The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23
HUNT|NGTON'S PROMISE.
The Grand Jury Talks Very
Plainly to the Railroad
People.
LIFE MUST BE PROTECTED.
Everything That Is Demanded Is
Promised Without Reser-
walton.

The Market-street Railway Comnanv
promise to comply with the law reouirinp
guards or tenders to be placed on all cable
and electric cars. They have promised
this same thing many times before. but
now there is a probability that the much
needed protection to life and limb will be-
given.
The Grand Jury had short but inter-
esting session last night, and it was then
that the railway company through H. E.
Huntington and j. l.. Willcutt, promised
that the law should be complied with
The matter has been before the Grand
Jury for some time and the appearance Of
these gentlemen before that body was tn
explain the absence of the tenders and to
name a time when the people could
reasonably expect some protection from
the rolling death-traps.
The railroad representatives explained
to the satisfaction of the Grand Jury
many things that have hitherto appeared
little mysterious to the average citizen,
and went so far as to say that the com
pany would Immediately offer reward
for the safest and most practical guard or
fender that human ingenuity could de-
wise They wanted little time to do all
of this, but the cars would certainly be
provided with protectors at the earliest
possible moment. Mayor Sutro was
case, and insisting on an immediate COM
pliance with the same on the part of the
offending corporation.
The Grand Jury also took up the case of
Alonzo J. Whitman, alias Edwin ]. Della
field the forger, who was arrested in New
York last Saturday. Whitman is badly
wanted in San Francisco for several forger-
.re, tod oh h.
prompt action taken by the Grand Jury.
The only witnesses examined last night
were Chief Crowley and ]. d. Maxwell, the
insurance agent who is out $500 through
the skillful penmanship and suave tongue
of the man now under arrest in New York.
There are several witnesses yet to be ex-
amined, but there is hardly any doubt but
that an indictment will be returned against
him.
Last summer Delafeld or Whitman came
here with strong letters of recommends
ton, and in short time gained the conf
dence of quite a number of people. He
obtained entrance into the most exclusive
circles of society, and one fine day in July,
1894, a number of people found themselves
with forged paper on their hands.
Delafeld succeeded in passing worthless
checks on the following people, securing
the amounts named: Vanderlyn Stow,
$3.50: agent of the Burlington road, 500;
G. Johnson, $500; Occidental Hotel, $500,
$3.50 of which was repaid ]. D. Maxwell,
$500. 1t is also said he succeeded in
securing smaller sums on the same kind of
paper. or as loan for "a few days"
Most OF these checks were given on the
Traders Bank of New York, and were re-
turned as fraudulent. When asked about
the matter he told plausible story of
mistakes on the part of the bank, promis-
ing at the same time to take up the checks
in few days. Without bidding his friends
good by, Whitman started eastward
finally landing In Chicago. 1t was said
that he was interested with a gang of
forgers in Chicago, who succeeded in plac-
ing $50,000 worth of bogus paper on the
market, but there was not sufficient proof
to convict. Since that time he has been
following career of crime, finally winding
up in prison in New York, as published in
the CALL of Sunday.