The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-02
FROM ACROSS THE BAY.
Chief Schaffer Meets His
Men as Equals.
LINKLATER SAW A VISION
a Little Light on the Altamont Mystery
One Knockout Blow for the Water
Front Company.

Influence was strong upon Police Captain
Fletcher last evening, and when Chief
Sehaffer began to address his men gathered
fn the Police Court room Fletcher stopped
him.
He grabbed him convulsiyely by the arm,
pointed to reporter present ana said:
There's newspaper man here. chief; do
you obiect?"
The big-hearted and capable new chief
smiled at the trembling little captains
ridiculous fear and went on talking to his
men.
II am young in the department" said he,
among other things. "but all through life
=. 1 have been taught that politeness is never
lost. To treat others in gentlemanly way
when they approach you in gentlemanly
manner is the beat policy In all things. /
Would admonish you TO observe this and not
: 10 turn gruff1y and arrogantly away il you
are approached in q gentlemanly manner
for information.
- Il would ask you TO be humane in all
things, while firm in the discharge Of your
duties. To use force or violence or to club
a man without cause is 10 be guarded
against when not necessary"
Chief Sehaffer referred to his men as
- fellow officers, or, rather, brothers in the
police department.
,
he said, land l want you to work harmoni-
ously together. IL yon have q grievance
bling it TO me; when you pass salute one
= another. One aim, one object, one purpose
: are yours and mine-to preserve the peace
and to bring our department to the highest
degree of excellence. And, as | look over
you, i cannot see but that we ought TO have
the best police department In California.
Some improvements will be made. You
cannot all be promoted; when changes are
made. if they are made, then they will be
for the e Cd of the department, and let us
be satisfied with them, ignoring city jeal-
ousy, if We should De prone to such, for the
faithful performance OF our work"
The Impression made by Chief Schaffsr
inspired confidence In his men. They shook
his hand and congratulated him. He
showed power In reserve able 10 cope
with obstacles. to meet all requirements, to
conquer difficulties. He will make a good
CHIEF. But he will make some changes first
to be unhampered.
There are forty-two officers iu the police
department. 1t Is insufficient for the city
and Chief Schaffer will ask the Commits
sioners Tor the appointment OF about twelve
additional men. The detective force will
be improved and the chief will himself be-
come practical tilief-catcher, in the hope
OF stopping the multitude Of burglaries that
have been going on. Tom Downey one of
the most popular officers on the force, will
be appointed captain.
The Coroner received letter Yesterday
from Mrs. Sarah Gross, mother of James
Launiz. the supposed victim in the Alta
mont murder mystery. She enclosed his
picture, showing a smooth-faced Young
man, and described him as about 6 feet
high. of heavy build. with light hair, blue
eyes and peculiar jawbone, with two of
the upper front teeth protrudlng. She also
enclosed a picture, which was fac-simile
of one found near the body, representing
herself and husband, the latter the muir
deTed mans stepfather. She had received
no word from her son until the Coroner's let
ter arrived since 1890, when he abandoned a
homestead in Perkins County. Nebr.
Jacob Linklater told a weird story while
testifying about the cold-bDooded attempt of
aged Walter Young TO murder him one
night while he sat alone in an improyised
shanty iD South Berkeley eating his supper.
young had been my gardener for years.
be said, "and we had disagreement about
wages. discharged him. but that night
when j returned from San francisco, |
found him in my yard. He had killed my
aeg and l ordered him away. / did xct