The San Francisco call., 1897-07-09
SNEAKTBIEVES
MAKE A HAUL
Got way With Considerable
Money on Last Nights
Overland.
The Robbers Are Now Being
Swallowed by Officers of the
Harbor Police.
Many Minor Robberies Have Been
Reported, but This Is the First
Of Any Magnitude.

Bunko-steerers and sure-thing gamblers
have been arrested by the dozen since the
Christian Endeavorers began to arrive
from the East. Mrs. Swift, lady from
Michigan, arrived on the train yesterday
and reported the loss OF small fortune.
She was on the regular overland train
and when the .leeping-car in which she
had berth came 10 stop at the Oakland
! mole hor purse and all her jewelry were
gone.
The officers at the mole were notified,
and search of the train was made. No
trace OF the missing goods could be found.
Word was sent to San Francisco and on
the arrival of the steamer Piedmont Mrs
Swift was interviewed by Sergeant Tom
Mahoney OF the Harbor Police.
S"e said that her purse, containing 5000
in green backs, two earrings in each of
which was a diamond weighing two
carats, and diemOnd brooch valued at
$3.50, was taken from under her pillow
during the night. She was heart broken
over her loss. She had only few cents
in her pocket when she reached this side
of the bay.
When the story was told to Sergeant
Mahoney lie at once put the officers at the
Jerry on their guard and reported the
matter to Ser cant Dunleavy. The latter
at once let Chief Of Police Lees know
what was going on, and Detectives Egan
and Sllvey were put on the case. Every
confidence man and every bunko-steerer
known to the police in San Francisco will
be shadowed, and the chances are that
two or three more will join those who were
sent to the House of Correction by Judge
Campbell last Wednesday.
So far the Christian Endeavorers have
been wonderfully lucky. AS yet no case
of missing baggage has been reported,
and this is the first occasion on which
any thing has been lost on any of the
trains between Ogden and San Francisco.
Yesterday, however, the Harbor Police
had some work to do. at P. NJ. when
the transfer-wagons were at their busiest
one OF them went away overloaded. While
trying to get out of the way of Valen-
cia-street car a trunk fell INTO the street.
The driver of the wagon did not notice
his loss and drove on along Market street.
The driver OF a coal wagon saw the fail of
the trunk and stopping his team picked
up the trunk and drove on. People who
were looking on hallooed to the transfer
man, ana he stopped his team and came
back. In the meantime the coal-wagon
had turned the corner nto Steuart street
ant was out of sight.
The matter was reported to Captain
Dunleavy and two of the police officers
were detailed on special duty to look up
the matter. The chances are that the
driver will be run to earth, and Captain
Dunleavy thinks that the man, being in q
hurry simply took the trunk along with
him rather than chase after the transfer
man. II has no doubt whatever but
that the missing baggage will be returned
to its owner io-dav.
Captain Dunleavy said yesterday: 81
have never seen more orderly crowd in
San Francisco and l have never had
fewer complaints. OF course, with every
large gathering you may expect to find
bunko steerers sure thing gamblers,
sn akthieves and some of the worst kind
OF criminals. On this occasion the rail-
road authorities have exercised the best
of Judgment, and it appears to me that all
tine crooked work at i, being done is
being done right here In San Francisco
So perfect. however, is the espionage that
is being kept by the men detailed by Chief
Lees that the ilk of whom | have spoken
have had very little chance to get in their
work. The biggest and. in fact, the only
robbery reported 80 far is that of Mrs.
Smith"