The morning call., 1893-09-07
A DASTARDLY ACT.
Ruffians Choke and Rob
an Old Woman.
TESTIMONY AGAINST LOUIS.
Mrs. Meyer Recognizes Matheny as
Her Former Roomer The
New Grand Jury.

pretty Duoy LOphiHS iUI tNfe6 Young
scoundrelS who are wanted for most
outrageous and dastardlY attack on an old
woman on Twelfth street. near Lake Mer-
ritt,
Daniel Fukerson and wife, aged "a and
"a years respectively, have occupied lit
tie Shanty erected on an old barge, one
end of which was dragged out of the
water so as to have resting place on the
street near the sidewalk
IniS little free shanty the old couple
have occupied for the past four years.
Mrs. Fulkerson takes care of the little
house and runs candy and peanut stand
in the front room. Her husband does any
sort Of odd jobs about that he can get 80
do and that his enfeebled condition will
permit of. The couple live cOntentedly
and peacefully 10 their odd little home,
and by strict frugality bad saved a little
money in the years they have lived on the
banks of the lake.
On Tuesday last young man called and
purchased a little candy. at the same time
taking in the surroundings. He noticed
that there was only one other TOOm-that
in which the old couple ate and slept. and
he noticed also that a part Of the scant
furniture in the room was an old chest.
This young fellow eyed this chest for some
time and went away.
Yesterday morning he returned with two
companions. Just after old man FulkerSon
had hobbled off on some errand, and the
three rascalS walked right in without pre-
tense Of any sort and asked Mrs. FulkeT-
son for her money.
Before the poor woman had an oppor-
tunity TO make reply one of the scOun-
dres struck her blow which knocked her
10 the floor. He then jumred on her and
clutChed her throat so THAI she could make
no Outcry. The other two went straight
TO the old chest and proceeded to open it.
They were repaid for their ueiaTlnus
work by finding there $500 in gold which
the old couple had saved They also took
an old nlcke-case watch and some old
fashioned leWelrv, consisting of earrings
and breastpn. They made off hastily.
and when the husband returned after ali
absence of half an hour he found his wife
still lying on the floor unable 10 move
through her fright and rough treatment.
The nelghbOrS were reused 10 great
pitch. and there would have been some
lYnching on the quiet banks of Lake Mer-
Titt had the culprts been found yesterday.
Mrs. Fulkerson thinks she would recog-
nize the men if she saw them.
Forging the Chains.
Captain Lees of San Francisco was the
first witness called in the Matheny case
yesterday morning He was up for cross.
thing except the intimacy that existed be-
tween TOuhill and the defendant.
how did you come to know Touhill so
weil?" asked MIR. Cook.
II have watched him grow up Just as |
have watched yOu,' replied the captain.
I. P. Stevens. an employe of tie Oak
land racetrack, testified to having had a
large white hat of his stolen one morning
in early March of this year. When shown
= The White hat that was found in Matheny's
Eror bsz., i'd
: fed it his.
s Fred Elmer a bartender at the track,
c, was shown a piece of underclothing found
. in Matheny's room at the time of his ar
rest but could not identity it positively as
having been hl3 own. He gave some uu-
deTci0thng TO some one on the morning of
March II, but would not identify Matheny
as the man.
1t is said that the lives of certain wit
nesses for tine prosecution have been
threatened if they testify to any damaging
extent against the prisoner. 1t is certain
that large Following OF the best known
crooks and suspects are in the courtroom
every day. and some people insist that
they are there to see who are Matheny's
friends or enemies.
The most damaging testimony that was
adduced against the defendant yesterday
was by Mrs. a. Meyers of San Francisco,
who is the proprietor of the lodging house
on Sutter and Polk streets, known as the
Progress
This witness testified that Matheny came
to her house January 26 last, and paid for
the rooms until March II.
At that time he was accompanied by
Touhlll. who occupied the rooms with him.
She was shown Paris panel photograph
OF IOuhlll, and at once declared it TO be
capital picture of her former rOomer.
Mrs. Meyers then testified that the two
men had occupied the room up TO the week
If March 8, when Matheny informed her
that they would not need the rooms any
longer, and paid for them for the next
three DAYS only. On March 9. 10 and II
neither Matheny nor Touhil occupied the
rooms, but :be lormer returned on the 18th.
Later on a detective had. with her per-
mission. removed the lock and key from
Matheny's rOOm-d0Or. When lock was
shown her yesterday she Identified IL as
hers. Keys taken from the body of the
dead man wer- found to unlock the lock.
Officer John Seymore of San Francisco
was put on tie stand and described the
arrest of Matheny.
Carroll Cook failed to shake any Of these
witnesses ia bis croSs-eXamlnation.
Knocked Five Teeth Out.
Last evening at 8 o'clock young fellow
well known to the police went up to the
stage door of the Macdonough Theater,
and, representing himself as a super, at
tempted TO push past the doOrkeepeT, John
Stewart. Mr.. Stewart would not have ii
InaG way, ana tOld the cnap 10 go on. lie
would not go. and the conversation be-
tween the two became pretty hot Pretty
soon the hoodum dashed out into the
street, and gathered up a good-sized
cobbestOne and let it fly. 1t caught
Stewart square in the mouth, and sent
three Of his teeth on Journey toward his
stomach and left two m0lars dangling by
the SHRED of the gum. The rock-Ihrower
started of on dead run, and Officer Cur
tlss put IN an appearance just at this mo-
ment and started after his man.
He was too fieetfooted, however, and
after chase of five blocks vanished from
sight in the gloom. He was stopped once
in his run, but the man saw who il was
and let him go on. This man will also
probably be arrested. The young fellow
who threw the rock is said to be the son
of a well-known Broad way merchant
Blown From Vault.
Shortly before o'clock yesterday morn
ing an explosion of gas occurred at the new
office of the Land Title Company, $50
Broadway G. E. Bolton was badly
burned and bad to be removed to the Re-
celvng Hospital for treatment.