
This was greeted as a practical sugges
tion, although Mr. Russell stated as a mat
ter of his knowledge that the salary of
many of the employes was already pledged
to brokers.
However, it was decided to call a meet
ing of the heads of departments to be held
in Mr. Creswell's office this morning at 10
o'clock, when the plan will be discussed.
The Sac and Fox Indians are said to be
the purest-blooded red men in America.
They neither marry nor give in marriage
outside their own tribe.
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from Eminent Doctors
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5
