The morning call., 1893-01-17
OVER IN OAKLAND.
Two Strangers Suspected
of Burglary.
THAT BUS WAR IN ALAMEDA.
The Late Eli w. Piayter's Successor
Appointed = Prospective Action
of the Municipal League.

The most serious of many mistakes that
have been committed by the Police Depart
ment within the past few months was the
arrest of two men who were suspected OF
having cracked 400 safes in various towns
OF California. Chief Sehaffer and Datect-
ives Holland and Downey pounced upon
them while they were tinkerDg with jew
eler's window in the vicinity of Fourteenth
street aud Broadway. They were locked
up on general principles, and San Francisco
officers were brought over to identify them.
1t proved failure and the men were re-
leased yesterday. The Police Department
tried. 10 some unaecountable way, to con-
meet them with the numerous safe-crackings
that have been going on in Oakland. They
threaten TO bring suit for damages.
They gave their names as Charles
Watson and George tombstone, and
were arrested chiefly because they were
strangers in town and because there was
nobody else to arrest. When placed behind
the bars they insisted that Il charge should
be made against them so that they could
understand things, and the Police Depart
ment refused. The affair was the laughing
stock Of the town yesterday. and the CHIEF
and his deputies are continually tainted
with The remark, when are You going to
get the genuine safe-crnckers?" Il has so
detective ability, and they are conSidera-
bly, chagrined about il.
J. W. Philips of East Oakland will sit in
the chair lately decorated with mourning
for the death of Eli w. Playter. The
Mayor has appointed him a Comm issioner
Of Public Works. and he will sit with the
board for the first time tonight. He is 81
years old and butcher by occupation. He
is almost as wealthy as the late Mr. Play
ter, being director of the Central Bank
4 o. L
pany. bis term Will expire on April l.
+. r. Porter. editor OF the Echees, was
one of the applicants for the position, and
is considerably disguised at the result.
Gustav Abrahamson and j. Kennedy
were taken TO the hospital early yesterday
morning, suffering severely from beating.
They are non-union sailors, working on the
steamer Emily at 1aylor's wharf. They
stated that during the night some union
sailors entered and assaulted them. Abra-
hanson was stabbed seven times with a
small knife. They viii both recover.
The Municipal League will meet again
this evening to consider the names of per-
sons suggested as candidates for the city
offices.
Sheriff McKillcan sold under decree of
foreclosure yesterday 1852 acres of the
Rancho Ell Vale de San Jose, in Murray
Township, to satisfy a claim Of SIS, 542 of
Ferdinand Reiss against Andrew Peterson.
James Lamb, a gTay-haired citizen of
East Oakland, who shot ex-POllce Officer
GilmOur through the hand at recent elec-
ton, drew a revolver on the local train Sun
day during a row. He was arrested.
Fred Puckelwortb, an employe of the
California Bridge Company. aged 81, was
drowned at the foot of Webster street on
Sunday night. He fell off the wharf while
returning to his berth on a dredger in an
intoxicated condition. HIS body was re-
covered last evening.
The Democratic City Central Committee
met last night. but came TO no conclusion
regarding a convention or the manner of
choosing delegates. Ii was a very inhar-
moniogs session. There will be another
meeting next Saturday night.