davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
Piled HIS GUEST
WITH BAD WHISKY

EUREKA, May 25-Simon Anderson,
proprietor of the Grand Hotel of this city,
was arrested this afternoon on a charge
of obtaining property under false preten-
ses. The circumstances of the case are
peculiar Thomas f. Kehoe, a well-known
ship carpenter, had for many weeks been
upon a drunken debauch and was placed
in the care of Anderson at the hotel to
recover. 1t is alleged that Anderson kept
was out of his mind, when Anderson got
him to sign a check for $4,000.
This forenoon he presented the check
at a bank, but was refused payment.
Kehoe's attorneys, Puter & Rolley, in
vestigated the matter and had Kehoe re-
moved to private hospital. Last night
the attorneys were considerably startled
by a summons to his room to draw up a
will for him, and when Rolley responded
he was most disagreeably surprised to
find his client not only in most danger
Gus condition from liquor, but surrounded
with filth that is indescribable. For five
DAYS he had lain in bed wh--e being piled
with LIQUOR. During all that time the
bed had not been changed nor had he
arisen from it for an instant.
The place was piled about with empty
TASKS which had contained liquor, pre-
from the effects of which it is doubtful
if Kehoe could have survived another day.
This fact had evidently been recognized
bv Anderson, for when the attorney ar
rived Anderson was pleading with the
half conscious and utterly incompetent
man TO make him his heir. Anderson was
released on $500 bonds.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
THE CUBANS WILL
KEEP THEIR ARMS
Continued from First Page.

vote it was resolved to. use all means
to prevent the soldiers from surrend-
ering their arms.
In addition to the manifesto. General
Rodriguez will send a personal letter
to the soldiers asking them not to ac-
cept any money
General Brooke to-day approved Co
mez manifesto asking the soldiers to
disarm. There are many indications,
however, that the chiefs will carry their
point as all Gomez's political enemies
are working with them. A refusal of
the soldiers to accept the money and
surrender their arms would be a crush
ing defeat for Gomez. He is using all
efforts TO prevent it, but an intimate
friend of his admits that a majority
of the soldiers will return to their
homes with their arms and without
money.
Politicians who are opposing Gomez
say that the general feels his position
keenly and thinks he has been treated
shamefully by the Cubans, for whom he
fought without thought of recompense.
The Cuban owners of plantations held
meeting tonight and voted to urge
President Mckinley to approve the de-
cree originally approved by General
Brooke, but afterWard changed on the
recommendation of Secretary Alger
Planters, as well as their creditors.
favor the Lanuza decree.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
SERIOUS CHECK TO
RIVER IMPROVEMENT

STOCKTON May c5.-According to H.
j. Corcoran, a member of the committee
on audit to the Commissioner of Public
Works, the opinion of Attorney General
Ford to the effect that the office of Com
missioner has ceased to exist is more far
reaching than is generally understood.
Mr.. Corcoran said to-day: THE improve
ment of navigable streams in this State
is stopped for an indefinite period. The
auditing committees hands are tied and
not one step further IN the direction of
river improvement can be taken until the
Legislature meets and passes new act
re-creating the office"
Corcoran stated that the Legislature at
the last session had passed unanimously
a measure which entirely remedied the
matter. The Governors favorable action
on the bill had been requested and urged
by the entire auditing board and delega-
ton of men interested in navigation
Nevertheless, the bill had been pocketed.
Corcoran expressed the deepest regret that
the matter had turned out so unpromising-
ly, as conditions were very favorable for
river Improvement at the present time.
Governor Cages action is also deeply re-
GREETED by the people of this city. who
had hoped 70 see the State cooperate act
lively with the general government in the
Improvement of the San Joaquin. The
State board had much work in view and
the decision comes as a severe disap-
pointment.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
PECK ACQUITTED
ON ONE CHARGE
Having Only Escaped in the Present
Trial on Technicality, the
Other Cases Remain.

SANTA CRUZ, May 25.-The trial Of ex-
Tax Collector w. E. Pech was commenced
to-day in the Superior Court 1t is on the
first indictment preferred against him by
the Grand Jury "for having in his pos
session to circulate liquor licenses other
than those furnished by the County Au-
ditor." BY noon eleven jurors had been
secured and shortly after the opening of
the afternoon session the witnesses were
examined.
After witnesses were examined and in
structions from the District Attorney it
did not take the jury long to acquit Peck.
Under the Indictment the prosecution had
to prove law into effect which proved
the County Auditor should issue by num-
bering and signing all county liquor IL
cenSes before they were delivered to the
Tax Collector. The prosecution was COM
PEELED to prove the validity of the ordi-
nance under which that duty was pre-
scented.
The defense objected on the ground that
the ordinance was not valid and the court
sustained the objection on the ground that
the ordinance had not been signed by the
chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
but by Ed Martin, County Clerk, making
the ordinance illegal.
The District Attorney instructed the
jury to acquit, which they did
The next case against Peck Will be
taken up next Wednesday.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
DEWEY Is RESTING
UNDER CAREFUL GUARD

NEW YORK, May pa special to
the Journal from Hongkong says: Ad-
miral Dewey shows great improvement
already. Installed spaciously at the
Peak Hotel, with lofty windows that
catch every mouthful of wind from the
sea, he is losing the air of languor he
wore when he landed from the Bills
tered cruiser.
1t was rest he needed-rest and cooler
air. He is getting both. Strangers
cannot intrude upon him. Government
detectives see to that. SO do detectives
hired by Consul General Wildman. So
do swarms of Chinese servants who
make the hotel an abode of dolce far
niente.
If the Filipino junta ever meant more
than buster by the hints of assassina-
ton, it has been thoroughly cowed by
the British police. Howard Bray. an
English confederate of the insurgents,
has been suddenly stricken dumb.
These people received a brusque warn
ing from the authorities that if they
did not behave themselves they would
be treated to a surprise. The Filipinos
themselves were similarly cautioned,
and are under close surveillance.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
NO COMMISSIONER
Of PUBLIC WORKS
Opinion That the Office
Has Died.
ATTORNEY GENERALS RULING
MATTER IN BILLS SIGNED NOT
APPROVED BY LEGISLATURE.
The Auditing board Will Also Go
Out of Existence if Mr.. Ford's
View Is Sustained by the
Supreme Court.
ATTORNEY GENERALS RULING
MATTER IN BILLS SIGNED NOT
APPROVED BY LEGISLATURE.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, May 25.-It is regarded
here as certain that the Supreme Court
will shortly be called upon to decide
whether the office of the Commissioner or
Public Works has any legal existence,
claim disputed by Attorney General Ford.
The latter, in an opinion filed with. state
Controller Colgan, holds that the office OF
Commissioner of Public Works termin-
ated on March l., 1899, and thereafter
ceased to have any legal existence. At
torney General Ford observes that the Dill
as signed by Governor Gage had incor-
porated in its provisions the portions
which the Assembly had sought TO add
to the bill, namely, the raising of the sal
airy of the Commissioner from $500 to
$500 per annum, and the addition OF the
continuation clause but from which
amendments it had receded. The Attor-
ney General maintains that the bill as
signed by the Governor is not the bill as
passed by the Legislature, as shown by
the journals of both the Senate and AS
sembly.
The question which now arises is, if the
office of Commissioner of Public Works is
abolished, what is to become of the audit
ing board to that Commissioner? At
torney General Ford had been asked by
State Controller Colgan to give an opinion
on that feature of the question also, but
he neglected to do so, and the State Con-
troller has sent a second request for an
expression relative to that point.
The. land owners of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin valleys are vitality con-
cerned in the outcome of the matter.
inasmucb as the continuance of the work
or the Sacramento and San Joaquin riv-
ers is involved. To the auditing board
falls the duty of authorizing the work
to be done, letting the contracts and aud
ting the bills. 1t is the duty of the Com
missioner on the other hand, to determine
the extent and character of all work.
and have personal supervision over its
construction. What good an auditing
board will be without commissioner is
a mystery which nobody appears ready
to explain. The duties of the one are
so identified with those of the other that
both commissioner and auditing board
work as unit, and the splendid weir at
Elkhorn. the jetty system at Newtown
shoals and the Strengthening of the San
Joaquin River by extensive cut-offs stand
as striking examples of the effectiveness
of the department as it has thus far been
conducted. Work is now in progress at
cut-offs g. 4, G and z, in the San Joaquin
River, and there is a serious doubt if
this work can be completed in the event
that the Supreme Court sustains Attor-
ney General Ford's opinion The auditing
board and commissioner have projected
Improvements in the Sacramento River,
near the mouth of the Feather River,
which may also have to cease.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
KILLED AND WOUNDED
BY FILIPINO BULLETS
WASHINGTON, May 25.-General Otis
cables the following casualties:
KILLED.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-General Otis
cables the following casualties:
KILLED.
Third Infantry, May accompany NJ
Corporal Asher E. Piper, Private Guy c.
Whitlock.
Twentieth Kansas, May accompany A
Private William Sullivan.
WOUNDED.
California Heavy Artillery, May 2O-Com-
pany D, Private George Cathelin, leg, Sc
we're. Third Infantry, May accompany
A First Lieutenant John G. Macarthur
leg, moderate; Privates Anthony Brecka
foot, severe; Charles Diedrich, arm, mod
crate; Company c, Richard T. Frank
scalp, slight; Fred A. Baker, abdomen.
moderate: Samuel Alpgren, leg, slight
Musician William Plemay, leg, slight;
Company H, Sergeant Joseph w. Miller
shoulder seVere~ Privates Peter Higgins
foot moderate; Benjamin 4. Ledgerwood
foot moderate; Company K, John E. Mel
son. thigh, severe; David J. Purcell
thorax. severe; James f. Baker, thigh
moderate.
Privates Joseph Frantzen, cheek, slight;
Company c, = Taylor, scalp, slight; Com
pany CT, w. d. Raymond, arm, severe.
Twentieth Kansas-Company H, Second
Lieutenant Robert S. Parker thigh
slight, Company B, Privates Peter NJ
Sorenson, shoulder, severe; Elmer H
Ashcraft, neck. moderate; Arthur Hol-
Ernest Ryan, abdomen, severe; Sergeant
Charles w. ToZer, head, slight Company
NJ, Corporal Albert Dooley, thigh, moder-
ate.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
CALLS PALMA TO
AN ACCOUNTING
What Has Become of the Money Con-
tributed to Help the Cuban
CauSeP

NEW YORK, May "a demand
has been made by the Cuban American
League upon T. Estrada Palma, dele
gate in this country of the so-called
Cuban republic, for an accounting of
the money which he handled during the
war against Spain. The league,
through its president, William O. Nc
DoWell, asserts that it has trustworthy
information that the funI contributed
by patriotic Cubans and others
amounted to nearly $1,000 600, and that
no one except Palma has any knowl-
edge of the manner of its disbursement
Though the letter which contained
the demand was mailed nearly a week
ago, no answer has been received by
the league. Mcdowell says his motive
in taking the radical step of making
public his demand upon Mr.. Palma was
to have it made known to the friends
of the league, who had financially sup
ported the revolution, just how their
money had been spent, and to have the
satisfaction of seeing their names on
the roll of honor.
Mcdowell to-day said: 1T might pos
sibly have been that some time ago it
would have been Mr.. Palma's excuse, If
called on for an accounting, to say that
he had used the money in a way that
was violation of the neutrality laws,
Dul lHeTe Is no occasion Tor fear or
prosecution on that score now In
view of the complete report made by
the Porto Rican Junta, I do not see
how Mr.. Palma can properly continue
to ignore the requests of many persons
who contributed literally to the cause
and who want to know what was done
Some time ago l saw Mr. Palma
quoted as saying that about $1,000, 900
had passed through his hands l think
the report must be in error. The re-
suits achieved in Cuba could not have
been approached with any such sum. -
Palma tonight said that he did not
recognize the existence of the Cuban
League in this city and he certainly
should not reply to the communication
that he had received from William o.
Mcdowell and A. A. Aguirre, who
signed their names as officers of such
an organization.
There used to be a Cuban League, -
said Mr.. Palma, with Ethan Allen as
president, and it gave little to the Gu
ban cause. But my impression is that
1t went out of existence. 1 don't know
what their purpose in writing to me
is but probably it is an attempt to dis
credit me. They can't do it, though ]
shall pay no attention to them, but ]
will make a statement to the public
tomorrow. There is nothing to con-
ceal"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
COLLISION OF WHEELS
ON CARMEL HILL
While Coasting Down Grade Stuart
Masters of Berkeley Is Badly
Tniurad

PACIFIC GROVE. May 25.-An accident
by which one man was seriously hurt and
two others badly shaken up occurred yes
terday on Carmel Hill, Just out of Mon
terey. The injured man is Stuart Masters
of the University of California. A party
of college men, delegates to the Pacific
Coast Students Conference, now holding
it's annual session at this place, had made
trip around the seventeen-mile drive
the return some attempted to coast down.
Their wheels became unmanageable, three
of them crashing into heavy tandem
The riders of the tandem were thrown and
badly bruised, but the rider of the fore
most runaway wheel, young Masters was
thrown with terrific force against the
frame of the tandem. striking squarely
on his head. He was brought here I'M
conscious and remained in that condition
several hours. He has not yet recognized
any one nor remembered past events, but
is otherwise uninjured
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
MRS. APPLETON'S WILL
NOT TO BE CONTESTED

SAN JOSE. May 25.-The threatened
contest over the will of Mrs. Fannie G.
Appleton, who left an estate valued at
nearly $50 900, will not materialize, and
Charles Hanks, a cowboy of Southwest
ern Nevada, is richer by many thousands
Of dollars Mrs. Appleton was formerly
Mrs. Hickox, and by her first husband
had two sons, Herbert and Charles. She
took a great dislike to the latter after
his father died. and treated him shame
fully. Finally the boy sought shelter with
the family of Samuel Hanks on South
First street and grew up to be known as
Charlie Hanks. When he nearly reached
manhood he drifted to Nevada and moth
ing had been heard of him for years.
Mrs. Appleton died a few months ago.
Her will is now being probated hut
mention was made of her son Charles
Friends of the boy took up the matter
and detective began search for him.
80 was located in Nevada. and threat
ened to contest his unnatural mothers
will. H o. Hickox and L. E. Appleton,
devisees under the will. compromised the
matter. however. and saved a sensational
trial. 1t is impossible to learn Just what
amount Charles HlchoA Va
the estate REIMBURSEMENT 81 ~ nor
ests in his mothers estate was hled To-
day. the consideration being gwen as
s767, but this is not the true amount.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
COMPANY B RE-ENLISTS.
Puts In a Muster Roll in the Reor-
ganized National Guard.

SAN JOSE, May 25.z-Company B, Fifth
Regiment, N. G. c., which on the call for
troops at the breaking out of the Spanish
war went into the Government service
and became member of the Eighth Cali
fornia Regiment, is to be reorganized
After being mustered out the company
had three months in which to re-enlist IN
the National Guard, and this course has
been decided upon. Last week a muster
roll containing sixty-four names was sent
to the adjutant general of the State and
application made for re-enlistment as
Company B. Captain Partridge, who
served Company B for many years, heads
the list, and in the Eighth Regiment will
undoubtedly be the commanding officer.
First Lieutenant de Yoe is in San Fran
cisco and Second Lieutenant F. S. Mum
is in Oregon, and there promises to be
much rivalry in filling these two places.
The old Company B armory on North
Market street is being fitted up. The first
meeting of the company will be held on
Monday night, but the mastering will not
occur until a week later. San Jose fur
nished two companies-M and BIO the
Eighth Regiment, and members of those
will be given the preference This will
undoubtedly make the new organization
one of the best military companies In the
State.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
FOR THE SAN JOSE
AND ALVISO RAIL WAY

SAN JOSE, May 25-The Alviso and San
Jose Railway, which has rights of way
terminals already secured will be built
during the coming summer. An attempt
has been made to raise some SIS, 900 in
stock subscriptions from the residents of
this city, but it has been rather slow
work, and now comes the information
that work will go ahead. 1t is proposed
to have the road in operation by De-
cember l. 1t will be a steam road Piper.
Goodall, Alden Company are the prime
connect with a line of steamers at Al
viso. This will give good water route
to San Francisco. Rights of way were
secured two years ago and rails and track
materials are on hand. but nothing has
hitherto been done in the hope that local
capital could be induced to take an in
terest in the road.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
MURDERED BY
A RANCH HAND,
Divorced Woman Slain
by Former Lover.
MEL RICHARDSON'S CRIMES
AFTER KILLING MRS. MERIT He
COMMITS SUICIDE.
The Couple Eloped Last July, b,
After their Return to the
Country She Refused to
Live With Him
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

EUREKA, Cal, May 25.-Last night
at $3.50 o'clock, at her home on Eel Riv-
er Island, near Singley's Ferry, Mrs.
Clara Wertz was murdered by Mel
Richardson. The woman was the di-
vorced wife of Martin Wertz, a farm
er at Salmon Greek, and resided with
her parents She left the house to feed
rabbits, and soon after four pistol
shots were heard. The folks rushed out
Of the house and found her in the shed
with her clothes on fire Two bullets
struck her behind the left shoulder.
She died in half an hour.
Two hours later the sequel to the
tragedy occurred at Ferndale, four
miles distant, when Mel Richardson
committed suicide by shooting himself
in the head with a pistol. He died at
o'clock this morning. Letters left by
Richardson showed that the couple had
eloped last July, and had resided for
some time in the Brooklyn Hotel, San
Francisco. The woman denied this,
however, up to the day of her death
Wertz and his wife were married in
1890, and divorced in April, 1899. Rich
ardson had been in the employ Of
Wertz until the elopement. Salinas
and Santa Rosa were also visited by
the couple. She returned to her home
in October last. Richardson returned
few weeks later.
In view of the circumstances related
and the denials of the unfortunate
woman, two theories are advanced for
the deed. One is that a mad infatua-
ton caused Richardson to follow his
victim, and, surprising her alone in the
yard last evening and learning that his
passion was unreciprOcated, he killed
her. The other, based on a presump-
ton of guilt, is that his victim had
left him with the determination to
have nothing more to do with him and
that when he suddenly confronted her
last evening she spurned him, and in
revenge he shot her. His suicide fol-
lowed, either from remorse or of the
consequences of his crime.
Richardson was a native of this
county, aged 80 years. His father was
lynched by his neighbors in 1854 on
suspicion of having assaulted his own
daughter Some people believe that he
was not guilty.
Mrs. Wertz was native of Canada,
aged 80. That Richardson was the
murderer was suspected from the first,
and this suspicion was verified by the
finding on his person of a letter en-
closed in an envelope addressed TO the
Coroner The letter, although rambling
and incoherent in some parts, as though
written under great mental stress,
showed that not only had he commit
ted the deed, but that it was premedi-
tated. Part of the letter had evident
ly been written before the commission
of tn murder, and the other and most
significant part was indited afterward
This part was as follows: II have shot
her four times, and 1 hope I have done
a good job / came here to kill her and
then kill myself"