The San Francisco call., 1904-10-05
COAT THIEF is CAUGHT
AS HE LEADS WORSHIP


Joe Mulhatton, professional mystic
and phrenologist, was arrested while
leading the services at a Salvationist
rally. The stolen garment was on his
back, but a bank book containing
$500 In currency had disappeared
from one of the pockets.
Henry Wantz, proprietor of the no
tel at 629 Clay street, in which Null
hatton obtained his plunder, told Po-
lice Judge Mogan of how the rob-
berry had been effected. He had taken
OFF his coat and hung it upon hook
In the hotel Office, he said, and soon
afterward, when he went to don the
garment, he found that it had been
removed and a substitute left in its
place. The police were Immediately
notified, and inquiry led to the dis
covery that Mulhatton had been
seen lettering in the hotel at the time
the theft was committed, about 4
O'Clock Monday afternoon. Soon after
8 clock the detectives caught him as
he was enthusiastically exhorting an
assemblage of Salvationists in their
meeting-place on Commercial street.
He was attired in Mr.. Wantz's coat.
Neither the bank book nor the money
was on his person, but handkerchief
that Mr.. Wantz identified as his prop
erty lay in one of the pockets.
Mulhatton, short of stature and
wearing a heavy mustache and
chin tuft, pleaded that he knew
nothing at all about the missing
money, and said that if he were given
time he would be able to prove his
innocence. The Judge then continued
the case until next Friday, and limited
that the defendant might employ the
interim to his own advantage by di-
recting his occult power TO disclose
the whereabouts of the bank book
and the currency it contained when
it disappeared.
While ten-year-old Joseph Cation
was on trial before Judge Mogan for
begging, his father, also baptized Jo
seph, listened to some uncomplimen-
tary remarks from Judge Cabaniss,
before whom he was charged with
violating the statute which makes it
a misdemeanor to permit his child to
practice mendicancy. The son was
sent to the Juvenile court and the sire
was dismissed with a reDrimand be-
cause the law provides no other pen
atty for a first offense of the kind
alleged against the defendant.
Mary McCarty, who was arrested
many days, was up yesterday on an
additional charge of vagrancy placed
against her by order of Judge Mogan,
who complained that her daily arrest
and dismissal with a warning had be-
come monotonous. Accompanying
the woman was a pretty fox terrier,
and when informed that the animal
would not be allowed to share her cell
she became hysterical and requested
TO be Immediately led to execution, as
life without her dog would be barren
of charm for her. Bailiff Hickey dip
lomatically told her that the quieter
she kept the more favorable would
be her prospect of seeing the dog at
brief intervals. and her emotion sub
sided sufficiently to permit her re-
moval to the prison. She will be in
court to-day for trial on the vagrancy
charge.
Mrs Lille Stillman, accused of neg
lecting her three minor children,
pleaded not guilty and produced trio
of chubby youngsters to convince
Judge Cabaniss that the accusation
was unjust.
Il take care of them as we'll as
csn," she said, but their father, from
whom 1 am separated, is better able
to provide for their support than 1 am.
and you may transfer them to his
custody if you like"
The Judge agreed that the appear
ance of the children did not indicate
maternal neglect but believed that
babes if their father was compelled to
pay for their maintenance. So they
were given into his custody, and the
mother will be allowed to visit them
at reasonable intervals.
Francisco Wittele, charged with
having threatened to kill B. Daquisto,
was pronounced very bad man by his
accuser, who resides at 440 Bay street.
"Heem worka for me in da Alask,"
said Signor Daquisto to Judge Mogan,
"an' l fra heem because heem da bad
da man. Heem so badda dat heem be
putta in de irons on da sheep dat
breeng heem backa from da Alask.
Heem so badda dat heem keela da
man in Italia an getta da sentence of
da twenta year. Heem so badda dat
lasta Sund' heem pulla da gun an say
heem keela me eef 1 no geeve heem
da four hundred doolaire. oh, heem
de awful badda man.
A policeman testified that when he
arrested Signor Wittele, on complaint
of Signor Daquisto, he found in his
prisoners possession one large revol-
yer fully loaded. Then the Judge con-
nor Wittele will endeavor to prove
that he is not as bad as Signor Da-
quisto ayers.
John Schaefer, owner of the dwell
ing house numbered "a Bronte street.
informed Judge Mogan that never in
all his experience as a landlord had he
heard of, much less encountered, a
more undesirable tenant than John
Riley, who occupies the premises
aforementioned. If this Mr.. Riley had
deliberately and with malice afore-
thought planned to harass and annoy
Mr.. Schaefer, the latter gentleman
opined, he could not have more sue
cessfully accomplished that very thing.
Then he particularized the alleged ex-
asperating doings of Mr.. Riley.
1t was on August 25 last that Mr..
Riley and his family took possession
of the house after paying Mr.. Schaefer
one months rental of the same, and at
the expiration of the month the Rileys
refused to either pay any more rent or
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