The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
CLEARING EYESORES ON OUR STREETS.


money than the blind, though the loss OF
| sight is considered the greater misfortune
| Still the cripple can look appealingly at a
passer-by and the blind man is virtually
also dumb and deaf. Most of the cripples
have met with the loss of limbs through
their own viciousness. The majority when
possessed of sound body were tramps
who have fallen while drunk from brake
beams on trains and escaped with their
| lives by the loss of their limbs. This new
physical deformity adds to their mental
deformity, and they drift to large cities to
become beggars and thieves. Nearly all
their money goes for drink, and many OF
the constant strikers in this city are adj
dicted to the habit of drinking Chinatown
gin, one drink of which puts man into a
semi-unconscious sleep for couple OF
hours. When they descend to drinking
Chinatown gin they are forever lost.
Some of the more hideous street beggars
have been arrested recently and others
have been driven away by Police Officer
Peter Richter, whose beat is on Kearny
street, and who has made a small crusade
of his own. The almost blind organ grinder
with head and face of dried skull, who
will be seen here no more.
The drunken blind Indian ANDREW, p"
with the sickening red eyeballs, who plays
harmonica and runs wildly through the
streets, has been at the almshouse for two
weeks.
Two men, hardly more than boys, who
are to be seen on the streets every few
months, are about as good samples of mis-
overwhelmingly receivers as any known.
One of these boys is legless. The other
stands behind him and plays an accordion
When they obtain their days contribu-
tons they haunt the dives on Mission
street and consort with the lowest whites
and negroes, who mingle there together
Both of the boys have led abandoned lives
for years.
Three of San Franciscos most noted
beggars may never be seen here again.
They are John Kinlock, Joseph Galley and
Dick Bannister. Bannister has been ban
lshed. He is an armless man who plays
hand-organ. He wears leather bands on
the stumps of his arms, and connects the
handle of the organ with the stump of his
right arm. Bannister became a loath-
some drunkard and was compelled to leave
the city. Bahnister created sensation at
San Jose once. He and three legless men
did such tiourishing business in the Gar
den City that they planned novel spree.
The four cripples hired a four-in-hand and
drove to Mount Hamilton. visited the Lick
Observatory and got on wild drunk after
ward
Joseph Galley is a blind Mexican boy.
He appears to be about 20 or % years of
age. He is short, but fairly stout in
stature and is badly pockmarked. His
habit was to stand in front of the White
House on Post street. He would almost
shut his sightless eyes, hold his hat in
front of him and stand still for hours. He
was always in bad odor with the police, as
they frequently found him among gangs
of petty thieves when raids would be made.
1t is this Mexican boy who, though totally
blind, robbed store at midnight and got
to his room, a mile from the scene OF the
robbery, and was then only caught by acct
dent. About three months ago Galley and
Fred Lane, aged II, went to a grocery
store on Post street. Galley opened the
door with skeleton key. Both entered
the place and loaded themselves down
with plumber. Galley was led back
to his room on Montgomery
avenue, near Kearny, and the boy started
for his own room. Two policemen saw
him, and as his actions were suspicious
they searched him. They found some of
the stolen goods and Lane became so
scared he betrayed his companion. One of
the policemen went to Caley's room and
there he found a number of whisky bot
ties, some boxes of cigarettes and other
plumber. The trial of the two burglars
came off before Superior Judge Bahrs two
weeks ago. The blind Mexican burglar
and tempter OF younger boys was con-
victed and sentenced to four years impris-
onment in San Quentin. The Lane bow
was sent to the Preston Industrial School.
The most vicious beggar known to the
police of San Francisco is now in San
Quentin serving term of five years for
assault to murder. He is John Kinlock.
and was seen daily on the streets of San
Francisco until three years ago. Kinlock
had only one leg and one arm But the
stump of his right leg was dangerous
weapon. Kinlock's right leg was cut off at
the knee. With this stump Kinlock, while
standing OF crutches, would strike men
vicious blows in the abdomen, almost de-
priving them of sensibility through exces-
sive pain. Kinlock's habit was to walk
the streets, get in the way of men and
women and keep there as long as possible.
Kinlock was more or less under the in
fuence of liquor all the time, except dur
ing the many periods following his arrest.
When refused money on the street he
would hit men with the stump of his leg
or his crutch, and to women who passed
him by no language was too revolving for
him to use. He was feared by his COM
rades, even the able bodied ones He was
often suspected of committing petty
crimes, such as trolling" DRINKS, but the
police never succeeded in catching him I'M
til one night three years ago. Kinlock and
Tom Barry induced drunken man who
had money on him to leave Barbary
Coast saloon and go with them to Gold
street, a little alley near the corner of
Jackson and Sansome streets. AS soon as
the trio were in a dark spot Kinlock hit the
victim over the head with his crutch and
felled him to the ground. He then beat
the man into insensibility and left him for
dead, after taking all the money and val
uables in his clothes. Kinlock was con-
victed and sentenced to five years impris-
onment. 1t was light sentence as Kin