The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-16
HORSE STEALING
LIGHTLY PUNISHED
A JUDGE VIEWS THE CRIME AS
PETTY LARCENY.
John Mara Escapes a Long Term in
Jail After Being Found Guilty
of Heinous Offense.

There is much comment at the City
Hall on the course taken by Judge
Joachimsen in the case of John Mara.
who was arrested last Monday by OH
GERS A. b. Riehl and James A. Belyea on
the charge of grand larceny. Mara was
charged with having stolen TWO horses
within one week.
on the night of October the lock was
broken on Henry SamueFs stable door
1917 Valencia street, and his horse taken
from the place and sold to man named
Patrick J. Heany. He In turn sold the ami
nal at slaughterhouse in South san
Francisco for 81 90. On the following Sun
day night horse belonging TO Frank
Hassel who resides at 1910 Harrison
street was stolen. The boy used the
horse Tor the purpose of peddling, by
which ne managed 10 support himself. MS
widowed mother and her five orphan
children This horse was sold TO the
same man for 81 80 and was also taken
10 the slaughterhouse, where the Hasseii
boy found it the next morning. on recos-
niZire. his property he informed the peo-
pie at the boiling down establishment that
the animal was stolen from his stable on
the previous night he ASKED THEM as d
favor not TO kill the horse. he stated be-
fore leaving the boneyard that ne Wouiu
inform the police, which ne dld, hurrylhB
back to the SeVenteenth-street station anu
Informing Lieutenant Price, who detailed
Officers Riehl and BeIyea TO investigate.
The officers went TO the straightforward
and found both horses had been Killed
On examining the hides the owners ldent-
tied their ANIMALS 1t was here stated 10
the officers that the horses mad been pur-
chased from Patrick j. Heany, who re
SIDES on Alabama street. inquiry al
Heany's elected the information that
Mara had sold the horses to nlm. On
this information Mara was arrested ana
two charges OF grand larceny were iodgeo
against nim On being confronted with
tie proofs he offered 10 plead guilty 10
Tar-p hl1f no
declined to compound felony IN case
that to them seemed so clear OF not only
horse stealing, but burglary IN breaking
into SamueIs stable.
With the foregoing facts In possession
OF the arresting officers Mara was per
Tnitted to plead guilty to petty larceny by
attorney in his court. Notwithstanding the
protest of Officer Riehl.
The following is the report as made TO
Captain Gillen by the arresting officers:
San Francisco, Oct. IA, 1898.
James W. Gillen. captain of police
Sir: The case of John Mara, VINO had
for stealing horses, came up In Ponce
Court No. ), this morning, the 18th inst.
The prosecuting attorney wanted me TO
reduce the charge to petty larceny and ]
refused to do II. Complaining witness
Frank Hassell's testimony was taken
and Judge Joachimson ordered me to get
two complaints for petty larceny. This
refused to do, and he said he would see
that / would do as he said. | still refused
and he had the bailiff take the complaints
and reduce them to petty larceny. The
boys signed the complaints and the de-
fendant pleaded guilty and the Judge
said he would give him six months on
each charge. Very respectfully,
A. 3. RIEHL, Police Officer.
Countersigned: JAMES A. BELYEA,
Police officer.
Judge Joachimson sentenced Mara to
six months Imprisonment in the County
jail on each charge. What annoys the
Police Department is that Mara is either
guilty of grand larceny In stealing the
horses, as there could be no possible
doubt of his guilt, considering the evil
dence against him, or he is guilty of no
offense under our law. 1t is rumored that
the case will brought to the attention of