The morning call., 1894-08-16
Strange Case of the Cole
han Sisters.
The Council Will EndeaVor to Cut
Down the City Engineers
Bills.

developed into one of the most peculiar
cases of the kind in the annals Of the
county.
The most peculiar circumstances about
the case are that both sisters became de-
mented at about the same time, that their
Authorizations, If hallucinations they be,
are identical, and that they tell their story
with much straightforwardnes and coher-
ence. It was developed that the alleged
insane sisters on the one side and their
brother and sister, Daniel ana Elizabeth,
have had some differences regarding the
small property that was left by their
brother, and that Mary and Catherine al
lege that the others have consplred to
have them Taiiroaded to an insane asylum
so that they could gain control of the prop
eTty. However that may be- the Lunacy
Commissioners adjudged Mary and Cath
crime to be dangerous to be at large. but
the women not asserting to the fnality of
this action have demanded TO be tried by a
jury.
Miss Mary Colehar. whether sane or in
sane, is a remarkably bright, shrewd
woman and, besides holding a High School
diploma, she has taught in the schools of
Alameda County for he past fifteen years,
aud her present predicament is viewed with
much interest by the residents of LiVermore
Valley, where she has lived so long. She and
Catherine disown any relationship to Daniel
aud Elizabeth, who is also SchoOleacher, and
the romantic story which she told yesterday in
support OF her belief. or inflammation, was cor
loborated at every point by her sister Cath
crime.
She said that as many as foriy-three years
ago her mother gave birth 10 a child. which
died during the Inconsistencies of the mother.
Her father, thinking o assuage the mothers
grief and for a mercenary consideration, I'M
posed another child upon her breast This
child, Mary says, was Daniel COlehan. Ten
years later, under similar circum stances, the
father imposed another child on his wife, this
time Elizabeth Colehan. Mr.. Coehsn kept the
secret locked up in his own breast, and the
children grew uD as brothers and sisters.
When upon his deathbed, however, Mary and
Catherine agree that he told their mother the
truth regarding the parentage OF Daniel and
Elizabeth, so that she might q: her death dis
tribute their little property among her own
children. The sisters say that although their
mother told them the facts, they still continued
10 treat Daniel and Elizabeth as their brother
and sister
Mary and Catherine charge that Elizabeth on
one occasion tried TO poison them and on an
other attacked them with Ratchet. Both claim
that papers establishing the truth OF what
they say concerning the parentage of Daniel
and Elizabeth, as well as of another sO-called
sister now 10 asylum, will soon be IN the
nands OF Father Powers, a Catholic priest at
LIYermOre. Miss Mary conducted the defense
of herself and sister in a really mastery man
Der, and IN no case did they in any way fail to
corrobOrate each other. When Judge Ogden
told them that be believed with the medical
men that they were insane, and asked the sis
tiers II they would live quietly with Elizabeth
and Daniel, Mary replied TO The effect that they
would not because they were fearful of their
lives, She said she bad saved lots OF money,
which she had buried because she had no faith
in the stability of banks.
"My sister ana will live on that while it
lasts" said she. land when that is gone l will
go schoolteaching again. If 1 can't get
school VIII procure other work. But demand
jury Irial"
Railroad Work Stopped.
The streetcar companies now attempting to
build an electric road on Eleventh street are
very likely 10 meet with serious trouble before
they have finished their roads These roads
are the Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont line
which now runs from Broadway and fourth
street 10 Alameda, and thence 10 TWenty-third
avenue, in East Oakland. It's desire is to build
into Oakland by way Of Eleventh street, and
make loop Of its line. The other road is The
wants terminus in Oakland proDer, ana
had intended dividing the expense with
the other road and using Eleventh street for It's
line.
1t is claimed there is some defect 10 the fran
chiSe TO use Eleventh street. which was granted
IN the closing days OF the last Council. There
was vigorous protest against the granting OF
the franchise by produce and commission mer-
chants on Eleventh street, between Broadway
ana washington street. at the time because of
the crowded condition OF the thoroughfare at
certain hours In the day. The franchise was
granted. however, but the merchants thought it
was illegal and that tile road would never be built
under it, Ii was claimed that the trouble was
IN the publication of the ordinance. Both roads
applied for franchises and while one only was
advertised the otter was granted.
The two companies have been very busy all
the week on Sixth and Jefferson streets and
yesterday reached Eleventh street with large
force OF men and teams. The street was torn
up as far as Washington street, when work was
suddenly stopped at that point because of the
Issuance OF an Injunction by Judge Ogden at IL
O'Clock.
There was one injunction sought in tile name
OF Mrs. Z. NJ. Burnham, who owns $50 feet of
land on the south side OF Eleventh street. be-
tween Madison and Jackson. The Injunction
was granted on the filing Of a bond of $4,000,
with .. Ii. Burnbam, john Crellln and James
w. Shankln as suTeties
A second petition was filed by Frederick Sim
clair and Joseph Lsmoge, OF the Oakland Fruit
and Produce Company, at 460 and 462 Eley-
enth street. They claim that they have two
years, lease OF the premises at tnat place and
that the road will ruin traffic and their business
because OF the already crowded condition OF
that thoroughfare.
President Rank of the Alameda line. sneak.
ing of the matter, said that his company had
perfectly legal right of way along the street.
lie said that the ROAD could not possibly iniure
Eleventh street, as there would be but a single
track Ia the street at the crowded portion. The
Alameda road will have line only feet 6
inches wide 10 the middle of the street, while
Highland Park road would also be in The MID
die OF the street and feet 81a inches wide.
THAT" said Mr. Rank. takes up little more
TO curb"
The officers of both roads insist that they
nave legal right TO build the roads on Elev.
enth street and that the courts can do nothing
else than decide that way.
has He Committed Suicide?
The fate OF L. C. Sawyer is matter OF grave
apprehension among his friends. Last Tuesday
week he left his apartments in the Lester
House az Big Eighth street and has not been
seen or heard from since. His friends fear
that. overcome by his reverses and despaiIing
OF ever again mending his broken fortunes, he
committed suicide. The missing man Is about
60 years OF age. Thirty years ago ne came
from Portland, Me-, and established planning
mill. lie made money rapidly and speculaIed
IN stocks with such success that ten years ago
ms wealth was counted in the hundreds OF
thousands.
Then reyerses came aud he lost bis entire
fortune he took ID the building and con-
tracing business, Dut with such poor success
that he abandoned it and sought employment
as carpenter. What he considered his greatest
misfortune happened several months ago.
when, owing 10 fall from a lofty scaffolding
be fractured his ankle and was crippled perIna.
neatly.
When he left the Lester House last week he
told the landlady that 1t was his intention to
60 10 Menlo Park. He sold an old trunk as he
explained TO her, to get sufficient money for MS
fare to MEMO, and then be left. An old friend
becoming anxious wrote TO Menlo Park for in
formation concerning Sawyer's whereabouts
but the answer was unsatisfactory; nothing
had been seen OF him. The missing man is
short and slight, ana when last seen was alfred
In brown suis and soft hat.
Crooked Street-sweeping Bids
Because of alleged crookedness in the bids
for the contract OF sweeping the streets all the
bids for that work were yesterday rejected nv
tile Board of Public Works. OF the six bios