The San Francisco call., 1896-10-17
ROBBERY Of THE
HISTORY PLATES
The Grand Jury Is Seeking
to Penetrate the
Mystery.
Charles O. Richards, Manager
for Bancroft, Heard AS
a Witness.
AN INDICTMENT FOR LIBEL.
Spurious Signatures to Petitions Ask.
ing for Recognition on the
Official Ballot.
AN INDICTMENT FOR LIBEL

The Bancroft History robbery was the
subject of Grand Jury investigation yes
terday afternoon. Unusual precautions
were taken TO render the inquiry secret.
1t does not appear that the police are TAX
ing any steps in the affairs of investiga-
ton.
Some incidents connected with the re-
ported attempt at robbery are peculiar, If
not remarkable. The load of plates which
an employe, or ex-employe, of the History
Company was seeking to remove from the
area under the sidewalk somehow OBJ
tanned valuation of $40 600.
Among the plates which. it is charged,
the attache of the History Company at
tempted to purloin, were some which
belonged to the history factory. The cuI-
prit, it Is SAID, occupied, or did occupy,
the position OF porter.
1t is possible that the Grand Jury in
vestigation will disclose a conspiracy on
the part of persons now unknown to Of
tain possession of the history plates.
The chief witness yesterday was Charles
o. Richards, president of the History
Company. His testimony showed that
the plates were not taken from the area
under the sidewalk and placed on the ele-
vator for delivery 10 tie express wagon by
any one acting in Mr.. Bancroft's behalf.
Mr.. Weir testified in the same case.
The testimony disclosed the fact surely
that an attempt to purloin history plates
was discovered and frustrated. The mys-
terry involved is how the plates can be
worth more than their weight in old
metal to persons other than those pos
sessed of history secrets.
The Grand Jury took the matter under
consideration. 1t can be definitely assert
ed that no Indictment was found yester-
day, although the subject was discussed
at length.
The Grand Jury yesterday filed into
Judge Sack's court and presented an in
dictment Tor misdam amor libel against
Jerome MiIlard. The accused was
released on bail bond of $1,000,
with Joseph A. Kelly and Frank Lawior
as sureties. Miilard is the man who pro-
cured the lettering and public display of
banner bearing an inscription rejecting
upon Police Judge G. A. Low.
Garret McEnerney and Deputy Regis
tIar WEIGH presented to the Grand Jury
on behalf of Registrar Hinton petition
from the Citizens independent party, an
other from the Free Silver Protection
party and two from candidates., all Sd-
dressed to the Registrar. An examination
and comparison of the petitions led the
Registrar to believe that many of the
names thereon are fictitious and fraudu-
lent signatures.
The handwriting of many of the names
is obviously that of the same person.
Some of the names written are obscene
and others represent 'tomfoolery."
Paul A. Ayhens makes the affidavit at
tached to the petition of the Citizens In
dependent party that che signatures are
genuine and each was signed by the per-
son whose signature it is purported to be.
a ;raiI of 10
tached 10 the pc tition of the Free Silver
and Protection party. Registrar Hinton
declined to recognize the DOlan ticket and
the latter has applied for writ OF man.
date to compel that recognition. The Cit
liens independent party has been recos-
nized and it's candidates will have place
on the official ballot.
natures to petition of this character is
very severe. The Political Code provides
that a person convicted of the offense may
be imprisoned for five years.
Garret McEnerney, epresenting Regis
trar Hinton, has placed all the facts in the
possession of the District Attorney, and
the case is bound to receive the closest at
tention of the Grand Jury. The attention
of the Registrar has been particularly
directed to P. A. ,Dolan, who is said to be
quite active as an organizer OF new parties
Tor special occasions.
The Grand Jury yesterday listened to
the testimony of Oscar Lewis, Deputy
County Clerk, and several other witnesses
In q case growing out of the arrest of Ag-
gle Abbott on a charge of stealing jewelry.
1t seems that man named Ropels made
an affidavit before Deputy Lewis that he
(Robels) had taken the jewelry which the
woman was accused of stealing. The man
whose property was stolen made state
ment to the jury.
Yesterday Frederick Hobbs, foreman of