The San Francisco call., 1898-12-19
SEEKS POLICE PROTECTION.
W. B. Harrington, Botkin Juror,
 Shadowed by Unknown Men.

Willard B. Harrington, one of the jurors just now sitting to decide for the life or death of Mrs Cordelia Botkin and presi- dent of the Merchants Club, has applied to Chief Lees for police protection against three men who have since last Wednesday night dogged his -ootsteps to his Sacra- mento street home and who have several time approached him in a menacing atti- tude. He fears that they in end some at tempt upon his life or upon his safety at least, and his request to the Chief is for protection against some such act.
 MT. Harrinoton could furnish to the police nothing more than a good general description of the men who have so per sistently followed him. Their names he does not know, though he is of the opln- ion that one of them he has seen before; !; where, he cannot remember. NOT can ne account for any reason why he should be followed or why he has been several times so openly menaced by them.
 His application for police protection was made in Judge Carroll Cooks court room on Thursday afternoon ot last week, week shortly after the Botkin case had been continued for the day and the rest or the Harrington remained behind and through Clerk Tolle sent word to Chief Lees that he had something to say to hlm. Jpage @ so imperative against commumcauon with outsiders that Chief Lees hesltaIed at granting the request and called Judge
 
 said that he thought it would be perfectly proper, but advised him that any conVer- sation should be held in the court room Tn the presence of the few WAC remained, that no suspicious might attach to the proceeding Upon this Mir. Harrington explained the circumstances or the case and gave his reasons for asking police
 He said that on the previous, night after he left the jury room he had taken lne car for his home at llI0 Sacfanehto street but was obliged to turn aside at an alley through which 1t is his custom to pass by a man who stood m the en- trance and menacingly blocked ms ms way. He apprehended no harm at hrst, but after he had made his way hundred Feet or so down the lane he looked around and found that he was being followed py the person who had first stopped him, and that a companion of equally unpre- possessing appearance had joined him. They followed closely at his heels until he emerged on Sacramento street, where he found another of the gang almost at the door of his house. The fellow moved away slowly as MT. Harrington ,ap- preached, but subjected him to a close scrutiny. After he entered the house the three men joined forces and after loiter- ing about the neighborhood for some time longer went away down the street.
 Mir. Harrington described their appear, ance and his experience to his wife, and she told him she had noticed the same men lettering in the vicinity during the day and had been made nervous by the way III WnlCn they eycO the mousse MT Harrington's experience has been repeat ed several times since, and though as yet no open threat has been made against him he says he does not care to take the chance of blow or so from a sand bag, and has again appealed to the police.
 The department is at loss to account for the peculiar persecution of one of the jurors on an important case Coming with the well founded reports that the jury has been expressing itself rather more freely of its opinions on the case than Judge Cooks injunctions allow, the together, and MT. Harrfngton's case with the others will be thoroughly investigat- ed. In it's investigation the police are speaking with the jurymen, but are pur- suing 1t along other lines, and some sen sational and tangible results are looked for.