The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-03
OVER IN OAKLAND.
A Suit About a Boiler
That Exploded.
An Alibi That Did Not WOrk-The
Retail Clerks and Sunday Clos
ing-Borax King Coming.

Frank Rippey brought suit against
Daniel Best in the Superior Court yester-
day to recover sec, 500 damages for injuries
| sustained by the explosion Of one of Mr..
Best's engines in 1891. The complaint Is a
voluminnus one and sets forth RiDpey's
grievances in detail The circumstances
under which the injuries were received
are as follows: On July 16. 1891. Mr.. Best,
who is practical and experienced manu-
facturer of portable steam engines. was
the owner Of an Enright engine, such as is
used in the harvest fields for furnishing
motive power to run harvesting machines.
This engine was leased to G. w. Benjam
who used it in his work of thrashing grain
at the farm of Daniel Goddard in Sonoma
County. One part of the agreement was
that Best should inspect the machinery
thoroughly and see that it was safe for
Gse in the field. Rippey was employed by
Benjamin to haul water for the engine.
While engaged in the discharge of his
duties and while standing near the engine
1t exploded with terrific force and Rippey
was thrown to the ground, struck with
pieces Of iron and Scaded In fearful
manner. AS result Of his injuries Rip
pey has been confined to the house for q
year.
boiler was so cOrroded and worn and eater
by use as to be OF insufficient strength and
TO be dangerous to whoever might use IT,
1t is claimed that if Best had lived up TO
the terms Of his agreement and given the
boiler proper inspection this acciden t
would never have occurred.
From Almshouss to Ranch.
Shit was commenced in the Superior
Court yesterday morning hy Rebecca
Eno oircf nS, n
from ranch of eighteen acres near Hay
wards.
The plaintiff, who is 81 years of age. has
just been taken from the Aims house In
San Francisco, and now lays claim to a piece
of property out of which, according to the
complaint, her daughter had almost sue
ceeded in cheating her. Mrs. Engle's
she lived with her husband and three
daughters upon the ranch now in Iitiga-
ton. A few years ago Mr.. Enge died.
and not leaving will his daughter Josie
became Administrative of the estate.
In the course of time an order of court
was made giving the ranch TO the old lady.
Shortly after Josie induced her mother to
go to San Francisco. and the old lady was
placed in The AlmshOnse and became a
charge OH the public. While she was thus
con fined Josie sold the ranch to E. r.
Ramage OF HaywardS for $500 In cash and
a mortgage for $500. Ramage has since
been in possession OF the place under the
provisions OF the deed given to him by
Miss Josie At this point. fortunately,
friends came TO the rescue, and Attorneys
Gibson and Hewlatt were retained to make
the old lady'S fight Hewlett saws that he
has investigated the records and finds that
the ranch now stands In the name Of Mrs.
Engle. 1t is probable, therefore. that the
old lady will make q strong fight tor her
property.
Eli and the AIibi.
Negro Eli. alias Frank Norfleet. tried
very hard to prove an alibi in his case yes
terday. He is being tried on charge of
assaulting and robbing Julia Heaggerty
and Katie Moran near Golden Gate a
few months ago and has been positively
Identified by the young women whom he
assaulted.
Eli had whole lot of his colored
friends on hand to prove that he was play
ing pool with them on that evening. he
got away once before on an abb, when he
was charged with a similar assault. con-
mitted on Mrs. Meuller at AS by station.
The courtroom was crowded yesterday
and tho atmosphere OF the room became
so oppressive that Miss Heaggerty had to
leave the room. She tainted in the CORR
dor, hut was brought 10 after some little
effort.
The SO was given to the jury mt n late
nOur last evening ana IL took that BODY
just FIVE minutes to bring in verdict Of
guilty.
The BOrax King En- Route.
F. NJ. Smith. the "Borax King" will be
in Oakland to-day. He went East tive
months ago, just after securing control Of
the Consolidated Railroad. and had then
no Intention of returning earlier than Oc-
tOber. His mothers death at San Jose re-
called him about month ago. but he re-
turned at once. His sudden homewa ard
move is believed by local tinancers to por-
tend h is intention OF becoming a competitor
Of the Southern Pacific for the possession
OF the East Oakland electric line.
Submitted to Judge Ellsworth.
The case Of the Times paper against An.
ditor Snow on the petition Of plaintiff for
n writ of mandate compelling the Auditor
to pay the sum of S435S 90 to the Times
Company for printing 260 copies of the
great register, was heard yesterday before
Judge Ellsworth. The case was argued
aud submitted, Judge Ellsworth stating
that ne would take the case under advise
ment.
Decided Triumph.
The retail clerks about town have won
decided victory in their efforts looking
toward Sunday closing. and now every
merchant is in line with them.
TIE struggle 10 this and has been long
one and the clerks enlisted the help of the
Federated Trades in the movement. which
body aided them in their movement ma
torially.