The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-24

three year because couldn't get decent treat
ment. That's right
"Who asked you to come back? Ever since
remember you have been living in Frisco, snd
I've knowed more of you than any other cove
In this here town."
s'That's where yer off, Charley. used to
live here when part of this place was gamb-
ling resort and old Sam Brannan, Curley Ho-
gan, Sandy Bowers and them other mugs used
to drop all the dough they had about onct
week. The Jenny Lind Theater and the Union
Hotel made up the rest of the building. Why,
say, remember when they used to hold polit-
ical meetings over on the plaza and vote was
good for $25. They used to put up heavy in
those days. and the purity parties wasn't for
ever and eternally trying to job a voter out OF
a few scads with patentvoting machine or
the internal Australian ballot law. Them's the
things that ruined this town. They have made
it impossible for any old timer to get along l
believe I'll go up North next month and strike
| a new town where the population have some
ideas of progression. This here place is dead"
"You haven't done lick of work, old man,
since Denis Kearney started the sand lot
riots. Whatever kicking about, anyhow? Every
town is the same way. Old times have been
wiped out all over the coast, and the best thing
fellow can do is to stand it and get along the
best way possible. Am l right?"
ayes, if man Is content to wear the kind
of togs you have got on now. I'm used to some
style, but I've been little unfortunate. That's
what's the matter with me. come from
decent stock did, and nothing's too good for
me. That's what I remember twenty years
ago when this building was first turned into
the City Hall, and there wasn't lawyer in
town who wasn't glad and willing to address
me like gentleman. 1 knew Broderick and
Coleman and all the rest of the gang who run
things about right at that time. I had money
too. Everybody had money, but got streak
of hard luck and down vent the works. OF
course when man like ME once gets down
that settles it, and / couldn't face my old
friends after got it in the neck once. Do you
see them stairs going up to the second foor?'
continued the sensitive man pointing to
tumbling stairway, "well, one day was yanked
up there and Judge Toohey give me sixty days
just for pulling few signboards down one
April FOOLS day and incidentally smashing
window or two. '1aint right, Charley, to start
q man downhill that way, particularly man
of sentiment like me. Of course, the result was
that all the Judges got q chance to do me, and
even up to date get rebuked for little eccen-
tricities which injure no one but myself.
Charley, don't ever let the Police Judges get
the upper hand on you. Itmeans long life of
servitude and you can never get back on your
feet. Don't lush, Charley. Here am, one of
the best-versed men living on local history, but
haven't got dollar. Bancroft, the historian,
rolled in wealth, and I could give him points
ON himself. There is no demand for authentic
history, Charley. The people would rather
read Chimmie Fadden. Let's go over to Clay
street, where man can get two glasses of beer
| for nickel. Have you got nickel?"
The two old fellows locked arms and wended
their way out of the ruins, perfectly satisfied
that they had every secret of the City Hall cor
| ridors locked up in their breasts
zone of the cleverest swindling schemes
ever heard of was successfully worked right
here in this City," said District Attorney
Barnes the other day, as the lawyers in the
Whiteman case sat talking together while they
waited for the verdict of the jury. "The case
was brought to my Office, but try as we would
we could find no charge that would fit the case
and upon which there was any chance of secur-
ing conviction. The principal was bright
young man and he dropped into one of the
large jewelry-houses one day and asked to see
some diamonds. He seemed particularly
pleased with a pair of big solitaires, but the
price, $3.50, seemed too much for him. tits
my wife's birthday Tomorrow, he said, and
I'D like to have these stones. I won't get any
money until next week. and / haven't $3.50
now. OF course, I'm stranger, and sup
pose you couldn't trust mel? The salesman
said he thought not
Inc Woulu-pt pufcndstr Sui fingered the
stones, and then, as it struck by bright idea,
he mentioned the name of prominent cap
italist and asked the clerk if he knew the man.
The clerk said yes, the man mentioned had an
account at the store. 'Pll tell you what I'll do.
them, said the buyer. He gave me this check
a day or two ago and I'll indorse it over to you
in payment for these diamonds The check
was for $1,000 and after some consultation with
the heads of the firm it was decided to accept
the trade and the stranger departed with his
jewels.
Becoming suspicious, however, the jewellers
took the check to the man who was supposed
to have made it, and he at once denounced it
as forgery. Then hunt was commenced for
the stranger, and when found the check was
handed to him and the diamonds were de-
manded from him. He denied that the check