The morning call., 1892-10-27
FROM ACROSS THE BAY.
A Berkeley Man Wanted by
His Wife and Child.
MYSTERY OF A DEAD NAN.
viii the Southern Pacific Gobble Up Oak.
lands Streetcar Lines An
Escaped Leper.

Where Is John McCloud OF West Berke-
ley? His wife and child are waiting for
him in little cottage which he furnished
for them on Rose street
McCloud quit his employment as a tan
ner last Friday and disappeared, taking
along his clothing. He gave but little ex-
PLANTATION to his wife, except to say that he
was going to Virginia City at once.
A few days afterward she received two
photographs of him and brief note telling
her to give one to the child and to keep the
other. They had been mailed from San
Francisco. This fact made it known that
he had not left for Virginia City, as his
wife believed he had intended. She became
troubled and sent out friends to inquire for
him. When body was found drowned last
Sunday she sent to the morgue to see IL it
could be identified as her husband. All
their efforts failed, and she is heart-bI oxen
and almost distracted.
A CALL reporter yesterday learned that
there is a reason for his disappearance, but
there is one as to why he should not come
back and face 1t like man and take care
OF his family. He had been employed in
Stewards tannery in West Berkeley. and
Mr.. Stewart stated that he owes him little
money for some hides disposed of withou
authority. Stewart, who is kind-hearted
man, however, stated that he would not at
tempt to make McClou1 answer for this If
he would return to his home.
The wife was not at home when the re-
porter called. 1t is lonely cottage, remote
from other houses, and she had taken her
child and gone to neighbours.
McCloud is good workman and has
many friends who refuse to believe. as his
wife does, that he has done away with him.
self. They believe that he is still in San
Francisco. His wife and child need him.
The Coroner was notified of mysterious
circumstance yesterday morning which was
believed to have had some bearing on the
death of the man found drowned In the
East Oakland Creek last Sunday. Fred
Becker had informed a policeman that on
Saturday evening he had caught sight OF
man dragging something in the neighbor-
hood of the bridge toward the creek.
The finding of the body made him be-
lieve that there might possibly have been
murder although he thought nothing of it
at the time. This was reported to police
headquarters, and, when the Coroner heard
of il, he made an investigation, but could
not learn that in any way 1t affected the
mystery Of the mans death. Becker could
not say definitely that 1t was the man who
was being dragged, and he was not sure
just where be saw it. The inquest did not
determine the cause Of death. The body
had been In the water only about Fine
hours. and was floating when discovered
although there were no marks of violence
to indicate murder.
1t was stated some time ago that the
Southern Pacific Company had an option on
the Piedmont Cable Railroad, and yester-
day there was rumor that it had been pur-
chased. This was denied by Mr.. Garth
ffa ho INF 10
probable. 1t has been limited from time to
time. however, that the company has we'll
developed designs upon monopoly of
streetcar traffic in Oakland, as it has in
San Francisco. 1t already owns the San
Pablo and Telegraph avenue electric lines,
together with the Twelfth-stTeet horsecar
line. To own the Piedmont branch run
ming to the Sixteenth-street depot from
the center of the city would be
great thing for Mr.. Huntington's
company. 1t could be helped very much by
the lines to be built by the Oakland aud
Berkeley Consolidated Railway Company,
running from Second and Broadway to
Market, aud from Grove street along Eighth
to the Point. The public can then be what
Mr.. Vanderbilt said it could, 80 far as the
Seventh street line is concerned. The
stsam-car line from the Slxteenth-street
depot to the ferry could amply accommodate
passengers going TO the moles With Oak
land rapidly becoming gridrOned with cleo
trio roads, as ii is, the Southern Pacific
could solve the Seventh-street free traffic
question very easily if it owned the roads.
All the main streetcar lines are being
changed into electric ones, and the only
relics OF the past are the Seventii-street
local, the Twelfth-street horsecar line and
few branches or feeders to the main lines.
Attorneys aud litigaBts in the waterfront
suit waited all the forenoon for the Judges
to come in yesterday, but they remained In
the chambers preparing their decisions on
the motion Of the waterfront company TO
admit the second Carpenter ordinance,
ratifying the original one, by which the
water front was granted to Carpenter. In
the afternoon they announced the decision
Ia favor Of the motion.
The Democratic County Committee has
Cancelled all meetings for next Friday out
OF respect 10 the funeral OF Mrs. Harrison.
The Republicans will hold their meetings,
but have ordered that no campaign demon
STATIONS be made.
George W. Armes died at his residence.
$50 Fourteenth street, Tuesdsy night at the
age of 90 years: de was an ex-member Of
the Board of Free Library Trustees and OF
the Board of Education. He was prominently
identified with church work, and until few
months ago had been superintendent of the
First Presbyterian Sabbath-school for
twenty-five years. He was former resi-
dent of San Francisco and was superin-
tendent of the Sabbath-school OF the How
ard-street Presbyterian Church.
Samuel butcher. the leper is at large and
the officers are looking for him. He has
been living alone at the expense Of the
county in little house erected for him near
the County lnfirmary. Yesterday he ran
away, and has not been recaptured.
The Second Ward Harrison and Reid
Club, at a meeting held ON tuesday night,
was advised of the death of Mrs. Benjamin
Harrison, and resolutions of sympathy
were adopted.
Alameda.
Some of the property-owners on Santa
Clara avenue are much exercised over the
fact that two electric railroad tracks are to
be laid on the avenue. and yesterday they
talked of enjoining the company. The
necessary papers were prepared, but diff
Guilty was experienced In securing bonds
men. In the meantime the Electric Rail-
road Company has a big force of men at
work on Santa Clara avenue tearing up the
street pre- aratory to tracklaying But one
track will be laid at time, and 1t Is the
method of doing the work to which some of
ba prnpa 10 n w n obiaot Thay wopt IN