The San Francisco call., 1899-04-29
RELEASED ON
STRAW BONDS
AND ABSCONDED
Harry Wilson Again
at Liberty.
CLERK KELLY IN EVIDE ICE
CoFSTERNATIoN AT POLICE
HEADQUARTERS.
Descriptions of tie Suspected stran-
gler Are Sent Broadcast Through
out the State for Purposes
of Identification.

The facility with which notorious crimi-
nails are enabled to escape punishment for
their crimes was again eXemplified yes
terday in the case of Harry Wilson, the
negro who is suspected of being the man
who strangled two G1sreputable women
three years ago and robbed a number of
other women.
The detectives had been searching for
evidence against Wilson on the more seri-
Gus charges, but on Thursday it was de-
cided to book him on three charges of
petty larceny so that he could be kept
in prison pending the Investigations on
the other suspected crimes. 1t was not
supposed that he could get bonds for his
release and when it was known yesterday
morning that he had been released at 9:20
o'clock Thursday night on $500 bonds ac
cepted by Clerk Kelly of Judge Grahams s
court the worst was feared and there was
CONSERVATION at police headquarters.
This was intensified when it became
known that the cases had been called in
Judge Graham'S court and Wilson had
failed to answer to his name.
Chief Lees and Captain Seymour at once
saw Judge Graham and bench warrant
was issued for Wilson's arrest and his
bonds were increased TO $1,000 on each of
the three charges. The Chief wired all
over the State description of Wilson
and asking for his arrest, while Detectives
Ed Gibson, Wren and MCMahon were de-
tailed with other men to search the city
for him in the hope that he was still
here His description as wired is: Harry
Wilson, colored; thief; aged 80; born in
Kentucky; height feet 612 inches; build
good; weight 155 pounds, hair negro; COM
pleXion copper. Remarks: Brown coat
and vest; light trousers; soft gray shirt;
soft black hat.
Bond Inspector Newman was sent for
by the Chief and he went to Clerk Kelly
and saw the bonds. He at once declared
that they were not worth the paper on
which they We're written, and subsequent
investigation proved that he was correct.
The bondsmen Were E. Riley, an ex-dep
uty sheriff, and Thomas E. Cosgrove, 312
Howard street. Riley qualified on a one
h1th interest in a 5O-vara lot of land
bounded by Devisadero, Fulton, Grove
and Scott streets, valued at $1,000 and un-
incumbered. Cosgrove qualified on two
lots in the Railroad Homestead Associa-
ton, four carts, sixteen horses, three
and unincumbered." Neither of the two
men is on the assessment roll
Clerk Kelly explained that Attorney J.
n. f. Wilson and the two sureties called
al his house Thursday night and Wilson
assured him that the suretes We're all
right. He accordingly accepted the bonds
and Issued orders for the negros release.
He claims that he was compelled to ac-
cept the bonds by virtue of his office.
Bond Inspector Newman declares that
acceptable as a bondsman, as he had
warned him on a former occasion of that
fact.
Chief Lees, when he learned of all the
circumstances, was furious and emphati-
cally declared that he had been bunkoed
and that the release of Wilson on straw
bonds was gross outrage. He said he
was powerless in the matter, as the clerks
OF the courts were appointed by the Board
or Supervisors. He inStanced the fact
that 1t was through the acceptance of A
straw bond by Clerk Kelly that Austria
nan Eddie, the notorious pickpocket was
enabled to defeat the ends of Justice and
thought IT was time some action was
taken TO put stop to that sort of thing
It is probable that the matter will be
taken before the Grand Jury to see If in
qlCtments cannot be obtained against
Riley and Cosgrove for perjury in falsely
swearing that they owned property which
they do not own. There have been SO
many cases recently of straw bonds that
some drastic measures must be taken to
give these men lesson.
The Police Judges had consultation
on the subject but came TO the conclu-
SION they mad no jurisdiction over their
clerks after the, adjournment of the
courts. and could do nothing. CAPTAIN
Seymour prepared a list of prisoners re-
leased on bonds; by the clerks of the
a. m. since the beginning of this month.
and the number reached thirty-five. He
pointed out that according to order No
zbZ9 passed by the Board of Supervisors
April y, 1893. clerks of the Police Courts
can only accept bonds in their respective
court rooms or office attached thereto he
tween the hours of 8 a. m. and D. m.
and that they shall alternate weekly in
cept Sundays and holidays, when the
hours are 10 a. m. till o. m 1t is speci-
hcally stated that they shall not accent
surettes on bonds except within the
places and the times prescribed AS a
result orders have been posted in ali no.
lice stations to accept no orders of re-
Lease from clerks of the Police Courts in
the future after 10 o'clock at night.