The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-05
SEARCHING FOR A CLEW.
The Mystery of the Murder of
James Howard Still
UnSOlVed.
TWO YOUNG MEN ARRESTED.
They Give Satisfactory Explanations
of Their Movements and VIII
Be Discharged.

Who struck the blow that killed James
Howard, the harness-washer for Wells,
Fargo q Co., at an early hour Monday
morning is as great mystery as ever.
Detectives Coffey and Cody and Police
men Perrin and Mcpherson were working
on the case yesterday, but they failed to
find clew to the murderer.
1t was deemed advisable to hunt up the
two young men who were in the saloon OF
P. j. Koran, TAI Howard street. when
Howard went into the saloon, between 2
and o'clock that morning. They proved
to be William Graham, teamster, living
| at 1923 Bryant street, and John J. Lyons,
teamster on Stones ranch, Elmhurst,
Alameda County.
Graham heard he was wanted and sur
rendered himself to Coffey, Perrin and
Mcpherson. Detective Cody went to
Stones ranch and found Lyons stacking
hay. He took him to police headquarters,
where Graham had also been taken.
Graham said he went into the Bee Hive
saloon, Third and Howard streets, about
II 80 o'clock Saturday night, where he
danced jig. Lyons, whom he had not
met before, was there and asked him to
dance again. They had some drinks and
left the saloon about 1 o'clock Monday
loon of Richard Ash, his cousin, at 755
Howard street, but it was closed.
They found Horan's saloon open and
went in and had some more drinks. While
there, man, whom they identified last
night as Howard, came in with Koran.
He was under the influence of liquor and
asked, what do you think of man of my
size getting lost?" Howard invited them
to have drink with him and then they
threw dice for another drink. Lyons lost,
and while they were throwing the dice
again a dispute arose about Towards
throw and he left the saloon and turned
toward Fourth street.
They remained in the saloon for two or
minutes longer and left. When they
reached Morosco's old theater they met
the night clerk of the San Francisco
clearinghouse and Graham, who OCCASION
ally slept there, gave him % cents and
asked him to open room 50 for him as he
was going to a restaurant to have some
thing to eat. He and Lyons went to the
restaurant, where they remained for some
time, and Lyons left to catch the first boat
for Alameda.
Graham's statement was corroborated by
Lyons and afterward by the night clerk of
the clearinghouse and the people in the
restaurant. Koran, in his statement pub
lished yesterday, said they saw the two
young men talking with Howard at Mo-
rosco's old theater. In this he was mis-
taken, as it was the night clerk.
Graham and Lyons say they left Horan's
saloon between 2 o'clock and a quarter
past 2. If this is correct it would agree
with the statement of the proprietor Of the
Old Friends saloon, on Third street, near
Folsom, that Howard, accompanied by
woman about As years of age. had drink
in his saloon about 2:30 o'clock. 1t would
also coincide with Jerry Galvins state
ment that Howard and the woman were in
his saloon about 3 o'clock and remained
five or ten minutes. Less than an hour
afterward Howard staggered into the
Southern STATEN, wounded and bleeding.
The police have been bending all their
energies to find the woman who was last
seen with Howard, but without success
She told Calvin she was a widow with
three children, and one of them was a
grown-up daughter. She may explain
away the mystery.
Graham and Lyons were locked up in
the City Prison for the night, but will be
discharged this morning when an order
can be obtained from Chief Crowley.