The morning call., 1891-08-18
WHERE DO THEY CO.?
The District Attorney Hunting
Up Old Pistols.

The District Attorney has been saddled
with a very interesting task-somewhat
petty in cha racter, but none the less inter-
estng.
The repeated demands made on the prop-
erty clerk at the old City Hall for chattels
that ought to be in his custody, but for
some unaccountable reason are not. has
finally found a climax i'll sort Of teapot
upheayal in the city juDk-Shop, and Mr..
Cullen is now on the warpath armed with
the riot act.
Every article found in the possession of
criminals or in any way connected with
crimes that come within the jurisdiction of
San Francisco courts has legal custodian
in the person of the property clerk. Ii one
accused of crime is acquitted, or if con-
vlcted has done penance, he may re-
turn and claim his property, whatever it
lS-plstol, knife clothing or anything else.
All stolen property recovered goes into the
property clerks hands, and may be re-
claimed by the owner after the courts have
done with il.
ONLY A MEMORANDUM LEFT.
Sometimes property of this kind catches a
coVetouS eye, and IS very apt to get lost in
the mazes or a long trial, in which event
MIR. Property Clerk becomes the custodian of
the memorandum only. What more natural
than for a fine, latest improved revolver,
such as are very frequently used in the
murderous deeds that the coyerts must mass
upon, to fail into the hands of some one who
was looking for just such an article? And
what could be easier under the confusing
circumstances Of long trial than for some
fascinating trinket to get lost On its way
back TO the property clerk?
The rapid accumulation of the memoranda
was what caused the commotion in the prop
ertv clerks office. This business is get
ting altogether too monotonous," lie ex-
claimed day or two ago. when the owner
of the pistol that Anthony Mendoza used to
murder his wife called and claimed it.
IT HAD DISAPPEARED.
Mr.. Cullen looked high and low for the
weapon, but it was nowhere to be found
Not only had the wicked thing itself disap-
peared, but the memorandum had gone also.
1t was finally traced up i'll the court rec
Ords, and found TO have been last heard of
in Judge Skaters court in May, 1890,
where 1t was used in evidence in the Men
dOZa trial. Oscar Tolle, now deputy in
the Assessors Office, was clerk OF that court
at that time, and as all articles and exhibits
used in evidence are given to the clerk for
safe-keeplng he was called on.for informa-
ton OIL the deadly instrument.
Mr.. IClle was as much surprised as if the
thing had exploded in his coat-tail pocket
he remembers that pistols, without num-
Der, clubs, JmmieS, burglars outfits, and
everything elSe of use in the dark science,
came into his temporary possession during
his clerk ship in that criminal court. But
my gracious" said he, ''I'd have to have a
memory as long as the State line to renem-
Der what became of them. l SUPPOSE" he
added, THAT when the trials were over
they were taken in possession by the Dis
tIict Attorney, or some other representative
of the property clerk, otherwise I'm sure
don't know where they went.
MUST BE PRODUCED.
The District Attorney is not at all salts
fed. He wants that pistol and is deter
mined to have 1t. and declares that if the
Official who had it last. namely, Mr.. Tulle,
does not produce it, his principal (who was
will be required to make it good.
This determination the part of the
District Attorney is calculated to put a
check on The carelessness, wherever it may
be, that results III the disappearance of this
kind of property. He has a half-dozen or
more cases of the same kind on hand just
at present.