The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-11
A. J. Collins Declared He Would
Risk His Life to Secure
Justice.
CAPTAIN LEES TO THE RESCUE.
The Man Who Demanded $25,o 900 for
Alleged Wrongs Allowed TO
Roam at Large.

1t is many long day since the railroad
building on the corner of Market and
Montgomery streets was the scene of so
much suppressed excitement and mental
uneasiness as yesterday.
It arose from the visit of A. J. Collins.
an ex-employe of the Southern Pacific
Company, who came with implied threats
against the life of Vice President H. f.
Huntington and extraordinary demands
against the corporation.
Collins was formerly engaged in the Los
Angeles yards of the company, and had
one of his feet badly mangled in an acct
dent while at work. Subsequently he was
discharged from the employ of the com
pany. This, he alleges, was without Just
cause and to get rid OF him. Since that
time, he declares, he has been prosecuted
by the company to such an extent that he
has become absolutely destitute.
Last fall he created CONSERVATION on the
fourth floor of the Union Trust Companv's
building, wherein are the offices of the
Southern Pacific Company, by making an
assault on Manager j. A. Fillmore, but
without serious results. He has now d.
rected his attention to II. L. HUNTINGTON.
and OF late has made persistent though
unobtrusive efforts to secure a personal
interview with the nephew of Coils P
Huntington. He called at the railroad
offices on Wednesday, but Mr.. Hunting
ton was out. He waited around, evidently
| for the purpose of interceptlng the object
of his search should he enter the building,
but became wearied and departed.
Collins called again yesterday morning,
waited in the ante-room connected with
the private Office of H. Z. Huntington for
about two hours and then left for lunch.
He returned about o'clock and, finding
that the man he sought was out, de-
scended in the elevator to the lobby which
opens on Montgomery street. He had not
long to wait this time, for soon Mr.. Hunt
ington, accompanied by Chief Engineer
Hood entered and headed for the ele-
vatoT. Collins followed a few feet behind
them, intending, undoubtedly, to secure
an interview with Huntington in his pri-
vate office. When the elevator came
down Bert Worthington, Huntngton's
private secretary, stepped out and, recog-
nizing Collins and apprehensive that
trouble might ensue. he stepped in front
OF Collins and engaged him in converse
ton, thus allowing his chief to ascend to
his office.
! Worthington left the building on an err
rand for few moments and when ne re-
turned to the fifth floor found Collins in
the anteroom waiting TO see Huntington.
He at once teleph oned for Captain Lees,
sation. The latter poured out his griev-
ances at length and in detail, and wound
up by saying that he came not with any
| intention of doing any one harm, but
| to secure Justice for the wrongs he had
been made to suffer from the persecution
of the railroad company. He added that
in order TO secure this reparation he would
not hesitate to risk his life.
When asked what he desired he replied
that he wanted $4,000. He was offered
employment, but said he did not care to
go to work for the company again.
Meanwhile Captain Lees arrived and
was ushered unseen by Collins into the
sanctum occupied by Coils P. Huntington
when he deigns to visit this City. This
Office Immediately adjoins that of the
nephew. Collins was brought into the
presence of Lees, and after telling his
troubles to the policeman deemed it best
to depart, which he was allowed to do.
No attempt was madeto search him or
to arrest him. The railroad people are in
clined to look upon Collins as possessing
deranged mind, but Captain Lees
opinion is that the man is perfectly sane
and that he is simply playing coarse
game of blackmail
While Collins was kicking his heels in
the ante-room he made no secret of the
purpose of his visit and occasioned con-
siderable perturbation in the minds of
many of the Office attaches. II. Z. Hunt
ington, however, showed no signs of I'M
easiness, and when asked about the sensa-
sional incident and the bold. intruder said
he knew the man, but had not seen or
spoken to him for at least two years and
did not know on what grounds he based
his extraordinary demands.