The San Francisco call., 1904-06-07
JURY CONCLUDES
INOUISITORIAL LABORS
Returns Indictment for Murder Against Will
liam Kennedy and Generally Con-
siders City and County Institutions

ence, the Grand Jury appointed by Su
per1or Judge Frank Kerrigan on De
cemoer 3, 1903, concluded its labors yes
terday afternoon. The body wai
thanked for it's services by the Judg'
and dismissed.
The most notable event of yester'
days session was the return of an in
dictment for murder against William
b. Kennedy, alias Richard Jackson
alias yellow" mulatto, who is ac'
cused of being one of six who killed
Policeman Eugene c. Robinson on the
morning of January IL, 1902. The in
dtctment was returned at the request
or the District Attorney, who repre-
sented that he had secured additional
evidence that he thought would result
In the conviction of Kennedy.
Kennedy was tried once on the
charge and found guilty of murder in
the first degree. His conviction was
secured on the uncorroborated evidence
OF William Henderson. one Of the six
men that were concerned In the muir
der. The Supreme Court reversed the
judgment on the ground that one can
not be adjudged guilty on the unsup-
ported testimony of an accomplice.
OTHERS IMPLICATED.
OF the other four men implicated
James Woods was adjudged guilty OF
murder in the first degree and his ap-
peal is now pending before the Su-
preme Court. William Kaufman was
sentenced to twenty years in San
Quentin and is now serving his term.
John Coulter was given six years at
san Quentin and is there at present.
Kid" Goucher, son of a prominent at
torney of Modesto, managed to make
his escape and has never since been
heard of by the authorities. Hender-
son is in the County Jail pending the
result Of the appeals.
In addition to the indictment against
Kennedy, the Grand Jury submitted
its final report. The principal feature
of 1t was the declaration that the body
strongly deprecated the election of Po-
lice Judges by popular vote. No recon-
mendation was made as to the manner
in which these officials shall be Sc
lected. The report says:
We find the Police Department run on fairly
strict lines and the patrolmen generally a
well-trained obedient and healthy body of
men, but the force is entirely insufficient as
to numbers.
We also find an unsatisfactory state of af-
fairs existing between the Police Court Judges
and the Police Department and recommend
that there should be more unity of action be-
tween them by affording each other much
help S possible in the furtherance of the
common cause the suppression of crime
and to see justice properly done. We depre-
ciate the election of Police Judges by popular
vote.
CONDEMNS CROWDED JAILS.
Another feature of the report was
the recommendation that the conges-
tion existing at the various county
jails be relieved by the use of the
forty-two commodious cells in the
basement of the City Hall, which have
been used as junk rooms ever since
the removal of the Southern police sta
ton to its quarters on Minna street
The report characterizes the crowded
quarters at the Broadway County Jail
as "a most positive outrage to decency
and positively against our city laws
and ordinances"
The iron bars at the Magdalen
Home and the utter absence of fire
escapes are upfavorably commented
upon. Three fire houses are con-
demned as unfit for their purposes and
unsanitary conditions were found in
many of the public schools. BY a
unanimous vote a resolution was
adopted asking the Board of Super
Visors to appropriate to the school
fund 100000 of the 1$160,000 of unpro-
tested taxes in order to remedy the
condition of the school houses.
District Attorney Byington and his
assistants in all departments were
given high praise for the thorough per-
formance of their duties. All of the
other city and county officials were
highly commended for the conduct of
their offices. Blankets at the Aims
house were found to be one half pound
lighter than the specifications called
for. Bookkeeper Kelly's methods of
keeping accounts were condemned, but
nothing could be found to indicate that
he was Intentionally criminal.
IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED.
Many recommendations are made in
the report regarding improvements at
the Almshouse, especially in the way
of providing means of escape for the
inmates in case of fire, the construction
of new building for the feeble women
and repairs on the outbuildings, such
as car barns and stables.
THE old buildings of the Aims
house" says the report, cannot an
swer the purpose of accommodating
the 1881 inmates. Some old people now
occupy bath rooms and closets"
Speaking of the water supply in con-
nection with the Fire Department the
report says:
Larger mains and hydrants> are needed in
many portions of the city During the last
a
story frame buildings have been erected for
hotel purposes in the most exposed portions
OF the city, known as the boarding house dis
trict-notably on Pine street from Stockton to
Jones. The water main Pine street is but
inches in diameter and the pressure is only
35 pounds TO the square inch, and is not
enough to supply the companies responding to
first alarm of fire. In the factory district
Bryant street. from Fourth to Ninth sim
liar condition exists. Rincon Hill is prac-
tically unprotected. At Sutter and Cough
streets there are two large hotels and the
Lowell High School, with main but inches
in diameter. There are other portions OF the
city where similar conditions exist. There
is lack of hydrants in the thickly populated
portions of the city, and the recommendation
of the Chief Engineer for 800 additional hy-
drantS is highly and earnestly recommended
The need Of auxiliary salt water system
for the city is highly apparent and immediate
provision should be made for the installation
of this Improvement The storage system
recommended by the Board of Fire Commits
sioners with reservoir at Twin Peaks, seems
a high pressure to all parts of the city. With
the high pressure thus obtained the of
steam fire engines would be unnecessary in
some portions of the city, and afford a great
saving. Auxiliary hose wagons fully equipped
with hose could be stationed In various parts
of the downtown districts and could be oper-
ated by our citizens in the event OF large
conflagration and thus strengthen our Fire
Minerva K. Frnk to Oscar Heyman, same;
$40