The San Francisco call., 1898-06-08
MYSTERY OF
 A THRASHINC John Flemming Held Up by Masked Men.
SAYS IT WAS EXPECTED
WITNESSES TO THE AFFAIR DO
 NOT UNDERSTAND.
The Victim Was Not Anxious tc Have the Alleged Robbers Ar rested and Was Not
 Robbed.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 90S Broadway, June 2.
 John Flemming, who resides at 40o Ninth street, had an experience this morning that contains many elements of mystery. About ten minutes after mid night he was talking at the door of the Seaman residence to Mrs. Seaman and her daughter As he was bidding them good night or good-morning he was admon- ished by the young ladies to be careful laughingly replied that he did not care. but had not gone block before he was con- fronted by two fellows with masks.
 Flemming struggled with the smaller one and yelled lustily. while both men showered blows upon his head with their fists. The Seamans heard his shouting, and putting their heads out of their win dows yelled also. Two men who were ap- preaching the corner of Ninth and Web ster streets heard the shouts and saw the scuffiing, and al once ran to the relief of Flemming. AS soon as they approached the masked men ran in one direction and Flemming, who had held on to the hat of one of them ran another way
 The strangers, who undoubtedly by ming from more brutal treatment. were Martin D. Bullion and Horace Black They stopped Flemming and told him that if he would run for an of1cer they
 
 their great surprise Flemming told them he was not anxious to have the men ar rested, but preferred to go home without any fuss. AS Flemming was wearing some jewelry, including diamonds. which could have been snatched from him in less time than it took to thrash him, 1t was apparent that robbery was not the motive, although Flemming affects to be- lieve that 1t was. He told Black and Bull lion that he had been expecting these so- called footpads for several nights, and conveyed the impression that It was not altogether a surprise.
 To detective who visited his home this morning the young man sald that ne was held up by two robbers, one or whom thrashed him. while the other attempted to stuff something down his throat. Flem- ming said that when the strangers ap- preached they did not hurry, because they thought, and so told ,, nm, ,Ilaa, tna. II ,a was this and says they ran as fast as possl- ble to Flemmings relief, and were very much surprised that he did not wish them to follow up the alleged robbers. The police investigated the story to-day and have come to the conclusion that there is some other motive than robbery for the assault made upon MT. Flemming.
 T. c. Williams Will Not Remain.
 OAKLAND, June 1.-The Rev. Theodore c. Williams, who came here six months ago in the place of Rev. c. W. Wendte, pastor of the Unitarian church, has noti- fled that organization that he will refuse to accept a longer term. f1e OIlly COT- sented to stay six months when he came here from New York city. His health was poor and he doubted the effect of this cli- mate and his fears have proven correct, The members of the church were well pleased with his pastorate and had hoped to retain him. The pulpit committee is now considering his successor.
 Showed Phoenix No Leniency.
 OAKLAND, June 7.-Willis Phoenix. the mulatto convicted Saturday of burg lary in tapping a Southern Pacific till at the foot of Broadway, was sentenced to five years at Folsom Prison by Judge Og den to-day. To the jury's recommenda- "Why the jury made such a recommends ton I can't see. There was nothing in the testimony to indicate that the de- fendant was guiltless., He had been con- that he Is dangerous man..
 Rallied to Cent.
 OAKLAND, June At the request of County Clerk Jordan the funds in his possession were counted to-day by Chair man Talcott and Supervisors Church and Mitchell. The various accounts showed that the Clerk should have $4703 46 in the treasury, and the money in the safe ex- actly balanced the amount. On June of last year the amount in the County Clerks safe was s4359 26. This money Is partly taken in as fees and partly held in the interest of estates in probate.
 Two Husbands Granted Divorces.
 OAKLAND, June 7-Judge Ogden to- day severed the contugal relations exist nie M. Railton on the ground of willful assertion. The husband was the plaintiff. The application of Hans. Lanbeck for a granted The plaintiff was given the GUS tody of the minor child and three-fourths of the growing crop on 300 acres in Wash ington Township.
 Combination of Milk Men.
 OAKLAND. June '. The Central Creamery has been incorporated to carry on a general milk business. The Talcott, the Carr the California and the Medau dairies have consolidated in this corpora men, wagons and teams. Several of the larger dairies have not gone and will not go Into the combination.
 Prosecutors Paid the Fine.
 OAKLAND, June 7.-Antonia Fraqueria was found guilty of disturbing the peace Oakland Saturday night and of drunken ness in the Police Court to-day and fined | $2e. The fine was paid by A. o. Perry, an officer of the aSsociaton who had testified | against the accused.
 Oakland News Items.
 OAKLAND. June 7.-The trial of the tinued till August 2, owing to the death | of J. c. Martin of the defense and the en- gagement of A. A. Moore in the Elliott damage suit.
 Samuel George and Jerry Mullen, ar- rested in Los Angeles and wanted here for | robbery, may be indicted by the Grand | Jury, owing to the failure of those inter- ested in swearing to a complaint.
 Noble Davis and Fred Krantz, charged | with robbery, were released to-day in the | Police Court. KrantZ came from Los An geles with the Seventh Regiment. but did not enlist. and is an ex-convict
 George D. Drew, arrested on cornn1aipt |