The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
SHOTS IN THE DARKNESS
Alfred Saxton Has No Idea Who
It Was That Fired a
Pistol at Him.
The CITY Library Close to the People.
A Chime of Bells That Will
Play America

ALAMEDA, CAL, June 20.-The mys-
terry surrounding the attempt to rob Al
fred Saxton, night receiver at the Ala
media, Oakland and Piedmont Electric
Railway power house on Webster street,
last night still remains unexplained. Sax
ton, when interviewed by the police and
others, said his attention was first at
tracted from his accounts by a slight
coughing of some one at the receiving
window There he saw hand holding a
revolver pointed toward him. He says he
did not see the party who held the
weapon.
He made a dash for his own pistol,
which hung near the window, but before
he reached it his opponent fired and he
felt the bullet Whiz past his head. Saxton
then fired twice through the window where
the assassin stood and turning out the light
rushed to the door and sent another bullet
into the darkness.
The Alameda police were notified at
once and they IN turn called up the Oak
land police office, which dispatched two
men to Webster-street bridge. They saw
nothing of man, and Police Officer
Brown, who was on duty on Webster
street and hurried in the direction of the
power-house, when he heard the shots,
saw no one.
It is only three months ago since over
$500 disappeared between the hours OF
2 and five o'clock in the morning. The re-
ceiver's services were dispensed with and
Alfred Saxton was placed in charge. Last
night, if robbery were the motive, the re-
ceipts would have been confined TO the
evening takings.
Chimes for the City Hall.
ALAMEDA, CAL, June 20-When the
oil icha Il I hrrr
City Clerk, got the idea that to render it
thoroughly complete a chime of bells
should be installed in the hall tower. He
worked on the project and got subscrlp-
tions to the amount of 5000. He has now
enlisted in the scheme the sympathies of
the ladies who made the floral fete such a
success month ago. They are to give an
entertainment and dramatic performance
in the near future for this object.
A. o. Gott, the jeweler on Park street,
has constructed a working model of the
apparatus necessary to control the clap
pers when they strike the bells that shall
ring out "America" twice every day.
PopuIarizing the Library.
ALAMEDA, CAL, June 20.-Librarian
Harbourne is always devising some
method to increase the circulation of the
library, and'his plan OF allowing readers
to choose their own books direct from the
shelves has done much to popularize the
institution. The latest scheme which the
board of trustees has indorsed goes into
effect to-day.
The rule heretofore has been that books
shall only remain out for fourteen days.
In future, he says, book can be kept for
second period of fourteen days by the
borrower forwarding postal card stating
it's mum Der; and if a citizen is out in the
country books will be sent to the party by
express, the borrower, Of course, paying
the expressage.
FitzgeraId's Henchman.
ALAMEDA, CAL, June 20.-William E.
Scully of Webster street has been re.
warded for his efforts in trying to elect the
Fitzgerald -Daggett delegates in this city
at the beginning of the month by being
appointed painter in the mint. He will
draw 81 day for his services.