The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-22
STILL SEEKING
AFTER CLHVS.
The IDENTITY OF THE GRANT
AVENUE DIAMOND THIEVES
YET A MYSTERY.
ONE SUSPECT IN CUSTODY.
No DIRECT EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM
WHAT AN OAKLAND
MAN SAW.

The police authorities are still in the
dark as TO the identity of the men who
made the daring raid on NJ. J. Franklin
place of business on Grant avenue Tues
day night and made off with a tray of
diamond rings. Ever since the crime was
committed they have been engaged in fol-
lowing UP clews.
Captain Lees is i'll, and was not at his
Office yesterday, but Detective Gibson, who
was first detailed on the case, was actively
at work. On Wednesday he had arrested
young man who it was believed was the
daring robber or his accomplice, who
slipped the paddock on the door.
1t was on Wednesday evening that Mr.
Franklin learned that a young man had
been Offering to sell diamond rings at a
cheap figure in several stores on Mont
gomery and other streets. He informed
the police, and shortly afterward the man
was found on Grant avenue, near Suffer
street. The man was arrested, and when
taken to the City Prison he was recognized
as a. P. Mcnamara, an ex-messenger- boy,
commonly known as the Dutch Kid"
When searched no rings were found in his
possession, and the prisoner denied siren
uously that he knew ANYTHING of the rob-
The arrested man is known to the police
and has an alias Of Harris, SO he was locked
up pending developments.
His answer to questions were not entirely
satisfactory and while he may not be the
actual thief they think that he knows
something about the affair. Yesterday
Detective Gibson had arranged to have a
colored man named Berge come over from
Oakland and if possible identify Mcnamara
as the man he saw break Franklins win
dow and grab the tray.
At the time the colored man was close
by and it was hoped by Gibson that he
would be able to recognize Mcnamara
The man, however, failed to come over and
he will not confront the prisoner until to-
day.
Detective Gibson had another clew yes
terday, which he thought would develop
something bearing on the case. Early in
the morning two men who answered the
description of the robber and his accom-
plice were arrested at the Mission. One of
them was carpenter named Jones. They
were examined by Detective Gibson and
that official was soon satisfied that they
were not the men. They were released
from custody.
OF the forty-two diamond rings that
were in the tray only four have been re-
covered. Three of these were returned to
Mr.. Franklin by persons who found them
Oll bIlC SL1Stl, anu OIt WAS 1OuIlQ SllChlllS
in the velvet lining of the tray, which the
thief had dropped on the sidewalk. 1t is
not thought that the thief got all the rings.
In his haste to transfer the contents of the
tray to his pockets, and in the tussle with
the citizen who grabbed him, it is thought
that several of the valuable rings were
dropped on the street and were picked up
by the persons who were attracted to the
scene by the noise of the breaking OF the
glass in the window
In speaking of his loss yesterday Mr.
Franklin said that upon figuring it up he
found that the actual cost of the rings and
diamonds was 1919. He is still of the
opinion that the crime was committed by
men who had been watching around the
place for several days previous to their
making the dash.
The police still think the chances are
very good for catching the thieves, as they
have good descriptions of the men and the
ferry landings and railroad depots are
under surveillance for the purpose of
catching the thieves. if they try to leave
the city by any of the regular routes.
Should they remain in the city the chances
are good for locating them.