The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-13

street cable Com pany'S extension run
through dreary sand-dunes and beside
waste marshlands there stands row of
saloons. The spot is lonely in the extreme
not dwelling, save a few small cot
tages, being near. Close by is Harbor
View Park and the poorly patroni zed Sea-
side Gardens, but no evident source of sup
port for the row of drinking places. And
yet the proprietors of these same lonesome
saloons between the sand and sea marshes
make good living.
The way from the Preside post houses
is devious and not at all one that would be
readily followed by men, for it either lies
partly along the marsh and partly over a
long trestle, or through long stretches of
yielding sand. Then, too, there are several
more inviting saloons nearer the gates, anc
so is it agreed that the soldiers could not
support these saloons. The business from
elsewhere would not half keep one of the
places open.
After some Preside officers began to re-
allZe that more clothes were taken by the
men than allowed in the rules OF indeed
than the soldiers could wear, those facts
caused suspicion to be directed toward the
row of saloons. A council OF war, so TO
speak, was held and orders were given from
proper quarters to watch the saloons and
soldiers frequenting them.
1t was not long before the truth came to
| through which the Government had been
defrauded out of vast sums of money un-
folded itself, and as it grew and grew its
dimensions and character astounded the
officers interested. For years this swindle
had been carried on day after day on
perfect system that evinced forethought
and direction by men of considerable bust
ness ability, and while anything like an
exact estimate of the total amount thus
taken surreptitiously from Uncle Sam
could not be made. approximate figures
range from $4,000 to $50, ZOO.
The wearing apparel of soldiers was
made the medium of this fraud Clothing
is furnished the army on large contracts
by the year by some of the most extensive
firms in America who can afford to sell in
immense quantities at prices said to be
even lower than those of ordinary jobbers
or wholesale merchants to retailers here in
! San Francisco.
The Government supplies the soldiers
! with standard outfit each year, which
| usually is more than can be worn out by
/ one man in that period. The list includes
! besides uniform and overcoat, suits OF
WOODEN underclothing, stockings, shoes,
etc., all OF good material if not of the finest
! auailty. Besides this allowance, the SOL
dlers are given the privilege of buying
extra clothing from the quartermaster's
stores at all times out of their own money
and at cost prices, which, it must be re-
membered, are lower than prevailing
wholesale figures.
AT the Presdio this regulation was
taken advantage of with great success, as
recent developments proved
1t was found that soldiers had first of all
| got rid of clothes allowed them. keeping
only enough to barely satisfy their own
needs for the year. These garments
shirts, wooden underwear, shoes and
neutrality-suspicious. from the post and
| m
civilians around town. And then the sol
diers fell back upon the reserve supplies
persistently.
They bought shoes, stockings and
woolens every month, and even overcoats
were purchased with astonishing fire.
| quency. At last the officers in charge
made an investigation and discovered that
! the clothing was nowhere to be seen.
The men, so it is stated, had sold the
clothes to the lonely saloons for what
would appear to be comparatively tritiing
prices. Undertaking sold for Is or so
cents piece and at q profit at that.
The investigation resulted in a warrant
! being sworn out for the arrest of John
Hogan. proprietor of the Beer Garden
saloon at Harbor View, charging him
with receiving stolen goods. Hogan was
examined by the Federal Courts Commits
Since then he disappeared after present.
ing his saloon to Tim Walsh.
1t was stated that Hogan used to fill
cases with Government clothing and cart
them downtown, where the articles were
sold by him at handsome profit. In this
way it is said he received fully $4,000
worth of stolen goods and cleared at least
$4,000.
Walsh stated last night that Hogan had
gone away about six weeks ago and he
could not tell whittier. A neighbor who
knew Hogan intimately said: Hogan
used to do a big business in soldiers cloth
ing"
swindle"
But they did not do 80 much of it as
Hogan" was the reply
Hogan's friends claimed he had gone to
the odd country but would say no more
about him.