davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31

water corporation under the constitu-
tional laws of The State.
The defendant claimed that in the ab-
sence of fixed rates made by Supervisors
ii has the legal right to charge and collect
rates as it deems proper and to increase
them whenever the business requires 1t,
and also that the company. being az quasi
public institution, it would be against
public policy 10 hold it so bound to
previous contracts as to preclude it from
exercising its law-given right.
The opinion says this new and startling G
doctrine was not until recently supposed
TO be EN- bodied in the law which governs
the rights of persons carrying and distrib-
uting water. 1t is certain that the
intent of the act OF 1885 was to
have a certainty about water rates and
that there should be some permanency as
to the period during which rates once es-
tabIished should continue to be collected.
The statute gives the water corporations
no right 10 change rates once estab-
lished and collected, and the constitu-
ton prohibits the right 10 collect rates
except by authority OF and in the manner
prescribed by the law, and the statute
provides that when rates once establish ed
by the Supervisors have been abrogated
by the board, the actual rates esta blished
and collected by the company shall be
deemed legally esta blished rates.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
FIGHTS or WATER COMPANIES.
Judge Torrance of San Diego Submits an
Opinion Bearing Upon HIS
Recenf RUfinn

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Jan. 30.-Judge E.
S. Torrance of the Superior Court this
afternoon rendered written opinion in
the case of Ell Ward VS.. the San Diego
Land and Town Company, upon which
was based his decision of January 16 over
ruling the demurrer of the defendant to
the plaintiffs amended com plant. The
decision was directly opposed to that of
United States District Judge Ross of some
m onths previous.
1t holds that the CO m pany had no legal
right to double water rates. as alleged in
the complaint, and holding that the COM
pany had the right to make specific con-
tracts with consumers for water rental
for any length of time, regardless of
whether the Supervisors had previously
fixed the rates or not.
The present opinion is considered of far
reaching importance, as it goes into the
details OF the irrigation question as no
previous opinion has done. 1t recites
that in 1887 Ward purchased from the
company five acres OF land for $500.
The company, by written and printed
documents, had always advertised the
lands as irrigated to January, 1896, and
that the annual charge for water rental
was So 30 per acre and no more. Such
represen tatlons were made as induce
ments to prospective buyers.
In 1888 and until January /, 1896. the
com pany assessed and collected but So so
an acre rental. On that date it issued a
circular in which it raised the rate 10 81
an acre. The plaintiff determined to
make test case and accordingly rendered
the old rental as usual.
Tne com plaint declares that the shut.
ting off OF water. which the defendant
threatens, will cause great loss and ire
parable injury, and prays to have the de-
iendant enjoined from doing SO and to
have the defendants claim tor increased
rental declared void.
The opinion declares that the decision
hinges on whether the defendant has the
right to increase water rates heretofore
char ed and this rests upon the proper
construction Of the powers and duties OF a
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31

tity of hay there and he had toucheo q
match to it-that was all. de had takeii
some OF the hay and placed 1t under the
bridge and touched q light TO that also,
the same night, while the tiremen were a.
work in the lum mber-yard. Last nlgnt, ne
said, he had better success. de nau l 'aAeu
a QUANTITY of the oily waste used IN clean-
~ s.rt,oors nnde. the bridge. Ee
had then gone to the warehouse, eHecteo
an entrance aud had touched match 10
the hay in the center OF the main aisle.
He returned to the bridge and struck
light there. Then he crossed, meeting
Mego, the bridge-tender, VINO hao pe-
friended him, as h ram =.
He went straight to the woolen-mlll,
and there, placing some scantIlng on enc,
he mt some of the waste under 1t ana
ipbted his third fire. The fire at the
bridge went out of itself after burning
through one of the cross Tim bers, and was
discovered only after he had told about it.
Benedetto was placed III a cell at the
CITY Prison and left 10 himself for some
time. This evening, wnen Marshal Col
Inns went to look in upon him, the man
had torn the blankets of his bed ana
broken the tin vessels of his cell and
thrown them out through the bars, and
over the ruins had scattered the remains
of the photographs of his four children
said he had done with than all. He was
standing barelooted and half-dressed in
his cell.
The Marshal put him into another cell,
without bars, where be could not throw
away his bedclothing. The fellow made
a desperate fight, it requiring several men
to overcome him. The man is doubtless
insane.
His description of his preparations un-
der the bridge and at the woolen- mill
tailed so we'll with the facts known as to
leave no doubt that he is the tirebug, and
that be was alone in his operations. The
Marshal is certain that the cause for alarm
has been removed in his arrest.
The Whitney warehouses consisted of a
cluster of five building, occupying nearly
the whole block bounded by c, D and
First streets on the north, south and west
and the river on the east. They were 2o6
by 126 feet in dimensions, and were built
over a score OF years ago by the late Al
bion P. Whitney, being still owned by his
estate.
There were nearly 5000 tons of hay in
the building, according to Superintendent
Fred Walker, besides tackle, furniture,
implements and merchandise. Ten of
Captain Walkers famous flock of Maltese
cats were burned.
The totai.lossis estimated at SAC, 900, the
! principal losers being as follows: Whitney
estate, building, 5000, partially insured !;
A. Kahn, hay and merchandise, $1,000, in
sured for $3OOO George P. McNear, 500
tons of hay. $1,000, not insured; Golden
Eagle Mills, Dol tons of hay, $500, not in
sured; William Hill. 600 tons of hay,
| $500, not insured. The remainder of the
losses range from 500 to $500, being sus-
tanned by merchants and farmers who had
small quantities of hay in storage.
Risk Bros. had 600 tons of hay in the
wooden warehouse across the street. but
this, with Kaa's grain warehouse adioin-
ing, was, after hard battle, saved.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
OUTLAW TAYLOR
NEATLY TRAPPED
The Murderer of the MeekS
Family Taken Near
Hanford.
Surprised and overpowered at
a Sheep Camp Where He
Was Employed.
Had Escaped From a Missouri Prison
When Under Sentence of
Death.

HANFORD, CAL, Jan. 30.-George
Taylor, the man who is wanted for the
murder of the Meeks family near Brown
ing, Mo-, in May, 1894, was captured at
this point yesterday by w. V. Buckner,
Sheriff of Kings County, and his deputies,
Andrew Ayres and Howard MeGinnis.
B. F. Lane, painter by trade. who ar
rived twelve months ago from the town
where the murder was committed and
who had known the whole Taylor family
from boyhood first sighted Taylor alias
"Rattlesnake Bill" yesterday afternoon.
Lane states that he believes Taylor recog.
nized him, but he gave no sign OF recog-
milton that would put the outlaw on his
guard. Lane went INN mediately to Sheriff
Buckner, who caused a search to be made.
The only fact he could elicit was that Tay-
lor had made inquiries for the Jacobs
ranch. Telephone munication was
had with the foreman of the ranch, who
was instructed to keep a sharp lookout for
the suspect.
On Friday morning q message was re-
ceived from the foreman, stating that the
man described had been there at IL
O'Clock, but that he had been dispatched
10 q bucGp Cdulp oOLlC hiiiSo o""y ,
where work was given him. Plans were
made for his capture at supper-time. One
of the blacksmiths employed on the ranch
| was sent ahead to reconno otter. He was in
structed to wave lighted lamp about the
cookhouse if Taylor was there. The
blacksmith found Taylor at supper, and
| upon the signal being given the officers
rushed in and took him as he STOOD in his
| shirtsleeves in front of the campfire.
Taylor was unarmrd and made no re-
| sistance. His capture was clever COM
| bination of detective work and disguises,
Lane, the man who claimed to have
known him from boyhood, having changed
his appearance and visited the sheep
camp to see if the man whom it was pro-
posed to arrest really was Taylor.
Taylor refused to answered any ques-
| tons put to him by reporters. He is In a
ragged condition, but still has not the ap-
pearance of tramp exposed to wind and
weather. A boy who was with him, and
| who is held for what he may know, states
that be and Taylor came down from Ore
gon recently.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
CRIME OF 7HE TAlLohS.
George Mecks, HIS Bife and Tsco Chill
dren Put to Death.

George Meeks, HI, Wife and TsCo Chill
dren Put to Death.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Jan. 30-In May.
1894, the Meeks family, consisting OF
George Meeks, bis wife and three children,
started to drive from their home, near
Browning, Mo-, to Oklahoma. Meeks was
witness against William and George
Taylor, who had been charged with steal
ing cattle and whose trial was to COM
mence the week following.
On the morning after the family left
home little Nellie Meeks, aged 6 years,
aroused farmer near Browning and told
him that her father, mother and others of
the family had been killed and that their
bodies were in a strawstack in field. She
herself was wounded in the head. She
said the Taylor brothers had killed them.
The two brothers on learning of the
finding of the bodies fed from the neigh
borhood. They were afterward arrested
in Arkansas and voluntarily returned to
Missouri.
They were tried and convicted on the
testimony of little Nellie and sentenced
to be hanged. They had been wealthy,
and every effort that money could bring
to bear to save them from the gallows
was without avail.
On the night of April IL last George es-
capped from the Jail at Carroliton, Mo,
where he was confined, together with his
brother William. The latter also got out
of prison, but was recaptured and hanged
in Carrollton on April 30.
A number of reports have been sent out
over the country that George was at the
head OF an outlaw band in Oklahoma, and
others that he had been seen in Nebraska.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Sro1ENs1LVERWAR REcoTEEED
Deteclirs locates Property Taken From
the Spencer Residence.

Detectirs locates Property Taken From
the Spencer Residencs.
SAN JOSE, CAL, Jan. 80. Detective
Anderson to-day recovered several pieces
of silverware in Sixth-street Chinatown
that were stolen from the residence Of
Judge F. E. Spencer nearly two years ago,
at which time the house was set on fire to
hide the theft. At the time Of the robbery
$1,000 worth of diamonds and 500 worth
OF silverware were taken, but no part of
the loot was recovered until to-day.
Among the pieces found was silver shay
ing mug marked with the letter rs. F" D.
tective Anderson is confident OF being
able to locate more of the silverware and
part of the diamonds.
Shortly before the fire was discovered
on the evening of the robbery, All Wong,
the Chinese cook, was seen fastening
toward Chinatown with a large bundle
under his arm. He was arrested on
charges OF robbery and arson, but the
evidence was slight and the jury lis
agreed. Charges of being unlawfully in
this country were then preferred, and he
was deported. Wong evidently had the
stuff cached, and the hiding place was
confded to a confederate.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Funeral of a ranoouv-r Monkey.

VANCOUVER, B. c., Jan. 30.-Because
pet mon key which died in this city last
week was Inferred in plat in the local
cemetery, indi grant citizens are agitating
the drawing of a monkey line at the
cemetery gates. The pet animal had
been living with a Vancouver family for
years. When it went the way of all flesh,
it was announced III the local press that
the monkeys owner, woman, had been
nervously Frustrated for several days oyer
the shock at losing it. A handsome casket
was purchased, and the remains were
buried with pomp in the cemetery. Some
treat the matter as jest, but many de-
clare against monkey lnterments in the
graveyard where their relations lie at rest.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
OREGON BANDITS
ELUDE PURSUERS
Railroad Detectives Find
No Trace of the Train
Robbers.
Confident That Case and the
Pool Brothers Are the
Culprits.
Mountain Businesses to Be Thoroughly
Searched by Corps Of
Officers.

PORTLAN D, Or. Jan. 3o.-The out
laws who boarded the Shasta express
near Rose burg Thursday night and
wrecked the express-car with dynamite
after slightly wounding Engineer Morris
with bullet are still at large. Division
Superintendent Fields OF the Southern
Pacific Company arrived from the scene
of the robbery this evening and says that
thus far no positive clew establishing the
identity of the bandits has been found.
Both the railroad company and Wells
Fargo have detectives at Roseburg, and
posses of officers and armed citizens are
still searching every fastness and hiding
place for miles around In the hope of dis
covering trace of the robbers.
Wells Fargo Detectives Hume and
Thacker are directing the posses. Several
moro detectives will arrive from Sacra-
mento in the morning to join the force.
Ex-Sheriff Cathcart Of Douglas County is
positive that John Case and the Pool
brothers were the ones who robbed the
train. He arrested them and secured
their conviction about two years ago for
train robbery, but they escaped on tech
nicality and were lately seen in the noun
tain businesses near the scene of the recent
hold-up, near which occurred also the
robbery for which they were convicted.
They are desperate men, and knowing
that second trial for this offense means,
in all probability, life sentences. will fight
to the death to prevent being taken. To-
morrow party of officers will leave for
the mountain stamping ground and con.
duct thorough search.
1t is the generally accepted opinion that
the outlaws escaped in rowboat from the
wrecked train, and thus left no trail be-
hind. They could have dropped down the
river to Roseburg after secreting their
plunder, and there mingled with the
crowds attracted to the streets by the re-
ports of the dynamite exploded in the ex.
press-car.
Five men were seen approaching the
river just below the bridge near which the
train was stopped. Two of these might
have been coniederates, who kept in the
background and had everything in readl-
ness for their escape.
The big safe, which was badly warped
by the fire in the express-car, has not ye,
been opened, so the extent of the loss oc
casioned by the overheating of the safe
| cannot be determined.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Santa Graz Convention.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Jan. 3O.-The
quarterly convention OF the Women s
Home Missionary Society for the central
district of Baptist churches began its ses-
sion here yesterday. No session was held
to-day, owing 10 the absence of delega tes,
who were prevented by the storm of Thurs
day from reaching Santa Cruz. The meet
ing Yesterday was begun with devotional
services led by Mrs. E. T. Sanford. presi-
dent OF the Santa Cruz society. Lunch.
con was served at noon. At the evening
session the reports of the several presi-
dents of the societies in the district were
read, showing the advancement Of the
missionary work
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
1AWMAkERs At SAN DIEGO.
Governor Bmdd and Party on Their
Southern JuHket.

Gorernor Bmdd and Party on Their
Southern Juhket.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Jan. 30.-A special
train bearing Governor Budd, Thomas
Flint(Presidentp pro tenn. OF the Sena te )and
a party of thirty Legislators, who are now
touring this end of the State, arrived in
San Diego at o'clock this morn ing. The
visitors wer- met at the depot by dele
CATION of city officials and escorted at
o'clock TO Pacific College, which has been
rendered to the State for use as branch
Normal School.
The proposed site for university on the
heights WAS also visited. The revenue
cutter Corwin was placed at the disposal
of the party for the afternoon, which was
spent in cruising outside the haroor. THIS
evening the visitors were guests at ball
given IN their honor at the Hotel Coro-
nado. The special train lett at IL o'clock
Tor the Highlands Insane Asylum.
Tne proposition to locate normal
school in this city meets with favor
among the legislators.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Fortn sheep burned to Death.

SEATTLE, WASH, Jan. 3o.-The large
plant OF the Frye Bruhn Packing Com
pany, valued at $25O0OO, was partly de-.
stroyed by fire tonight. Forty sheep
were burned to death. the flames gaining
such headway before the fire was dlscov-
cred that their rescue was impossible.
The loss is estimated at $4,000, and is
fully covered BIZ insurance.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
4HIs PARkHUHAr MoNeo1.
Lee Long Begins Purity Crusade In
san Jose's Chinatown.

SAN JOSE, CAL, Jan. 3O.-San Jose has
a Chinese Parkhurst. His name is Lee
Long, and he proposes 10 reform the Mon
golian fallen sisterhood or drive it into
the outer darkness Of Portland orssome
other ungodly place. Lee Long IS not an
ordinary heather. He is a Christianized
Chlnaman, and member in good stand
ing of the Salvation Army.
Lee made his first move toward the
purlticat1on OF Chinatown this morning
by swearing out warrants against Suev
Yeng, Eh Hong and Lung Yit, three
little maids from the slums. Before JUS
tice Dwver the three pleaded not guilty,
and gave bail in the sum of So each for
their appearance before the bar of Justice
on February 2. Meanwhile Lee Long
threatens TO descend like thief in the
night upon sundry other resorts of un-
questionableness and gather in more
brands from the burning.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
AILenea FnlLilrn lo Prnride-

SAN JOSE, CAL, Jan. go - Olive NJ.
George has commenced suit against Ed
ward G. George for divorce on the ground
of failure to provide. They were married
in this city in 1892 and have child years
old. For the past two years George has
failed to provide for his wife, and she has
been compelled to depend on friends and
relatives for food and shelter. She wants
$50 per month aIimony.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31

No druggist owns stock in Joys Vegetable
SarsapariIla. Any druggist claiming to pay its
advertising bills is fraud.
Don't let the drug clerk talk you into buying
something else for joys Vegetable Sarsaparila.
He laughs at you when you leave the corner store
with substitute. Watch him.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
rnt1,,r. ofnn Orchardt,t.

SAN JOSE, CAL, Jan. 30--M. c. Curtis,
an orchardist near Los Gatos, to-day filed
a petition in insolvency. HIS liabilities
are $27.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
NOTARY PUBLIC.

CHARLES II. PHILLIPS. ATTORNEY-AT-
" Law and Notary Public, 6YS Market ST., oppo-
site Palace Hotel. Telephone $40. Residence 1920
Fell street. Telephone Pine 1881.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Weak Men and Women

CHoULD USE DAAIIANA BITTERS. THE
- great Mexican Remedy: gives Health and
Strength to the Sexual Organs.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Te,enhon. Companu fneorporn ted.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Jan. 50.-The
Home Telephone Company wss incorpo-
raIed to-day. 1t proposes to carry on busi-
ness in seven southern cities.
The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31

T.:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-04
A HARD ROW TO HOE.

The Dingley bill is having hard
row TO hoe, and this not because of the
opposition of the Democrats to it, but
because the sentiment of the country is
against it. It met with its first reverse
when the enlightened sentiment OF the
country forced its author to so amend
it that there should be no tariff placed
on works of art, books imported for
public libraries and the like. The tariff
wall had a breach made in it at the
first attack. At the regular monthly
meeting of the New York chamber OF
commerce the other day the committee
on foreign commerce submitted report
on the Dingley bill that was decidedly
adverse to it, finding that it virtually
re-enacts the duties provided for under
the Mckinley law, and in some in
stances exceeds them. Following this
comes the news that the miners con-
vention of Illinois has passed resoiu-
tions opposing the proposed Increased
tariff on coal from forty to seventy-hve
cents per ton. The reason for this pro-
test is stated, in the resolutions, to be
that the expectation of coal exceeded
by 2,5OO,0 tons the importations and
the proposed increase in the tariff was
likely to inspire retaliatory tariffs
which would prove a detriment to
American miners. On top of all this
comes the word from Washington that
the senate will make very material
notifications in the rates of duties in
the various schedules, and all lower
And this lowering of the rates will
come from the Republican side.
Truly the new tariff is destined to
have hard row to hoe both before and
after it becomes law. Chairman Ding
ley, like another Rip Van Wrinkle,
wakes up after many years and does
not realize how long he has been asleep
nor how changed conditions are.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-04
Free TO EVERY MAN.
THE METHOD OF A GREAT TREAT
MENT FOR WEAKNESS OF MEN.
WHICH CURED HIM AFTER EVERY
THING ELSE FAILED.

Painful diseases are bad enough, but
when a man is slowly wasting away with
nervous weakness. the mental forebod-
ings are ten times worse than the most
severe pain. There is no let up to the
mental sutferings day or night Sleep
is almost impossible and under such a
strain men are scarcely responsible for
what they do. For years the writer
rolled and tossed on the troubled sea
OF sexual weakness until it was a Ques-
ton whether he had not better take a
bles. But providential inspiration came
to his aid in the shape of a combination
of medicines that not only completely
restored the general health, but enlarged
his weak, emaciated parts TO natural
size and vigor, and he now declares that
any man who will take the trouble to
send his name and address may have the
method of this wonderful treatment free
Now when / say free l mean absolutely
without cost, because 1 want every weak
ened man to get the benefit OF my expe-
rience-
Lam not a philanthropist. nor do 1
pose as an enthusiast, but there are
thousands OF men suffering the mental
fortunes of weakened manhood who
would be cured at once could they but
get such r~medy as the one that cured
me. Do not try to study out how l can
afford to pay the few postage stamps
necessary to mail the information, but
send for it, and learn that there are q
few things on earth that although they
cost nothing TO get they are worth a
time of happiness to most of us. Write
to Thomas Slater Box 1925, Kalamazoo.
Mich. and the Information will be mailed
In plain sealed envelope