Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], June 19, 1909, Image 1

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

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MMBKK2«I J^ltlL-Jll. 4U L/il(l>l» l'Eli MONTH
CITIZENS TO PROTEST AGAINST HARBOR GRAB
GIRL BRUTALLY
MURDERED AND
PUT IN TRUNK
GRANDDAUGHTER OF FAMOUS
WARRIOR VICTIM
CHINESE MISSIONARY WORKER IS
MYSTERIOUSLY SLAIN
Decomposed Body Found Above Chop
Suey Restaurant —Letters Indi.
cate Love Affair with Miss.
ing Oriental
(By Associated Press.)
VTEW YORK, June 18.—Elizabeth Si
\ gel, daughter of Paul Sigel of
-*-^ this city and granddaughter of
the Illustrious Franz Sigel, the German
warrior who served with the Union
army during the Civil War, is the vic
tim of one of the most sordid murders
In the history of New York.
Taken from a trunk in the room of a
Chinese above the chop suey restaurant
in the tenderloin, her body in a state of
decomposition is in the morgue, while
detectives are investigating a tangled
story involving the girl and her asso
ciations with Chinese.
An envelope addressed to the. girl
found in the room where the body lay,
a locket bearing her Initials, her disap
pearance on June 10. and a note, found
In the room signed "Elsie," nil indicate
that Franz Sigel's granddaughter was
murdered.
Mr. Sigel had not identified the body
at a late hour tonight, but Mrs. Sigel
identified the torn clothing as that
worn by her daughter.
Chinese Disappears
Sun Leong, proprietor of the restaur
ant, who conducted the rooming house
above, disappeared shortly after this
discovery of the murder, adding fur
ther to the mystery.
The case has many unusual features,
notable among Which is the fact that
a Chinese has been known to call at
the Sigel home, presumably with the
sanction of the parents.
Elsie was 20 years old and was
greatly Interested in work among
Chinese. It is understood she became
acquainted with one Chinese, who may
be able to throw some light on the
case, several years ago rvhen he con
ducted a cane rack at an amusement
park at Fort George.
The Sigel home on Wadsworth ave
nue, the Bronx, Is not far from that
resort.
Three Chinese were arrested as ma
terial witnesses. They gave the names
of Yeo Kirn, manager of Sun Leong s
restaurant; Gong Wing, salesman for
i' chop suey supply house, and Chin
Sum, a cook, who lived in the rear of
the restaurant.
Man Most Wanted
The man mast wanted, however. Is
the former occupant of the room where
the body was found, evidently an Eng
lish-speaking Celestial.
Judging from the letters this indi
vidual is Leong Loo Lim, known among
his English friends as William H.
Lion.
Shortly sifter midnight Mrs. Flor
ence M. Todd, one of the resident
workers in the Chinatown and Bowery
settlement, who is a. friend of the
Sigels, called at the morgue and after
viewing the body identified undercloth
ing as that worn by Elsie Sigel.
A number of letters were found in
the room. One, written in English and
addressed to the Chinese who occupied
the room where the body was found,
but unsigned, warned him that if he
did nnt stop paying attention to Elsie
Sited he would meet a terrible fate.
The other letters were signed "Elsie"
and, according to the police, were writ
ten in terms of endearment.
VESSELS BREAK ICE PACK
AND RETURN FROM ALASKA
Five Steamers Arrive at Nome, but
Revenue Cutter Thetis Is Still
Held Fast
NOME, June 18.—The steamers St.
Croix, Olympia, San Mateo, Ohio and
Umatilja, which were caught in the
ice and delayed for several clays, have
broken through and are hero safe.
The revenue cutter Thetis is still fast
in the ice eighty miles from here, but
is considered safe.
Considerable anxiety was felt for the
Pan Mateo, which arrived today, as no
report had been received from her
since last week. She was one of the
first vessels to leave Seattle this sea
son, sailing from there May 30 with a
valuable, cargo of perishable freight
and a heavy mail.
Reorganize Fair District
ARROYO GRANDE, Cal., June 18.—
Agricultural fair district No. 16, em
bracing San Luis Obispo county, has
been reorganized with the following
directors: Reginald W. Nuttall. VV. E.
Hixen, L. C. Routzahn, John Donovan,
Easton Mills, W. H. Warden, G. E.
Van Gordon and Edward Cliff. The
state aid of $5000 granted to the dis
trict will give a great impetus to ag
ricultural Interests In this section.
Clear Away Wreckage
KEDDING, Juno 18.—The wroek of
the freight train which was derailed
yesterday at Elmore was cleared away
by 9 o'clock'and the road reopened to
traffic. Train No. 13, the Portland ex
press and the Oregon express, No. 15,
which were held at Dunsmuir all
night, passed through Redding, south
bound, at 10:40 a. in., eight and twelve
hours behind time, respectively.
Japanese Seek Option
i:\KKKSFrELD, June ll.—Two Jap
anege, claiming to be agents of the
Japanese' government, have been seek
ing to obtain an option upon a section
of land from the Mount Diablo Oil
company- The Mount Diablo named
11,000.000 as the price.
LOS ANGELES HERALD
RESIGNS BECAUSE HE
FAILED IN EFFORT TO
OUST BAPTIST AUTHOR
CHICAGO, June 18. —An (hf result of
criticism on the part he played In the
unsuccessful flßht to oust Prof. George
Hurnlimn Foster of tlie rniversity of
< hlfiino from the Baptist ministry, be
cause of the teaching" of Professor Fos
ter's book, "The Function of itellKion In
Miin's Struggle, tat Kiislcnee." Rev.
.Fohnstone Myers, pastor of the Immanuel
Baptist church of this city, resinned to
day as president and Miperintendent of
the Baptist executive council.
In offering his resignation Dr. Myers
said:
"I am unwilling t« he lonser Identified
in my present capacity with a body of
Baptists that commends the theology of
a Unitarian. I inform you now that
my fight In that direction Is not ended,
but since my leadership Is odious, I will
withdraw It. If you want a Jellyfish for
a leader you can gro and get one."
The resignation was accepted.
ORDERS WARRANT FOR
MAN OF LOS ANGELES
Ralph J. Leavitt Wanted in Seattle
on Charge of Manslaughter—Street
Cleaner Killed by His
Auto
SEATTLE, June 18.—Judge Mitchell
Gilliam ordered today a bench warrant
issued for the arrest of Ralph J. Leav
itt of Los Angeles, on the charge of
contempt of court.
Leavitt is charged with manslaughter
through running down and killing Ra
fael Sego, a street cleaner, while speed
ing the Leavitt automobile on July 10,
1908.
The Leavitt case has been set for
trial three times and each time the
defendant has asked for a continuance.
Monday the case was set for trial and
after Leavitt had telegraphed from Los
Angeles for another continuance, Judge
Gilliam declared the $1500 appearance
bond forfeited.
To Probe Charges
SEATTLE, June 18. —T. Takahasha,
president ol the Seattle Japanese asso
ciation, appointed an Investigating
committee today, headed by a Japanese
Baptist minister, to look into the
charges against K. Hirade, who is held
at Vancouver. B. C. by United States
officers, charged with having engaged
in Illegal importation of Japanese
women,
THE NEWS SUMMARY
FORECAST
For Los Angeles and vicinity:
Cloudy Saturday, with showers in the
mountains; light south winds. Maxi
mum temperature yesterday, 67 'de.
grees; minimum, 55 degrees.
LOCAL
One good dinner falls to relieve situation at
Sawtelle; feeling among veterans grows more
Intense.
Mass meeting to be held at San Pedro to
protest against action of trustees In favoring
granting of franchises.
Inquiry shows that coroner's Juries at Pat
ton asylum were made up of employes.
Ranch hand mistakes boy at play for dos;
shoots him in head.
New demurrage law to make freight cars
obtainable more promptly goes Into effect to
day.
Ann Arbor alumni plans celebration on day
of university's commencement.
Circulation of books at branch libraries shows
remarkable growth.
"Maid of Orleans" presented, at St. Mary's
academy as part of commencement exercises.
Deputy constable orders Elk emblem re
moved from auto under provisions of new law
against desecration of flag. • •
Arrest man accused of « deserting wife and
deceiving young woman.
Mad dog causes panic In Chinatown.
Hen Berry and Tom Darmody both claim
credit for unusual rain In Los Angeles.
Mayor declares "lid" will remain on during
Elks' week.
Head of Mexican brokerage firm charged with
passing worthless check. (
Alleged member of band of Mexican sneak
thieves arrested. •
Mayor assures W. C. T. U. women that red
light district will not bo reopened during his
administration.
Former secretary secures small judgment
against Humane Animal league.
11. E. Bennett held for murder of wife; ball
refused.
COAST
Attorney Heney scores agents of United Rail
ways at. close of Calhoun trial. 1
Laborer attempts murder at Stockton and
then end his life.
State senator at Seattle says he believes
crarges against officials are true.
Surrey topp_les from road and five sustain
severe Injuries near St. Helena.
District attorney asks release of man accused
of dynamite outrage In Oakland.
California grape growers will start campaign
to increase popularity of wines.
Citizens at Yuma excited over tragedy that
occurred during trip of prospectors.
Railway superintendent. at Tucson has nar
row escape in dynamite explosion.
Five steamers break through ice and reach
port at Nome. ■ i «
Officers capture accused man on desert of
Nevada and threats of lynching are made.
Judge, at Seattle orders arrest of Ralph Lea
vltt of Los Angeles.
'eastern .
President Taft in address says relations be
tween whites and negroes in south are Improv
ing. i •
School board In New Jersey town rinds that
pupils drink liquor.
Judge In New York orders wife of mechanic
t.) provide him three meals a day.
Teacher In Illinois town meets brother for
first time in her life.
Expert In Brandenburg trial In New York
says signature of Cleveland was forged.
Judge convict* members of family who made
business of shoplifting in eastern cities.
. Woman physician blames men for queer femi
nine fashions In address at New York.
Mothers at meeting in Chicago warn parents
against diet of beer for babies.
FOUEIGN
Great Britain fears America »iay enter in
compact for loan to China. - * es - *
Strikers iin > Hawaii ' make accusation' of
burglary against high sheriff.
Four-masted . bark runs aground 'at mouth
of Fras«r river in British Columbia.
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 1!), 1909.
FEELING GROWS
MORE INTENSE
AT SAWTELLE
ONE GOOD DINNER FAILS TO
RELIEVE SITUATION
CONDITIONS IN HOSPITAL SHOW
BAD MANAGEMENT
Veterans in Hospital Are Organized
and Say They Will Fight to the
Last Ditch for Reform
at Home
nn HAT Grand Army men are aroused
1^ over the situation at the Soldiers'
over tli" situation at the Soldiers'
-*- home at Sawtelle was evidenced
last night by the outpouring of griz
zled old warriors to attend the regular
meeting of Stanton post on Spring
street.
The post meeting did not adjourn
until nearly 11 o'clock and, as the meet
ings are secret, the result of the pro
ceedings is known only to members.
The meeting was attended by a large
number of veteran* from the Soldiers'
home. The whole matter of the com
plaints and charges made by the in
mates of the home was discussed, but
what action was taken can only be
conjectured. A Herald representative
waited ill front of the hall last night
and listened to the comments of the
old soldiers as they came out. Many
of them gestured vehemently ar 1
punctuated their utterances with forc
ible terms.
From statements made by the vet
erans, as they came out, it was gath
ered that the post had not passed a
resolution, but had adopted the other
mode of procedure, namely, an investi
gation by a committee. The commit
tee plan apparently did not appeal to
those who wanted Immediate results,
as they were heard to pass rather
harsji judgment on It.
Some of them were in favor of com
ing- out "open and above board" and
presenting the case. From what could
be gathered, the meeting was stormy
and full of fire. One old veteran was
heard to say, with a clinched fist raised
and In a most emphatic and belligerent
attitude: "We are prepared to prove
everything we"say." The meeting, how
over, ended with no decisive step
taken. •
Despite denials • and counter-state
ments In reply to the charges
made by old soldiers In the Saw
telle home, there was an . intense
state of feeling among the veter
ans yesterday. The statement made by
Governor Cochrane in a morning pa
per, after a sumptuous dinner had been
served, failed to relieve the situation,
and the old warriors reiterated and re
asserted every statement that has em
anated from them and stand ready to
back them up with affidavits.
When a Herald reporter called upon
Colonel Cochrane and asked him for a
statement Colonel.'Jochrane was visibly
incensed against The Herald for having
given ear to the voices of the ag
grieved old soldiers. He at first de
clined with dignified emphasis ringing
In every word to make any statement
to The Herald. Being assured that The
Herald's only desire was to be fair
with him and the management of tho
home and its only concern was the wel
fare of the more than 2000 enfeebled
veterans who call that place home, the
governor said that he had explained
the whole situation in a statement
given to a morning paper.
Blames Congress
"If you want to jump on somebody,
jump on congress," he said. "We asked
for an appropriation sufficient for the
care and keep: of all of the inmates of,
the home. Congress cut us down $2000.
But for this reduction we would not
have been face to face with a deficit.
Meat is the least essential of all food?
in the summer months, and if anything
was to be eliminated we decided that
the old men required meat less than
any other food. ' But they have been
getting meat, although not In such
quantities as heretofore. It is not our
fault. We are given so much money
and then it is up to us to spend it to
the best advantage. If congress is not
to blame, jump on the board of con
trol, of which the . president of the
United States and the secretary of war
are members."
"We had a fine dinner yesterday,"
said one bearded old soldier to a Herald
reporter. "But we knew that we had
a guest or that some extraordinary oc
casion was at hand, such as the visit
of an inspector. For the fust time in
several years I saw old soldiers leave
meat on their plates. Oh, I'll tell you,
we had plenty of meat and other
things, too, but it was because there
was a- reporter there to write it no
and tell the world how well we are fed.
If the reporter had stayed there for
supper he would have had mush and
milk, with a little tea."
Forecasts Evening Meal
"I know." said another, "exactly
what we'll have tonight. It will be
prunes or apple sauce, tea and bread,
costing about 3 cents." The grim old
fighters stood around In groups and
discussed the mattter in controversy.
While the subject of their supper,
which was near at hand, was upper
most in their minds, one of them, hear
ing prunes mentioned, grimaced and
referred to an old comrade who was
sick. \ ■ •
"Tell you what I saw with my own
eyes, boys,"/ lie said, with a deep ex- rf
pression of earnestness. "I saw three
prunes, a piece of toast and some tea
served to a man who was more hungry
than sick."
"And the tea is more like the settlln'a
from Brown's clam than the real thing,"
said aonther graybeard.'
The veterans are afraid to allow
their names to be used in connection
with any criticism of the management
of the home, because they stand in fear
of being dishonorably discharged. Ths
Herald has received | numerous letters
from inmates. of the home approving
its course in bringing the conditions
complained of to the attention of the
authorities.' In every • Instance the
writer has sent his name with the re
quest that a norn de plume be used.
One of the many received yesterday
reads as follows:
Soldiers' Home,' June 18, 1909.—
[Editor Herald]: . Pardon the , liberty
(C'millnii-d on Pmre Thrro) I
Map of San Pedro Harbor, Showing Land
That Bannings and Southern Pacific Ask
B!^\J/ **?$/^ novrrn harbor
riIHE above map illustrates the shameless, con
scienceless grab of public property in the
•*- inner harbor at San Pedro which the South
ern Pacific company and its creatures are at
tempting to put through the board of trustees of
that city.
The land shown above, consisting of about
100 acres, is, with the exception of less than five
acres, now in litigation in the action brought by
the attorney general for the purpose of recover
ing the tide-lands of San Pedro harbor for the
people.
The first round in this contest —to wit, the
demurrer of the defendants to the attorney gen
eral's complaint—has been decided by the court in
favor of the people and there is every reason to
believe that the final result will be the restoration
of this land to public control.
About a mile of'the best frontage of San Pedro
inner harbor borders upon this land. At the in
stigation of the Southern Pacific company and
its creatures, the board of trustees of San Pedro
is now advertising for sale wharf franchises for
the term of fifty years along the frontage of this
tract of land.
The Southern Pacific company has also ap
plied for a double-track railway immediately
back of the wharf franchise, and the ordinance
granting this franchise to the Southern Pacific
has been read once by the board of trustees of
San Pedro and will be brought up for passage
next Tuesday night.
BISHOP AND HIS
PRIESTS ROUTED
ANGRY MOB DRIVES PRELATE
OUT OF TOWN
Head of Diocese of Lincoln and Two
Pastors Forced to Leave Auto
mobile and Walk from
City
(By Associated Press.)
I'L.YSSES. Neb., June IS.—Rt. Rev.
Bishop Bonacum of the Catholic diocese
of Lincoln, Father (VBrlen of Seward,
and Father Kline of Bi incicl wore
driven from this village tonight by an
angry mob of between 200 and 250
people.
The bishop and prlesti had come to
Ulysses to take formal possession of the
church here over which Father Murphy
his tiad charge.
Sympathisers of Father Murphy, both
Catholics and non-Catholics, Joined the
mob and would have done violence to
;!i, bishop and party had It not been
for the strenuous efforts of Father
Murphy, who requested that the visitors
be left alono.
So threatening, however was the
aspects that Father O'Brien secured a
carriage- and, taking Bishop Bonaeiim
and Km i her Kline, left In the direction
of David City.
The party was overtaken three miles
from town by an automobile containing
Murphy sympathizers, and the bishop
and priests were forced to get out and
w-'lk. When lfisl seen tho bishop and
hi» party wero walking north along the
roau inward David City.
SCHOOL BOARD DISCOVERS
PUPILS IMBIBE LIQUORS
NEW YORK, June 18.—The report
that drunkenness prevail! among the
pupils in the Hayonne, N. J., public
schools has been verified, despite the
denials of the city officials, by a com
mittee of the school board, whose re
ports sustain the charges made by Dr.
H. A. Abbott, medical Inspector, that
many children attended school under
I hi' 'influence of liquor.
The school board issued an appeal
to parents, teachers and pupils to do
their utmost in discouraging the use
of intoxicants by the children of the
city. It was also resolved to enforce
the law forbidding (he sale of cigarettes
to boys under 16 years of age.
Made Chaplain of Senate
WASHINGTON, June 18.—Rev.
Ulysses Grant PUree, D. D., pa»tor of
All souls Unitarian church of this city,
today was designated by a senate res
olution to act as chaplain. Mr. Pierce
Ih pastor of the .church which th»i
president attends and succeeds the lato
Rev. Edward Everett HaY
Thus an effort is being made to anticipate the
result of the consolidation election and the pass
ing of the control of the harbor to Greater Los
Angeles, which will improve this frontage with
public wharves and warehouses by the expendi
ture of a part of the bond issue of $10,000,000
recommended by the consolidation committee.
If the board of trustees of the city of San
Pedro should be weak enough, or corrupt enough,
to become a party to this effort on the part of
the Southern Pacific company and its creatures
to grab the rights of the public in San Pedro
harbor, then the public will be deprived of the
use of a mile of the best wharf frontage upon
this harbor and the title which the public will
gain to this land will be rendered largely a bar
ren victory.
The trustees of San Pedro who are depended
upon by the Southern Pacific company and its
creatures to carry through this scheme are:
GEORGE H. PECK, N. W. TILTON,
MICHAEL DUFFY, F. D. FOOT and J. W.
WALTON.
These men have heretofore stood well in their
community and have borne the reputation of be
ing honest men. It is inconceivable that such
men can permit themselves to betray their con
stituents, the people of San Pedro, and become
parties to,such a shameful imposition upon the
public as is being attempted by the Southern
Pacific company.
CORONER'S JURIES
PAID BY ASYLUM
EMPLOYES EASILY EXONERATE
THEMSELVES
Alleged Brutal Methods in Vogue at
Institution for Insane Will
Be Probed to the
Bottom
(By a Staff Correspondent.)
SAN BERNARDINO, June IS.—The
exposure In this morning's Herald of
additional startling evidence indicating
terrible brutality on the part of the at
tendants of the state hospital at Pat
ton, resulting in the death of two
patients, Eugene Copeland and Led
Woods, within a month of each other,
last year, has brought forth a storm
of protest against the management.
The sentiment of the residents of this
city and also the entire valley, in ac
cordance with the views of the people
of the whole state, Is such that the
board of managers of the institution,
whatever may be their wishes in the
case, will be forced tomorrow to con
du"t a searching Investigation of the
methods in vogue at the hospital, not
only in regard to the alleged murder
of Henry Grassmee, which startled the
entire country, but also the alleged
strong* demise of other inmates of the
institution, following misuse, testified
to by relatives.
Today, Superintendent B. Scott Blair
of thf hospital, who cut short an ex
tended eastern tour of Inspection to
take charge of the turbulent affairs of
the Institution, denied the assertions
of the relatives of the two men that
their fate was other than that stated
at the time, and referred to the verdict
of the coroner's juries In tw^ cases.
Coroner's Juries Employed
When it became noised about, how
ever, that the men who made up the
Juries which returned the verdicts of
suicide in the cases of the two pa
tients from San Jacinto and Hemet
were secured from the ranks of em
ployes, attendants and others, men
who would, in the event of their re
turning a verdict unfavorable to the
institution, have been quickly cast out
of the pood graces of the officials and
summarily dismissed on some pretext,
dark and ominous suggestions began
U; loom up.
A thought of the verdct of the Jury
in the case of the mysterious death of
George Ackler, whose testimony thßt
he saw Attendant Berg attack Grass
n.,.'. shocked the district attorney's
party making the investigation and re
sulted in a hasty scanning of the list
of Jurors in the Inquiry into the cans •
of that patient's death, and. although
the names of those who made up the
body are well known in this vicinity
and men of umiuestionable veracity
and reputable citizens of Highland, the
fact is pointed out that several of
the men are Included in the lately an
nounced list of successful bidders for
(Continued on faun Five)
OT Vr^T X? C*l I'PfTT'tt •- nAII/F, lex BCNDAY. B« «
bliN * * LJCJ l^Ul ljbiib . ON TRAINS. S CENTS
FOOTMAN TELLS
OF "400" MELEE
MRS. GOULD GUEST AT SOCIAL
FIGHT IN GOTHAM
Masquerade Balls, Drawing Room
Pugilism and Other Festivities
Figure in Sensational Suit
in New York
(By Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, June 18.—The proces
sion of servant* and employes of Mr.
and Mrs. Howard Gould to the witness
stand continued today.
One of the sensations of the trial de
veloped just before the close of yes
terday's proceedings in the testimony
of Herbert Schmidt.
The Goulds' footman from 1904 to 1905,
Schmidt told the story on the stand of
a gathering of several well known New
York women at which Mrs. Gould was
present, In the apartment of Mrs.
George Underwood Kirkpatrick, when,
according to Schmidt, the hostess' arm
was bitten, another woman received a
black eye and he found Mrs. Gould In
the cellar of the house, weeping.
Harry J. Veitch of Dcs Moines. lowa,
was the first witness called to the
stand by the defense today. He was
employed as a valet by Mrs. Gould
from December, 1905, to September, 1906.
the witness said, and during that time
traveled with her to the West Indies
and Europe and attended her at the St.
Regis hotel in this city and at Castle.
Gould. Veitch testified that he had
seen Mrs. Gould under the influence of
liquor several times.
Drank a Great Deal
He said she drank a great deal on
the trip to the West Indies on the yacht
Niagara, mostly champagne and Man
hattan cocktails.
The witness described an Incident at
Castle Gould In July or August, 1906fc
«lion he said Mrs. Gould dnmk cham
pagne and cocktails all day and be
came loud and boisterous, and threat
ened to "(ire everybody In the place."
'•She asked me to tie her slippers, and
when I started to do so she kicked
them oft in the air," said the former
valet.
"She was staggering about, ordering
one or two more cocktails," added the
witness, -ami later in the evening I
passed her room and the door was
open. She was lying on the bed, fully
dressed and sound asleep and snoring
loudly."
Mrs. Gould eyed the witness sharply
all the time he was testifying. She ap
peared to be much angered by his evi
dence. X
Referring to an nutomoblle trip of
four days from Paris to Nice, when the
witness, Mr. and Mrs. (iould and Lori
Royleston occupied one car, Henry
Knowles, an Insurance agent, who was
testifying, said Mrs. Gould was con
tinually nagging and complaining to
(Cratlaoad on Pas* Iml
*j^ CENTS
MASS MEETING
WILL BE HELD
AT SAN PEDRO
INDIGNATION AT TRUSTEES'
ACTION INCREASES
CALLED TRAITORS TO SOUTHERN |
CALIFORNIA
I Los Angeles Harbor Commission
Passes Strong Resolution Con.
demning Attempt to Grab
Franchises
—
T NTERES'T in the consolidation ques-
I tlon has centered around tho pro
i..]i has centered around the pro
-*■■ posed giving away of valuable
franchises in the Inner harbor by the
board of trustees of San Pedro, and the
indignation of San Pedro, Lou Angeles
and Wilmington people has grown to an
extent that a meeting which promises to
bo beyond the capacity of the largest
hall at the harbor will be held at San
Pedro Monday night to protest against
the franchise grab. The action of the
trustees is almost the sole topic of con
versation at the harbor, where it Is de
nounced In the strongest terms, even to
the extent of an occasional intimation
that the three trustees responsible • for ■
the action should be designated here
after as "traitors to the growth and
progress of San Pedro and . Southern
California," as one man expressed his
sentiments yesterday.
The indignation meeting Monday, al
though called by the San Pedro consoli
dation committee, will be a Joint one of
the interests of the three cities. Mayor
Alexander and the city council of Los
Angeles, the chamber of commerce,
harbor commission, directors of the Mu
nicipal league, Merchants and Manufac
turers' association and the Associated
Jobbers have been Invited to ask their
I members to attend. The " Wilmington
I trustees, chamber of commerce and citi
zens generally have been requested ■: to ■
attend. It is expected that so large a
delegation will go clown from Los An
geles that special cars' will be neces
sary. -• • •. , ,':A '
■ . Captain Fries to Speak
The meeting will undoubtedly be ono
of the moat vigorous in expression ever
held In Los Angeles county. Captain
Fries has been urged to speak, as being
the best postPd man the harbor situ
ation. He has been quoted In San
Pedro as favoring the granting of the
franchises, and this misrepresentation
will make his speech all the more vig
orous. Mayor Alexander, Chairman
Jess and Secretary Fleming of the
consolidation oommittee in>iu Los An
geles, City Attorney Hewitt and others
will be on the program. Dr. W. A.
Weldon, Capt. Lewis Hansen and other
San Pedro speakers will state the sen
timents of leading citizens of the har
bor city.
Many San Pedro citizens refuse to
believe that the three trustees at the
meeting comprehended the extent of
the grab asked of them, and they ex
pressed hope that this belief will be
borne out by the action to be taken by
the board in future on the franchise
requirements. The consolidation com
mittee and other business men of San
Pedro believe In taking no chances,
and they propose to show the extent
of the public feeling against interfer
ence with the construction of a great
harbor by a meeting Monday night that
will have a historical place for years
to come.
In any event the action of the trus
tees is generally regarded as greatly
stimulatlng the feeling in favor oS
consolidation, and It has converted to
the consolidation side numerous fan
ppilro voters who have formerly been
rated as undecided.
Corporation' Confess
"I regard the action of the corpora
tions interested as of great signifi
cance in relation to the tidelands suits,"
■aid A. P. Fleming, attorney and sec
retary for the Los Angeles harbor
commission yesterday. "It is, in fad.
a complete confession that they lia\ a
no hope of winning the tidelands litiga
tion, and they have chosen to take this
tack instead. If their titles were good,
as they claim, there would be no need
of this haste to get wharf franchises
or to destroy for fifty years public ac
cess to the choicest section of the har
bor.
"The public indignation at this
proposition Is an indication of the gen
eral interest In the harbor. San Pedro
is awake to the enormity of the af
fair, and the meeting planned for Mon
day night will be one of the. strongest
ever held in California. The impor
tance of checking this encroachment
into the very center of the great pub
lic harbor that is being planned can
not be made too strong. This is a ques
tion which Involves the future of
Southern California by the bottling up
of 100 acres that should be given over
for public harbor purposes, and in
volves the interests of Los Angeles and
all the surrounding territory as well as
San Pedro."
Passes Resolutions
The Los Angeles harbor commission
took official cognizance of the matter
yesterday and passed the following
resolutions, which will be presented to
the San Pedro board of trustees pro
testing against the granting of the
proposed franchises:
Be it remembered, that hereto
fore, to-wit: That on the 18th day
of June, 1909, at a special meeting
of the Harbor commission of the
city of Los Angeles at which there
were present George H. Stewart,
president, and Commissioners T. E.
Gibbon and J. E. Carr, the follow
ing, among other proceedings, was
had, to-wlt:
Whereas, the attention of the
Harbor commission of the city of
Los Angeles has been, by the public
press, called to the fact that the
trustees of the city of San Pedro
contemplate selling and granting
certain wharf and railroad fran
chises over* and along the east side
nf Mormon Island and along thp
main channel in the east basin of
the Inner harbor of San Pedro,
which wharf franchises are applied
for by J. B. Banning:, Banning
company, William Banning, Wilm
ington Transportation company and
(Continued on I'ac* tliht)