The herald., 1893-02-17
PARKER'S CAYENNE PEPPER,
The Ex-HOtel Clerk Makes a
Vain Break for Liberty.
He Was Held to Answer ON Charge
Amounting to Felony.
OHicer Auble Cots Handfol OF Red
Pepper in the Eyes, but the
Prisoner Fails to Get
Away.

|
night clerk, made desperate attempt
to escape from Detective Walter Auble
yesterday afternoon, while the officer
was transferring him from the city to
the county Jail, after his preliminary
examination before Justice Austin upon
a charge of grand larceny.
The examination closed little after
8 o'clock. and Parker was unable to give
the $4,000 bail required by the court.
He had been in the city Jail, but when
held to answer on felony charge his
status changed and he was due at the
coanty jail.
Officer Auble started with him, and
went around by Broadway. Parker had
made personal request to Auble not to
take him to the county Jail in the patrol
| wagon, alleging as his reason that he
on account OF his friends. Officer Auble
ls good-natured man, and acceded to
| the wishes Of the young man.
They proceeded north on Broadway to
First street, and at the corner their
progress was interfered with for an in
stant by two ladies who were passing.
Auble was separated little from his
prisoner, who seized the opportunity to
throw handful of cayenne pepper in
his face, and ran like deer down First
street toward Spring,
The pepper did not, luckily, take ef-
feet in both eyes of the officer, although
one eye was completely blinded by the
fiery stuff, In spite of his suffering he
followed close after Parker, shouting,
"Stop thief" The chase attracted a
large number of people, and when
Parker reached Spring street he ran
straight into the arms of Officer Haw-
ley, who is stationed at the intersection
of Spring and First streets. :
Tie desperate young fellow was Sc
cured and was marched up to the
county Jail, where he was put In the
tanks. On the way up he apologized to
Officer Auble for what he had done;
but the latter quietly told him that they
expected to be met by all sorts OF at
tempts on the part OF criminals to es-
cape, and let it 60 at that.
Parker is said to have become loqua-
cious at the jail, and in talking he is
reported as saying that he is wanted
back east on similar charge of grand
larceny and that he escaped In similar
manner from an officer there who had
him in charge.
While Parker WAS in the city jail he
had bis meals cent over from the Hol-
lenbeck restaurant, and he always sent
for cayenne pepper with his orders.
The tricky fellow, instead of using the
pepper thus cent internally, saved 1t up
end secreted it, 80 that when the time
came he had good handful for the Off
GER. His trick not only failed to give
him him liberty, but has made his convic-
oion ailnosv a CoIvalnpy Whom ho oo..-ss
up for trial. Officer Auble was suffering
considerably in his eyes last evening,
but they were not seriously injured.
Parker's examination yesterday before
Justice Austin established an over
whelming mass of convincing testimony
against him. 1t was not long exami-
nation, the testimony all being put in
in about an hour. The facts as hereto
fore published were given by the wit
nesses with scarcely any variation.
The defendant, who is by no means a
good-looking fellow, but evidently has
dudish tendencies, was neatly dressed
and wore pronounced yellow CATERS
over his accurately polished shoes. His
hair was plastered down on his head,
giving him slightly sanctimonious ap-
peararce. He was very busy during
the examination of witnesses scribbling
down what struck him as salient points,
and he frequently laughed and smiled
as the examination progressed.
Mrs. E. j. Gorham, of Santa Monica,
whose money and jewelry were stolen at
the Westminster, and her daughter-in-
law, Mrs. H. M. Gorham, both attract
overlooking women, gave their testimony
in direct manner. They told how they
left the sachel containing the money,
$50, and pearl pins with the day clerk,
Mr.. Bohnn, ana about finding all the
property missing except $l.50 when
they received their sachel the next
morning. The various articles were ex-
hibited to the ladies and were identified
by them.
Milo M. Potter, manager of the Vest
minister, testified that he saw the hand
bag containing the property at the hotel,
behind the counter railing, and that he
left the defendant in charge when be
went to bed between 10 and IL O'Clock.
Charles R. Moffitt, clerk to Chief OF
Police Glass, narrated the circumstances
of the visit paid by himself and Detect
ives Auble and Benson to Parker's
room, at No. 1924 South Grand avenue.
They called quite late at night, and
Parker was in bed. He opened the door,
ard then got into bed again, asking to
what he was indebted for the honor OF
the visit. The officers examined his
belongings, and found $50 in celluloid
soap box in bureau drawer. They also
noticed silk handkerchief case. Aday
or two afterward they broughta number
of his effects to police headquarters, and
it was while examining them that Chief
Glass ran across the pearl pins described
BY Mrs. Gorham. They were secreted
almost in the middle of the case, wrapped
in cotton.
Chief Glass described how he found
the pins and told OF his conversation
with the prisoner about them, in which
Parker said that some kind friends had
probably put them in the handkerchief
case since he had seen it..
J. H. Bohim, the day clerk who took
the handbag from Mrs. Gorhan, testi-
fed that he had instructed Parker that
Mrs. Gorham wanted the article when
she came in, and therefore he had left
it outside the safe. He also said that
no one could get the bag where 1t was
placed behind the railing unless they
had come around inside the Office.
Officer Benson corroborated the state
ments of Officers Moffitt and Aubfe and
the prosecution closed. Hugh j. Craw-
ford, counsel for the defendant, did not
ask the witnesses any questions, and
would not put in any testimony. JUS
tina Atfatip bald tho Iafaudout tn aYl-