Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-30
SANTA BARBARA.
O'CALLAHAN, THE NOTORIOUS BOOK
AGENT, AGAIN ARRESTED.
He Temporarily Locks Up His Captor-The
Meek Family Arrive-Council Proceed
ings-Nsws and Personal Notes.


J. O'Callahan, the illustrious agent
for Dore's illustrations of Dante's In
ferno, who has gained more or less noto-
riety throughout Lower California for
his glib talking and feecy ways, was
today arrested for drunkenness ani
general nuisance. He has been about
the street for the past few days offering
checks at the rate OF so cents on the
dollar, and has been such nuisance
to the banks here his arrest was made.
While arrested and being placed in one
of the cells he forced the arresting off,
Ger into the room, closed the door on
him and endeavored to- make his escape
by running. The officerJeleased him
self and gave chase after the sleek GUS
toner. In Atkinson Bros saloon he
was recaptured and returned to Jail,
where he now awaits examination.
O'Callahan is the same party who
was arrested at National City, Alameda
and various other places for his shady
work. He was returned from this city
to National City some months ago, from
whence he had escaped while under
bonds.
A favorite practice OF O'Callahan in
other places than this city was to work
his smooth tongue for all there was in
it.. He would have wives give short
time notes upon their husbands for the
amount of his work, and after giving a
place a good canvass, dispose OF the
notesto 'note-shaver." By this means
he managed to run a wholesale canvass
ing business and gain the enmity of
many an unfortunate husband.
At present the smooth gentleman is
out OF job, but it is hoped that he will
have one in few days cleaning up the
court yard and keeping the flies off the
hall of record steps.
A MEEK-LooKING LOT.
A family of four, father, mother and
two sons, arrived in this city Sunday
evening, and took up temporary quarters
at the Morris house. They were not in
any sense an inviting set, and this morn
ing the proprietor Of that hotel informed
them that he would like little of the
necessary, just as an evidence of good
faith. The father proceeded up town with
his trio in search of "a FRIEND" from
whom he was to get the necessary
money. On the street they were imme-
diately recognized by officers as the Meek
family from Los Angeles, description
OF whom was given in local paper. A
watch was set and they were seen to
visit various stores, where they handled
about everything in the place. The lit
tie boys soon caught on" that they
were being watched and they did not
pocket anything, though the actions of
all were very suspicious. The merchants
generally are onto them, and it is hardly
probable they will reap any harvest by
their pilfering in this place.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
The councilmen who have acted as
the city's daddies for the past two years
last night ended their labors in the
city's interest. Considerable business
was transacted at the council meeting.
Several matters relating to the coming
city election were discussed. A resolu-
tion and notice for the sale of bonds for
the boulevard were read and adopted.
The clerk was authorized to draw war.
rant in favor of Mayor Barber for the
amount of $3.50, to be paid to r. S.
Brown of San Francisco for services
rendered in endeavoring to effect the
sale Of boulevard bonds. A large amount
of bills were allowed and the council
adjourned until Thursday week.
The Santa Rosa came down from the
north this afternoon with thirty passen-
gers for this port.
The equinoctial weather of the past
few days has occasioned much murmur-
ing among residents and visitors alike.
A heavy rainstorm is brewing this after
noon.
Work in the police courts seems to be
picking up. Two vags were up in
Cranes court this morning and were
sentenced to light terms OF servitude at
the county's expense.
The case of the people vs. Frank E.
and Senovia Vidal was called in the
superior court yesterday. The Vidals
are charged with stealing cattle from
the Newhall ranch near Santa Maria.
Their trial was set for April 25th.
Antoine Vital and A. w. Campbell, the
Lompoc murderers, an account OF whose
killing a Chinaman was given in the
HERALD some days since, have arrived
in the county Jail, where they now await
trial in the superior court for murder.
Campbell, who is the younger of the
two, turned states evidence at the pre-
liminary hearing at Lompoc. He claims
to have been led astray by Vital. who
persuaded him to help him in his crime
OF robbing Cinnamon, by big rewards.
Vitalis hardened appearing criminal
Of, apparently, Italian extraction.
Campbell claims Antoine did the killing
while he did the watching.