The San Francisco call., 1904-11-11

patrolled the business district for
years. They had choice beats because
OF their regulations AS first-claSs men.
These beats include the larger portion
OF the retail business part OF the city.
with such a variety 81 stores as would
be found in any city OF Oakland's pro-
portions. Theirs WAS nothing 10 check
the operations OF the quartet. singly
or together. For much Of the time
during which the pilfering Is alleged
70 have gone on Sergeant Clark was
the immediate superior OF the three
patroimen.
That the charges are confined 10
those 81 stealing merchandise is as
serted by Commissioner McElroy. OF
any other accusations he declares he
is without knowledge. personally or
officially. Whether the Commissioners
wln take steps looking toward q Grim
insl prosecution 81 the accused men
VIII not be decided until the board
has officially handled the cases This
question *. according 10 President Nc
Elr0y. 80 important that he was un-
willing 10 venture an opinion or 10
make a statement pending further in
VestiSaSion. He declined 10 say
whether ne thought charges OF bur
glsry would holo against either OF the
four men
Il had been intended that Clark.
Hamcrton. Stahl and Andrews should
be allowed quietly 10 resign and drop
cut ot sight So Tar as the Police De
partment is concerned. But the fact
that four men should have stepped out
together gave rise TO the suspicion
that the nstensiole reason of with
drawal was not the real one.
McEIROY'S STATEMENT.
Chief Hodgkins presented his report
10 the Commissioners this morning. An
Informal session Of the bOSrd was held.
az which the Chief was directed 10 say
nothing All laN the Commissioners
were equally retioent and declined 10
make public the knowledge they pos
sesseG unul after further conference
with Chief Hod SkinS. After that took
place Commissioner McElroy. as presi-
dent OF the hosrd made the following
statement,
Clark. Ransrtoa. s,sAl ana Anerews have
been accused 90 entericg stores - merchants
n their beAgx while On Gusy aud pilfsring tron
The stocks- TaeS have heSn confu0ate9 With
tAese chsrses and with the evidence which Is
TIE four rscn. Individually have fled their res
igrStions from the l,cltce Department. his.
in sAo-t. is the fact concernlng the astounding
ot foilos sra F.re Commissioners socut the
ccrcact g taese raen- 10 say thSt am
sAocSs1 esSoiS sasSsrre Soes net express t.
net feSrty - make pGellc the 49,
cusers SaN 81 the details. ms must -
NtAllc-l ne ko0N y tno 1eR2rtmeot &F1
tor the SD q the public. The changes and
the IVA En8ticns have not officially been oe-
fcre TIE hcsr1. ant q VIII ee cut q place 70
clscicse further f1fcrnSrlcr Uutl TIE matter
h1x ees. thcroukhly tnVestfgated
Tne men have ben Gn1sr ssaSpsclcn for sorra
tine. eut acthlag 1eraise has esen known an
n thls Nrck J-Sf haN closely The men were
watched krt whaf methods weCe taken ara
wAst 3etAilsS eesolts have been rrocor~S I 10
nct krs~ re fccr wsrs not operating to
Ketker ! have cc< oes1 informed as C any
cehsr sAkrr-s - rnisccneocs against theee rrsn-
- thay haVe oasr aesoc-Rtec VITA wc-nsn ~
rst<eeh4Vf-k = any ccher way while cr 5<zty Il
has n1- &C Eag kncwiS>2gs. TIE ccly nat
ter kcfcrs 20 boe-c = teat q Re pltferiag
President McE1roy said the board
would consider tomorrow Just what
action II would take On the restgna-
ti0ns. and would decide how much
farther 70 probe into the subject So
far there hsd been only informal dis
cusSicn.
II l. said that among the shops upcn
which the men hsd drawn for supplies
are Beckeras markets on Washlnxroa
street and on thirteenth street, Henry
Cashing's grocery On Thirteenth near
Clay street. Smith Brcs stationery
stere en- thirteenth strees near Broad