New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-28
TALK AT GREAT CENTRES.
SAN FRANCISCO
SPRECKELS AND MORRISON CASES-JESuTrS
O,DONNEII-SILK.

-ODONNELL-cibh.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
SAN FRANCISCO, June 27.-The Spreckeis trial mas
largely monopolzed public attention this wesk, as
the closing arguments have been particularly aoe'
The Dstrict-Attorney opened for the prosecution IN
strong speech and was followed for the defence by
Hall McAllister one Of the acknowledged leaders
of the bar on this COAST the insanity branch OF the
argument for the defence was developed at great
length by H. L. Highton, and for the prosecution the
case will be closed by Alexander Campbell, once
the foremost criminal lawyer OF this State Dnt now
practising in Tucson An extraordinary feature OF the
case is tho fact that old Claus Sprecels has had te
speeches of his counsel printed as advertisements III
all the daily papers of this city except The Chronicle
t is expected that the case will be given to the jury
by the middle of next week. by which time it will
have filled six full weeks of tine courts time.
The Rev. Dr. Morrison, who stole large sum OF
money from the Society of Chosen Friends on
spurious death certificates of dummy members
whose fees he had paid and who had no sexistence,
has been convicted of grand larceny and entenced
to ten years In Folsom Prison. His wife, who was
his accomplish in tho frauds escaped to Australia
soon after his arrest or she woud have been sent to
join him behind the bars So suspicion was
directed to Morrison several years ago when the
Episcopal church which he built was burned to the
ground, although he lived next door in the parson-
age. He obtained 5000 insurance on buildings
which did not cost than 81 500. After this he
went into tho business of victimizing secret
societies He was very clerical looking and great
Ritnalist He offciated at times in Grace Episcopal
Church in this city, but Bishop Kip hearing OF his
record had him ruled ont. lie was also connected
with the Honduras Colonization Society," which
never Amounted to anything. Morrison Is one OF
the most accomplished swindlers who ever operated
here. He is said to have come from Michigan.
Pollin NJ Daggett ex-Minlster to Hawaii, arrived
here this week on an mpol tant mission from King
KaiaKaua to President Cleveland. The Commercial
Idr,rfisr of Honolulu, tho Government organ
gave tho first ntimation Of this fact, but when
questioned Mr. Daggett declared he could say
nothing save that he was entrusted with q. state
mission.
II is rumored here that he is empowered to make
an offer Of annexation of tho islands to the United
Ststos. as Kalakaua. is alarmed at the mania OF
European Powers for absorbing the islands OF the
Pacific. while the sugar planters fear an abrogstion
of the Reciprocity Treaty. which would mean ruin
to them.
Archbishop Riordan will soon restore all the
privileges TO the Jesnits on this coast whlcn were
taken away by his predecessor. Archbishop
Alemany These include the rite OF absolution ana
sacrament the privilege to bury the dead having
been granted by the Pope IN tine TACO Oh hiciiny
order The now Archbishop has also decided %
close I'D the Roman Catholic school for training OF
priests at Mission San jose in Santa Clara County
and transfer the theological students TO the college
at Baltimore.
There is prospect of legal proceedings being taken
TO Dust Coroner ODonnell from Office. A committee
of Supervisors has declared that the Coroner was
grossly negligent in not holding an inquest on tho
usrknen who were scalded to death IN the tripe
works explosion several weeks ago. UDonnell saia
the explosion was an accident for which no ono
was to blame, whereas subsequent inquiry Dy the
Supervisors revealed that the boiler was old ana
was subjected 70 three times the pressure 1t conli
| safely bear whilo nobody about the place was an
| engineer II O'DOnnell can be eyicted it Will be
good thing for the city. rs his anti-Chinese
harangues and appeals To tho h0odlum element are
a constant menace TO law aud order as well rs
damaging To the good name of California lie
visited Los Angeles this week aud made his custom
airy speech, but no violence was attempted.
A step forward IN the silk industry Is tho estab-
lshment of silk rceling school in this city by the
state Board of silk Culture. Tuition is FREQ: and
the object ia To train teachers so that branch schools
may be started in various parts OF tho state ana
farmers wives aud daughters be taught to reel
coc0ons Mt homo by foot power, as IS done IN other
silk-growng countries
Tho sharp competition between the Southern
Pacific and other railroads running into New
Mexico and Arizona has had tho natural result OF
reducing freight rates. tho cut in many eases being
as high as 30 per cent. new overland ratio has
been fixed California crackers which are nnding
a market at the East