The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-31
SID BELLS NECK.
Detective Brown Is Sure Twill
Not Be Stretched.
The Ohio Hawkshaw Has Evidence That Will
Prove the Footpad's Innocenoe-His
Interview With Lees.

"You ask for my theory ofSamuel Jacob
sons death. All can say is that l do not
believe that Bell killed jacobson. / believe
that lie was killed III his house OF in the
doorway of his house aud l will convince
the people of San Francisco that am right.
l will prove that the shot that killed Jacob
son was fired in the house or at the door"
Detective James A. Brown of Columbus,
Ohio. who made the above statement to a
CALL reporter yesterday afternoon in his
office on Market street, is man upon
whose face determination is written. He is a
preacher, but there is no suggestion of 1.-The
cloth" in his face or dress. He is a man APP
parently about So years of age with full
beard and hair of iron gray.
' L have been grossly misrepresented by
some of the newspapers ana some of the
'but propose to do my duty here unmind-
full of press or personal criticism"
EMPLOYED BY BELLS RELATIVES.
Are you employed by Bells relatiyes?"
asked the reporter.
81 am, but have other work to do in this
State. My home is in Columbus, Ohio.
Bells parents and | live in the same street.
They are highly respected Christian people.
| knew nothing about young Bell or his
wife until | came to this city, twenty days
ago. OF the wife | still know nothing, but
| have learned much about Bells case, and
will know much more before l am many
weeks older"
. How have you been misrepresentedP"
1T is said that l went to tine JacO bsOn
family on several occasions and tried to bull
doze them into giving me information. L
have been 10 the house OF the murdered man
I,.t
door and | gave her my card, and asked her
if she was Miss Harriet jacobson She SAID
she was not. | asked her II could see Miss
Harriet, and she called her mother. Mrs.
jacobson took me for a newspaper man,
and said that on account OF the way in which
she had been misrepresented by the press
she would not be interviewed.
DECLINED THE INTERVIEW.
~ gave her my card and told her
wanted to speak 10 Miss Harriet about her
brother. She declined to grant my re-
quest, and declared that Captain Lees had
full charge of all matters connected with
the tragedy. | intimated that l was as
deeply interested in the affair as captain
Lees, and left the house.
"On the 18th ! wrote a letter to Miss
Harriet jacobson, in which L informed her
that had an important communication TO
make TO her relative TO the death OF her
brother. She sent my letter, or permitted it
copy of it to local journal. in which it was
published the next day. l am glad that IL
was published, because | had not kept a
copy of il, and l now have the copy in type.
| received no reply to.that letter, although |
assured Miss jacobson that the investiga-
ton which l proposed to make would be
kept as private as possible.
"On Monday, the 18th. Captain Lees came
to my office with District Attorney Barnes
and asked to see me.
+" Are you James A. Brown he asked.
"Yes, SIR | replied, be seated
CAPTAIN LEES READS THE LETTER.
sHe introduced himself rather gruffly,
and taking my letter to Miss jacobson out of
his pocket said: Brown, did you send that
letter to Miss Harriet JacObsonP He
would not let me ouch the letter, but read
it aloud.
"Yes. wrote that letter. answered.
Now, he said in the same grutf tone,
here is District Attorney Barnes, who has
charge of all criminal matters. If you
have, as you say, some matters of import
ance concerning the Jacobson murder we
are here for you to tell us what they are
THAT cool request made my Buckeye
blood run fast. l said, What do YOU take
me for? | sent that letter to Miss jacobson
and asked an interview with her. l will
speak to her.
Are you going to say he'said, leaning
toward me, that you are not going to tell US
=" 'Assuredly will not tell 1t to either OF
you until l am ready l will tell it to Miss
jacobson
TRIED AND CONVICTED.
"tI want you to know said Lees. that
this case has gone through the courts. Bell
has been tried and convicted, and that's all
there is about it. By what authority are
you here, representing yourself as detec-
tive?'
~ answered that 1t was none Of his bust
ness, and turned to Mr.. Barnes and asked
him if there was any law in California to
hinder me from investigating tie crime If |
saw fit to do So
Well, Captain, that's all L am DOING l
1.-THE jacobson family are citizens of this
city. and I'll see that they are protected he
exclaimed.
also a citizen, and if you are disposed to
protect them l and others are going to pro-
tect him. Both are justifiable.' Lees was
enraged and walked out"
Detective Brown was asked what testi-
mony the two young men coming from the
East would give in Bells behalf.
OCCURRED IN THE HOUSE.
He replied that one OF them is a travelling
man and both will testify that the shooting
occurred in the house and not on the side
walk.
There is n third and very important
Witness" he said, who is being kent in the
background. He is resident of this city.
can say nothing about his evidence at
present. i will also be witness"
Detective Brown is not so confident as
DIR. Easton that Bell is converted. He has
heard the fOotpad use certain expressions
which are tabooed in orthodox Sunday
schools but he holds that whether the pris-
ouer has been converted or not, whether he
has heen n robber or mot he should not be
hanged for crime that he did not commit.
Brown declares that ii foul conspiracy exists
which he will expose even If Bell is hanged.
Adopted His Stepsou.
Judge CARRIER yesterday leealized the adop-