The San Francisco call., 1904-11-17

-Four able-bod1ed men eXperlenced
such difficulty in retaining their seats
upon the PROSTATE figure of Samuel
Mercer, carpenter, that they cordially
welcomed the aid assured them by the
arrival of Patrolman McHugh. Even
then Mr. Mercer's complete subjugation
was not accomplished without strenu-
Gus effort by the quintet.
The struggle occurred upon the side
walk fronting the Mercer residence S5
California avenue, Bernal Heights, and
its cause was Mr.: MERGERS endeavor to
fulfill a threat to slay his wife. The
woman's screams attracted neighbors,
and the four able-bodied men herein
before alluded to cast themselves upon
the would-be assassin and succeeded in
bearing him to earth, but their ability
TO hold him down was problematical
when the bluecoated reinforcement ap-
peared. OF rather slender build, the
man was a marvel of muscular
strength. One of the conquerors lik-
ened him unto "a bundle Of steel
springs"
When the case was called before
that in the defendants dwelling he
found six fully-loaded shooting irons,
and the wife averred that he had in
tended to use the weapons in his work
of determination. This the defendant
denied, claiming that he kept the
armory merely on account of its value
from the viewpoint of an antiquarian.
An ancient-appearing shotgun, with
flint and steel attachment, was most
highly priced by him, he said, because
1t had directly descended from his
great-grandfather, who riddled many
Tory soldier with its contents during
the revolutionary war. A more mod
ern rife of Winchester pattern was also
coddled because it was the sole
relic Of an indulgent fathers once-vast
estate. An oId-fashioned Smith & Wes-
son revolver was new when the defend
ant was a boy, and it had been treas
ured by him ever since. Another pistol,
although neither an heirloom nor
souvenir Of a happy childhood, was
among his cherished possessions be-
cause it reminded him that feminine
honesty is not a myth. inasmuch as 1t
had been given by an impecunious lady
for whom he had paid milk bill. His
possession of the two remaining pistols
could not logically be accounted for on
either sentimental or practical grounds,
as they looked ugly and were of cheap
manufacture.
Case continued till tomorrow.
A race war that originated in Pinck-
ney place has stopped over into Hinck-
ley alley, and police reports are to the
effect that it threatens to spread to
other points of the Barbary Coast. The
belligerents are Mexicans and Porto
Ricans. and the casualties thus far re-
corded are:
Marie Pinto, Porto Rican-Right in
dex finger almost amputated by teeth
of Juana Besang, Mexican.
/ Theo Bustamento, Porto Rican-
Neither lip perforated by knife welded
by Lorenzo Andrino, Mexican.
| Justina Rodriguez, Porto Rican-Left
hand severely cut by knife in hand of
I Manuel Alvarez, Mexican.
/ In each of the above cases an arrest
was made, but several cutters and
/ slashers are at large and pursued by
the police. 1t is significant that the
three injured ones are Porto Ricans. An
invasion of Pinckney place by natives
of Uncle Sans new possessions in the
Atlantic and a threatening ousting Of
the Mexicans therefrom was the basic
cause of a fray that has grown to such
alarming proportions that sanguinary
skirmishes are of almost daily occur
renee. The Mexicans taunt the Porto
Ricans with having relinquished their
national independence, and the Porto
Ricans retort by expressing pride in
their new allegiance and contemptu-
ously alluding to the MeXicans as 'alien
poems" AS every male Porto Rican
and Mexican carries knife fashioned
and intended for stabbing, and as every
woman of either race is prone to use
her teeth when engaged in warfare, the
outlook for surgical and police work is
+ encouraging.
Edward T. Wheatley, charged with
hating stolen 1925 from Mrs. Elsie Hill
fsch while serving as her bartender
ct 249 Stevenson street, was sent to the
Superior Court, with bail fixed at $1,000,
by Judge Cabaniss.
Miss Dollie Martin, whose debut as a
danseuse on Pacific street was quickly
followed by her first appearance as a
defendant in the Police Court, giggled
nervously when Judge Fritz remarked
that her second arrest for drunkenness
would result in her incarceration for
at least thirty days.
Il really can't help laughing, Judge"
she chucked, although it means no
disrespect to you. 1 drank absinthe
last night and it has kept me laugh
ing ever since No more of it in mine,
you can bet yours.
And she fairly jeuied with merriment
as she walked away.