The San Francisco call., 1904-06-17
BLAKE JURY.
CANNOT AGREE
Second Trial of Alleged
Jack the Swatter" Is a
Disappointment to State
SUSPECT is IDENTIFIED
Miss Cronin Says He Beat
and Choked Her, but Five
Jurors Balk on Verdict

ALAMEDA, June 16.-In the second
trial of Milton Blake, alias Jack the
Swatter," to-day the jury failed TO
agree and was discharged at II o'clock
tonight by Judge Tappan. The jurors
discussed the case for eight hours, and
six were for conviction, the same as on
the first trial. There were but eleven
jurors
Miss Cronin was the first witness put
on by the prosecution and positively
identified Blake as the person who at
tackled and beat her on the night OF
February 20 on Santa Clara avenue,
near Everett street. She related care
fully and consistently how, after she
had ahghted from an electric car at
the corner of Park street and santa
Clara avenue, Blake followed her and
when near Everett street grasped her
by the throat and beat and kicked her
until she fell into the gutter. Then,
Miss Cronin said, her assailant ran to-
ward Broadway and she went back to
Park street, where her screams had at
tracted the attention of Elmer Z. Ped
lar, who consented to accompany her
to the home of Mrs. Franz Collischonn,
2439 Central avenue, where she is en-
ployed. When the pair reached the spot
where the attack had occurred they
met Blake coming directly toward
them. Miss Cronin informed her es-
cOrt that the person approaching them
was the one who attacked her.
HE STOPPED BLAHE-
Pedlar stopped the youth and asked
him what his name was and where he
was going. Blake gave his correct name
and said that he resided on Walnut
IL L. ~ ...,I
avenue. Miss Cronin testified that she
was so frightened when Pedlar caught
Blake that she then refused to posi-
lively identify him as her assailant, as
she feared him and dreaded the noto-
riety his arrest would bring her. Pedlar
thereupon released Blake and the latter
made haste to get out of sight. 1t was
not until the Sd of this month that Miss
Cronin swore to the complaint against
Blake. and that after he had been ar
rested for similar attack on Miss An
ME Seebeck.
Pedlar corroborated Miss Cronins
testimony in every detail, and told how
his suspicious were aroused when he
and Miss Cronin met the youth, who
was trembling and breathing heavily.
In response to questions asked him
Blake told Pedlar that he was coming
from a car barn on High street, where
he udQ DcSH ASeQlLS a nurse. 1nlS
statement by Blake was disproved, as
there is no car barn on or near High
street.
DENIES HIS GUILT.
Blake admitted on the stand that he
had met Miss Cronin and Pedlar on
the night of the attack. and was GER
tain as to their identity He denied
that he had beaten the young woman
and also that he had on coat Of light
color on the night of the assault
Other witnesses who gave testimony
were Chief of Police John Conrad
Mrs. Blake. mother of the defendant
Detective George Brown, Otto Ley
decker and A. Anderson. Deputy Dis
trict Attorney w. H. L. Hynes prose-
cu$ted and the defendant was repre-
sented by Attorney A. L. Frick. Com
posing the jury of eleven were Paul G.
Buckley, A. j. Ernest. E. J. Bevan. G..
c. Munro, J. X. Hauck, r. Taylor, Will
liam Betten, H. Toelken, Henry Bran
man, Harry Atwood and John w. Rev
Blake has still another charge of bat
terry against him. preferred by Miss
Annie Seebeck.