The San Francisco call., 1895-05-21
Superintendento of Schools Nc
CIymond's Books Ex-
ported.
STUART McMULLAN's REPORT.
Another Robbery in the Center OF
Town-Mrs. Smith Bound
and Gagged.


pletely at sea as to their identity. Chief
OF Police Schaffer made strenuous efforts
TO keep the facts of the case from becoming
generally known, but through the talk of
MISREPRESENTATION neighbors of the victim
OF the robbers the news became public
property.
Mrs. George Smith, who lives with her
three small children at 673 Tenth street,
was awaiting, at 1890 o'clock, the return
OF her husband, who was downtown on
the night mentioned, when she heard a
knock at the door. Thinking that it
might be some of the neighbors, Mrs.
Smith opened the door to find herself con-
fronted by two burly men, whose faces
were covered by masks.
Before she could recover her presence of
mind sufficiently to make an outcry she
was pushed inside and the door was shut
and locked by the men. She was seized,
searched and her purse containing a So
golfpiece and some small change speedily
passed into their possession.
Then while one of the men stood guard
over her and threatened her with instant
death if she made an outcry the other rob-
ber went through the house making
thorough search for other valuables. Not
Smith and her captor and the men pro-
duced ropes from their pockets and pro-
eeeded to bind her hand and foot
Seemingly afraid that she would arouse
the neighbors by screaming before they
could put long distance between them
selves and the scene of their crime the ruff
fans gagged her with a piece of cloth,
tying it behind her head to prevent its
SLIPPING off before they were we'll away.
Then they left, shutting the door behind
them.
Mrs. Smiths three children were asleep
Nf IL.
which the mother was robbed, but the
burglars did not wake them.
The husband OF the helpless woman re-
turned soon after the robbers had left, and
was much alarmed at finding his wife lying
bound and gagged on the floor. He released
her as soon as possible. and hurried to the
police station to give the alarm Chief
Schaffer seemed to be in doubt as to the
manner of handling the case, and by the
time he had make up his mind the robbers
were far from the scene of their crime.
1T was dark in the room when opened
the door," said Mrs. Smith yesterday,
land could not see the faces of the men.
but could Just discern their forms looming
up in front of me. l was SO frightened
when they pushed me back that l could
not scream, and was afraid to say anything
after that as they might kill me.
"They offered me no special violence
beyond tying my hands and feet. / might
identity them, but am afraid that could
not be sure"
= A peculiar feature of the case is that the
police were warned several hours before
the robbery took place that two men
answering the general description of the
burglars we're in Oakland bent on mis-
chief. The police were really on the look
out for them. conductor on the narrow
gauge train saw two suspicious characters
on his train, which had connected with
train from the city, and gathered from
scraps of their conversation that reached
his ears that they were on lob" As his
watch had expired he left the train with
them at Seventh and Webster and fol-
lowed them to Washington street.
They bought quantity OF cartridges at
Halls gunstore The conductor being
convinced that they would bear further
watching left their trail and found police
man, who telephoned to the police station,
stating the matter as it had been given to
him.
~ Chief Schaffer, with Detectives Storey,
Williams and Holland, Sergeant Hodg
kins and two patrolmen in citizens
clothes started out to round up the men,
but were unsuccessful. and the robbery
occurred while they were searching.
Meeting of the Council.
At a meeting of the City Council last
evening the ordinance permitting wheel
men to ride on the sidewalks during the
of lamps after 6 o'clock in the evening was
repealed and a new measure prohibiting
the use of the walks by cyclists at any
time was referred to the committee on
Ordinance and Judiciary.
The ordinance requiring all saloons in
Oakland to close between the hours of 6
Saturday evening and 6 Monday morn
ing came up before the City Council
last evening for the first time and after
passing the first reading was referred to
the Ordinance and judiciary Committee.
1.-THE expert employed by Mayor Dayie
to look into the books and accounts OF }:
w. McClymonds, Superintendent of
Schools, made his report. The expert
charges that the secretary was inexcusably
negligent in his methods of keeping the
minutes The report also claims that
money has been paid out Dy the board
through the secretary for which no au-
thorization appears IN the minutes, ana
amounting to $500, the deficit which is
threatened for the balance of the fiscal
year will be brought about.
An effort was made to have the report
submitted to the finance committee, but
it was finally placed in the hands of
special committee, composed OF directors
Moody, Clement and Edwards.
70 The secretary says that he can explain
everything in the minutes and that the ex-
pert merely did not understand what he
saw.
Going to Washington.
Charles T. Kelley, late generalissimo OF
the Industrial Army, has left with his
wife and his two remaining followers Tor
atrlp to Washington in prairie schooner.
He viii lecture while en- route and solicit
signatures to petition which he intends
TO call to the attention of Congress asking
for State employment for the unemployed.
Mrs. Kelley still keeps possession OF her
homestead in East Oakland, which she mas
refused to incumber or transfer during the
turbulent life which she and her husDanu
nave lea for the past two years.
News of His Inheritance.
Attorney P. F. Benson, mention OF whose
inheritance of large estate In England
was made some time ago, received further
news OF his windfall yesterday.
His sister, Mrs. J. Drury. of Watertown,
n. Y, recently received from Scotland
number of papers which complete one OF
the important links in the chain OF evil
dence necessary to give Mr.. Benson hls
share of the estate. The property consists
OF large amount of money held by the
War Department of Great Britain, and