The San Francisco call., 1897-09-20
A Little Gossip Is More to
Be Dreaded Than a
Grand Jury.
Trials Of Founding Newspapers
in the Districts Around
Oakland.
Alameda County Seems to Forget
That There Are Other Parts of
the State.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
90S Broadway. Sept. I9.


9OS Broadway, Sept 49,
1t is not at all clear why any of the
county officials should fear the actions of
grand jury. If any who may be anxious
would let their memories go back over the
past two years they would at once see
that grand jury is the thing least to be
feared of any crime-hunting agency in
Alameda County. Its indictments are
lar less dangerous to the people indicted
IMAM is little gossip on a street corner.
Two years ago the grand jury then in
existence returned several indictments
against the County Auditor. After sew
eral months they were all dismissed by
the court on the understanding that the
next grand jury would take hold OF the
matter. This was done and the indict-
ments were again returned.
Since then the usual means of delay
have been resorted TO and the cases are
somewhere on the calendar, but not one
OF them has been brought to trial and
there is little Likelihood of such a pro-
ceedlng in the near future. In all these
two years Mr.. Whidden has been under a
cloud which should have been removed
long before.tbis. Either he is guilty or
innocent, and the public would like to
know which. Within three months a
woman has been examined, tried and con-
victed of burglary and Is now serving her
sentence in San Quentin, so that there has
certainly been no lack of time. Not only
has Mr.. Whidden been involved, but ex-
Tax Collector Rosborough and Lee Park,
his deputy, are also concerned IN the
affair and have some interest in knowing
where the mistake or worse. lies.
All are supposed to know something OF
the little error that prevented the coun-
tvs cash from balancing and IN the ulti-
ha had ha
batch of indictments. Apparently, every
thing has bee- done legally and in order,
but it Is certainly owing to all concerned,
and incidentally to the county, that some
thing be done with the indictments. II
the officials have been wrongly accused
they have been subjected to an injustice
all this time, and II the allegations are
true then the county has been wronged
that removal from office has not taken
place.
In any event so long a time has elapsed
a TO convince any other grand jury th at
it is only a waste of time to return indict-
ments and to convince any other official
that returning indictments is fighting at
long range.
Under these circumstances it is not at
all clear why any county official should
feel at all uneasy because body OF honest
men has sworn that 1t will take measures
TO suppress and punish crime should the
necessary evidence OF its existence be
furnished.
In view of all the recent failures to es-
tebIish newspapers in Alameda County it
might be supposed that prospective pro-
prietors of journals would look for
more inviting field. Frank S. Homer,
VINO has been conducting paper in East
Oakland and Fruitvale, has been struggling
along for some time and considers that he
knows something of what may be ex-
pected by the enterprIsing man who has
Just given Fruitvale mo. 1, vol. /, OF
another journal Homer says:
On September IS there will appear a new
paper for The district of Fru1tvale. We wish
1t success but it W i'll have to face the fact that
already there has been three attempts 10 keep
in existence a paper at Fruitvale and have
failed, as the merchants cannot afford to help
along a paper now as well as they could some
time ago. Goods are away down and profits
re small rents are the same as they were IN
furishing times, and nothing left for the mer-
chant to pay his advertisement bill with.
II any one wants TO take the responsibility
drumming paper in Fruitvale in these hard
times, why cali at the Mail office and they can
buy US out at their own igurs.
A warning to men who would rush in
fearlessly where veteran journalists would
strenuously avoid, is the experience of
Editor Travers, who founded six news
papers in Alameda County and recently
left for Trinity, convinced that II he Is to
maintain a syndicate of weeklies, he must
make the earth yield some OF its treasure
There is likely to be windy contest at
Haywards next week and it all arises
from the fact that Frank Hoefieng of that
town claims to be the champion cur
lew whistler and shot OF the Alameda
marshes. Postmaster Obermuller resents
this claim and declares that he can decoy
a whole covey of curlews and shoot them,
while Hoefeng is arranging the muscles OF
his mouth.
"There is a great deal more in th is
Whistling business than many suppose,
said Oberm ulIer yesterday. 1.-The curlew
or snipe can be attracted by a peculiar
whistle and charmed completely. 1t viii
draw them to the hunter and their
slaughter will follow. L am frank to ad-
NIT that Mr.. Hoef1ing is a magician as a
whistler, and the way he can draw birds
tn him was a complete surprise 10 me, for
I was out with him a few years ago and
witnessed it. / have practiced the same
whistle myself and can now use it beauti-
fully"
two men to determine which is cleverer at
deceIving curlew.
Il is about time Alameda County gave
some other county an opportunity to ex-
press desire to have a candidate on the
State ticket next year. Already there are
three men named for Governor, one for
Secretary OF State, one for Controller and
one for Attorney-General. Their claims
are apt 10 create an preston in the rest
of the State that Alameda IS referring to
her county convention next year instead
of 10 State office. II w. r. Davis or
In fini-a