The San Francisco call., 1903-12-02
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

111S Broadway, Dec. l..
Chief Of Police st. Clair Hodgkins
has allowed another twenty-four
hours to pass without getting a trace
of the man he has accused of the foul
murder of Policeman James H. Smith
His detectives have been compelled
to work in the dark in no slight de-
gree because of the astounding meth
DDS that prevail in the handling of
criminal cases by Oakland's police
Chief. 1t is a fact that at least one
of the police detectives assigned by
Chief of Police st. Clair Hodgkins to
duty on the Smith case was not in
formed by that official of the resi-
dence in Oakland of Goldstein and
Kiniry, although Hodgkins had that
information in his possession less than
two hours after Smith had been mur-
dered.
Essential as it was that the police
should be apprised with all possible
diligence of the fact that the men
had a hiding place in this city, Hodg-
kins, for some unaccountable reason,
not only withheld this important fact
from nearly every patrolman in the
department, but included in his list a
detective officer who was supposed to
be exerting efforts to catch the fugi-
tive murderer.
That David Kiniry, now in full
flight had ample time to elude pur-
suers, get to the Steadman house at
1862 Grove street, write a letter to
Goldstein and then easily make his
escape after. helping himself to such
surprise in view of the astonishing
revelations concerning the Hodgkins
plan of criminal catching.
To nine out of ten of the members
of the Oakland Police Department the
newspapers furnished the details and
not alone details, but general knowl-
edge of the murder that should have
been impaired that night broadcast by
Hodgkins. BY what process of men
tai gymnastics Chief of Police Hodg-
kins conceived the idea that secrecy
was to be practiced, even to the extent
of excluding working detectives from
of clews, has not been faith
omed.
STEADMAN GAVE TIP.
1t was not to any clean-cut, clever
work on Hodgkins' part that the Grove
street residence was uncovered. 1t was
not superior, intelligent digging of
master mind in criminal trailing that
gave the knowledge to Hodgkins 1t
was the quick -witted action of young
Ross Steadman that opened the way
which, unfortunately, was blocked be-
cause, Chief of Police Hodglxins was
not quick enough to. head off the man
that he charges with shooting to death
one of the bravest young policemen
that ever stood between criminals and
citizens lives and property.
Steadman heard of the shooting with
IN a very few minutes after it occurred.
He heard that the dead Goldstein wore
4 peculiar sweater. Something prompt
I'd him to hasten to the Morgue. There
ne identified the body, but held his own
until he could get the ear of
he Chief of Police. Steadman realized
low essentially important was his in
formation. Then was the time for ac-
ion. Then was the moment when
Hodgkins might have saved himself
rom being forced to acknowledge an
gnomlnlouS 1a1lure and defeat in this |
anne pursuit of David Kiniry.
And in the face of this situation po-
icemen keenly interested in the hunt, |
loudly concerned because a fellow Of
1cer had been slain, were compelled to
90 to the public sources of information |
the press-hours afterward for this
clew. There the four days |
ecord stands. Saturday, Sunday, Mon
lay and Tuesday have come and gone,
1et Chief of Police Hodgkins has not |
itrengthened his position in the cam
'aign in one single particular. The best |
hat he has accomplished is to trace
<iniry's antecedents to some extent, !
md this was accomplished by means
If documents that fell into the police
lands. as mama from heaven.