davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1905-05-20

The real reason is gross misapplica-
ton of the public funds in the man.
aqement of that institution.
Funds voted by the people, through
their legislative representatives, for
specific purposes, have been diverted
unlawfully to other purposes.
The president of the college faculty,
William ]. Kerr, has worked" the old
board of college trustees to a finish;
he has "gulled" the daily newspapers
fill they will not or dare not let the
people know the real state of affairs.
Truth did not care to butt into this
case till occasion demanded. The oc-
casion has come in the bolts of false
hood that have been launched against
the three new trustees, who are not
Kerr's servile tools. Truth will give
in this issue a few of the facts. There
is so much that is wrong that a big
reserve of information will be held
for future use, as circumstances re-
quire.
For years past the state funds APP
proprated for specific uses in the col
lege have been diverted to other pur-
poses than the law directed. That I'M
lawful diversion has been made under
the management of the faculty presi-
dent, Professor William ]. Kerr, whose
administration of the college affairs
has been at once unlawful, high
handed, tyrannical, insolent and ex-
travagant. 1t has been unlawful in
its diversion of funds contrary to
law; high-handed in carrying on meas
ures and methods over the lawful pow
ers of the board of trustees, some of
whom have given so little attention
to college affairs that they have left
trustee matters to him and thus have
been his tools; tyrannical to an extent
that no self-respecting instructor re-
mains with the institution, except
through much sacrifice of personal
feeling, due to sense of loyalty to
the state; insolent in the way that
superior state officials, directly re-
sponsible to the people, have been kept
from obtaining legitimate information
OF the college affairs, and have been
overridden in matters required by
law; eXtravagant in the use of funds
in way the public would not toler-
ate, if familiar with the facts
Further than making one sugges-
ton, this issue of Truth will not give
attention to more than the diversion
OF public funds, and to that only
briefly The suggestion is that the
Time has fully come when Governor
Cutler, if the duty rests on him, or
with him, Secretary of State Tingey
and Attorney General Breeder, as the
state board of examiners, should put
an expert accountant to examine and
report on the college accounts fol-
the past two years.
Now for the misapplication of pub
lie funds.
The primary purpose of the college
Is to advance the education of the
people along agricultural lines. IN
view of this, the legislature appro
priated money to defray the expense
or farmers institutes throughout the
state.
Funds thus appropriated for a spe
CHIC purpose have been put to othel
uses by President Kerr. That othel
use is unlawful and unjustifable. The
Item of diversion also should hav'
caused the retirement of Prof. Ker
the moment it became known to thu
trustees. If the trustees also are cul
IL
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
WIFE SLAYER
ENDS OWN LIFE
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS. ANGELES, April 27.-Ernest L.
C. Merkel, double murderer under life
sentence and about to have been tried
again on murder charge, committed
suicide in the county Jail tonight by
hanging himself with the strap which
Is a part of the jail clothing of all pris-
oners. He had repeatedly threatened
to commit suicide and was confined in
an emergency cell which was inspected
every half hour. Between the inspec-
tion trips of a Jail official he attached
one end of the strap to the bars of the
door and the other end to his neck and
slowly strangled himself.
On the night of December Merkel
shot and killed his wife and Mrs.
frankie Fox in the rear of an East
Third-street rooming-house, the trag-
edy being the result of his wife's re-
fusal to live with him. He was arrest
ed three hours later after a desperate
fight with the officers against whom he
used two revolvers. He was convicted
of the murder of his wife and sentenced
to life Imprisonment, but the District
Attorney, not satisfied with the verdict
elected to try him again for the murder
Of Mrs. Fox, hoping that the next jury
would sentence him to death on the
gallows. The second trial was to begin
next week. Merkel was SO years of age
and his wife 2S. He formerly owned the
ground upon which now stands three
of the finest buildings in the business
center of the city
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
P PARENTS SAID
TO Be INSANE
Father and Mother of Three
Little Children Are Both
Placed Under Restraint
CASE PUZZLES DOCTORS
Pair Possessed With Fear
and Queer Imaginings.
They See Strange Objects

OAKLAND, April IA father anu
mother filled with fear and queer
ina aginings were taken to the RecelV-
ing Hospital to-day and placed In the
insane ward. 1t is charged that ootn
are afflicted with suicidal insanity. and
both fear invisible enemies. They are
Joseph and Marie Sousa. They have
three little children, who have been
brought in from the dairy ranch.
where they have been living, near Orin-
da Park, in Contra Costa County. The
parents had a lucrative business The
children are now in charge Of Dr. M.
NJ. Enos.
Sousa is 45 years old and his wife is
3S. Their eldest child is IL years or
age The peculiar phase OF the case OF
both husband and wife being affected
similarly has interested the physicians,
who are at a loss to account for their
condition, except on the theory that
one has infected the other. Sousa says
his enemies have cast spell over him,
he sees strange objects. and his wife
agrees with him. Their farm yields an
income of $500 a month. Edward Row
land, a neighbor, has asked the courts
for letters of guardianship on the chill
0ren
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
THEY WILL WE'D
ON The OCEAN
Miss Ruth Humphreys and
Robert Parker Will Be
Married Far Out at Sea
CEREMONY ON QUEEN
Excursion of Alameda Coun-
ty C. E. Union to Be
Marked by Novel Feature

OAKLAND, April 27.-Far out at sea
next Saturday afternoon. two young
hearts will be united for better or worse
and when the steamer Queen returns
to the harbor in the evening she will
bring to port happy bride and groom
to receive the well wishes of their
friends.
The occasion of this ocean wedding
will be the excursion given by the Ala
media County Christian Endeayor
Union for the benefit of the Seamen' S
Rest Of Oakland. and the young couple
who will embark on the sea of matr1-
mony to the music of the singing wind
and the tapping waves are Miss Ruth
Humphreys, a popular maid of Santa
Rosa, and Robert Parker. one of the
best known young men of this city.
The ceremony will take place when
the steamer is about three miles be-
yond the lightship, and will be per
formed by the Rev. Dwight Z. Potter
of this city. On their return from the
excursion the young couple will start
at once on their honeymoon. after
which they will reside in Oakland.
The groom-to-be be is the foreman of
the Taylor Company lumber yard and
resides with his parents at 1243 Poplar
street. He is one of the most popular
workers in the Alameda County Chris
tian Endeavor Union. He is one of the
members of the committee in charge of
the excursion and his associates are
DR.. A. S. Kelley, George Lowell. E. A
Hugill E. E. Wood, A. 8. Solomon. /.
C. Frickstad, L. S. Rodgers. P. l.. Bliss,
DR.. Durham, H. s. Keifer. Edgar
Thompson and j. D. Rogers.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
LATE SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVED.
Thursday April 27
stmr Grace Dollar. Olsen. so hours from san
Pedro
Thursday. April 81.
Stmr Ventura, Hayward, Sydney via Homo
lulu.
HONOLULU-SaiIed April 27-Bktn G
Wilder, for San Francisco: ship A ] Fuller.
HIIo-Arrived April 27-ship Bangalore.
Sailed April 27-stmr Enterprise, for San
Francisco.
OCEAN STEAMERS
LIvERPOOL-Sailed April 26-Stmr Vic
torian, for Quebec and Montreal via Moville.
HAVRE-Arrived April 27-Stmr La Sa-
vote. from New York.
ANTwERP-Arrived April 2T-Stmr Ryn-
QUEENSTOWN-Sai April 27-Stmr Oce-
anc from Liverpool for New York; stmr Hav-
erford, from Liverpool for -.
PHILADELPHIA-Arriv April 2T-stmr
Friesland from LIVERPOOL.
LONDON--Sailed April 26-Stmr Minnesota.
for Philadelphia.
NAPLES-Arrived April 27-Stmr Sicilian
Prince from New York: stmr Konig Luis
from New York for Genoa; stmr Prinzessin
Victoria Luise, from New York for Genoa, on
Sailed April 21-stmr Citta di Napor, for
New York.
NEW YoRK-Arrived April 27-Stmr Mon
goiian. from Halifax; stmr Georgia. from Liv-
erpool
Havre. stmr Brandenburg, for Bremen: stmr
Deutschland, for Hamburg via Plymouth and
Cherbourg; stmr Dalia. for Marseilles
GENOA-Arrived April 27 g m-Stmr
Prinz Adelbert from New York via Naples
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
BLAST INJURIES
THREE PERSONS
specIal pispaten . rns cAfl.


SPOKANE, Wash. April 27.-Three
persons were severely injured and
eight houses badly shattered by a blast
fired by contractors grading the
Spokane and Inland Railway line at
Altamont street and Eighth avenue to-
day The property damage is esti-
mated at $4,000. The neighborhood
where the blast occurred closely re-
sembles a region devastated by a
cyclone.
The contractors intended to fire two
blasts at once. Holes were drilled TO
the depth of twenty-four feet and into
these sixteen kegs Of powder were
placed One of the charges exploded
about two minutes ahead Of the other
leaving a thin shell OF rock in front of
the second charge. When the second
load was exploded this rock was
broken up and thrown for several
blocks. william e. Howe. who lives
within 100 feet Of the blast. was struck
IN the back by a rock and badly in
jured. Mrs. Emil Hansen, who was
with two children aged two and four
years, was struck by a big rock and
thrown to the ground. Her injuries
are not dangerous. The children were
not hurt Joe Jarvis went rushing
toward a place OF safety when a huge
rock struck him In his leg inf1ictfng an
ugly wound A grove Of scrub pine
was cut down as though by chain shot
and shrapnel and about fifty fowls
were killed Warrants were sworn out
for the foreman and assistants who had
charge OF the blasts
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
TWELVE JURORS
SOON OBTAINED


OAKLAND, April ELENA Koehn,
the young woman who shot her hus-
band on February II last, was placed
ON trial for her life here to-day. She
evinced no emotion OF. nervousness
when the formal charge was read at
the opening of the case and through
out the day paid little attention to
what was going on about her. AS the
result of the days work the following
jury was selected to listen to the evil
dence: George Chase, d. H. Cunning
ham, Elliott Jordan. Otto Niehaus, Will
liam T. Webb, w. H. Graves, John
Madden, Charles Shoemaker, Patrick
Hickey, r. f. Phillips. Justice Over
acker and w. F. Neail.
The crime for which she is being tried
was committed in the quiet of a Sun
day morning and was the result of a
duel In which she shot her husband
four times while, she claims, he shot
at her once. They had been married
but six weeks and he had gone to their
home at Fifty-eighth street and San
Pablo avenue to get his things prepar
atory to leaving her for good. She says
that he accused her wrongfully and
was about to kill her when she shot
him.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
NO pIcNIcs ON MEMORIAL DAY.

OAKLAND, April 27.-The Memo
rial day committee Of this county has
asked that the day in question be not
given over to picnics and outing par
ties. but that it be observed as one OF
respect to the dead. The following re-
quest to different societies has been
issued:
Whereas We the members Of the COMMITTEES
OF patriotic organizations constituting gen
eral memorial committee for the proper OBJ
servance OF Memorial day, DO hereby depre-
cate the use of that day for picnic and outing
parties by various fraternal and religious So
cIetles; therefore be II
Resolved. That the general Memorial day
committee of 1905 hereby respectfully request
the different fraternaI and religious societies
in cur country to refrain from making that
day set aside for the solemnization OF our
observance. concentrating those faithful sol
diers who fought and died for their country,
one OF pleasure; and be II further
Resolved, That all civic. fraternal and re-
ligious societies be respectfully invited to par
ticipate with that occasion.
GEORGE A. NORTON, Chairman
MRS. ANNA. A. CANNON, Secretary.
Memorial Day Committee OF 1905.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
CHARGES THEFT
OF UNION COIN

OAKLAND, April 27.-Charles Lamb
secretary and treasurer of Lumber
Handlers and Talleymen's Union No.
225, is an embezzler Of $400 of the
unions funds, according to a COM
plant sworn out to-day for Lambs
arrest by t. B. Crandall, president of
the organization. A warrant for
Lambs arrest has been issued.
President Crandall charges that
Lamb, on March IS, induced him to
sign two checks in blank, saying he
desired to pay two small bills against
the union After getting possession of
the checks, Lamb, it is complained,
filled out one of them for S400 and drew
the money, which he misappropriated.
The unions board of trustees discov-
cred the alleged irregularity and taxed
their secretary and treasurer with the
crime. Lamb, according to Crandall,
confessed his guilt. saying he was in
financial difficulty and needed the
money to tide over his troubles.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
planning MILL
LOST BY FIRE
West Shore Company's Plant
Is Totally Destroyed by
a Sudden ConfiagratiOn
WOMAN ALMOST KILLED
Aged Louise RouSSeauTrieS
to Save Her House and
Is Overcome by Smoke

OAKLAND, April 27-The West
Shore Planning Mill. corner of First and
Franklin streets, owned by the West
shore Lumber and Mil Company, Of
which A. B. Hammond OF San Fran
cisco is president, was totally destroyed
by fire al $3.50 tonight. and an adjoin-
ing building owned by Mrs. Louise
oRousseau was damaged beyond repair
Mrs. Rousseau attempted TO save
some Of her effects, nearly losing her
life in Consequence, for she was over
come by smoke and was rescued just in
time TO save her from suffOcatiOn. The
aged woman was taken from the burn
ing structure and carried down lad
der by John Dunno, who lives at 40
Second street. and William Fuch, resid-
ing at $50 Ninth street. Dunno and
Fuch, who were the first to arrive on
the scene, also rescued five horses from
the stable Of the burning mill.
The origin Of the blaze is unknown,
but il is supposed that it was caused by
sparks from the fireroom of the mill
sWhen the Fire Department arrived the
mill was a mass of flames, and the
hremen turned their efforts to the saw
ing of the neighboring buildings.
The Colonial Hotel. at Broadway and
Second street, twice caught fire from
sparks, out the damage was Sllght-
.. The lower floor of the building owned
by Mrs. Rousseau was occupied by a
cracker factory owned by ]. z. Grant
whose stock was badly damaged by
smoke and water. Grant had no insur-
Snce.
: The damage to the planning mill
and the building owned by Mrs. Rous-
seau is estimated at about $4,000. The
lumber companys loss is fully covered
by insurance. Mrs. Rousseau's actual
loss is nominal.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
UNIVERSITY FOLK
SEE BLUE AND GOLD
Annual Publication Ap-
pears Despite the
Complaint.
Jokes Complained Of
Strike Students as
Harmless.

BERKELEY, April 27.-Despite the
protests of those who declared that
the Blue and Gold of 1906 contained lib
elous material which should cause it
TO be suppressed, the college annual
came out to-day, and when examined
proved to be comparatively innocuous.
The brothers Adams. who complained
to the faculty committee on students
affairs, of a cartoon and verse which
appear in the book, dealing with the
brothers in a free and easy fashion,
are found to have suffered but little
from the cartoonists art. They are
represented first as "butting in and
then rbutting out, with front and rear
views to make the expressions under
stood The verses that accompany the
cartoon, which so angered the Adams
brothers that they appealed to the
faculty to have the book suppressed,
are as follows:
You get out your pipe and you try hard to
Away thoughts of the future your ticker in
soak).
WHILE you're thinking thus hard how to
How to get 1t from paternity.
Adams butts in
Now you take my advice. when you're nxed
I was.
Don't fly of the handle or get up and cuss.
Just throw him a hint what you're thinking
abo-t,
Strike hard for a sinner and
Adams butts OUT
The Blue and Gold was prepared by
the class of 1906, with Jackson Gregory
as editOr-in-chief, and Prentiss n.
Gray as business manager. 1t is hand
somely bound, profusely illustrated,
work of art and a thing Of beauty in
every way. The josh department, in
charge of Vance McClymonds, is con-
sidered the cleverest ever prepared for
q Blue and Gold. The book is dedi
Gated to Captain George w. Bauer,
who has so greatly advanced the in
terests of the University of California"
The Junior class met this morning
and reversed its action of yesterday
when it refused to submit to a 81 as
sessment, in addition to what has al
ready been contributed by members
of the class.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
GRADUATE FROM SEMINARY.

SAN ANSEI1MO. April 2T.-The
San Francisco Theological Seminary
held its commencement exercises at
Assembly Hall this afternoon and
many guests and friends OF the grad
yates witnessed the distribution Of
diplomas. After a prayer and singing
by the choir OF the Presbyterian
church, addresses We're male by the
graduating class as follows: Christ
the King" William j. clifford; The
Preparation OF the World for Christ,
w. Z. Parker Jr.; Trusting in the
Dark" L. II. Tracy.
Rev Francis Palmer OF San Jose
delivered the commencement address
and Rev. DIR. Mcintosh presented
diplomas to the following graduates:
James Clifford, San Francisco: Fred
Raymond March, Daytona. Fla; Will
liam E. Parker Jr., Portland. Or;
James H. Sharpe, Denison, Iowa; Paul
G. Stevens, San Francisco; Leland H.
Tracy, Berkeley. Cal.s Gilbert Voor-
hies, Franklin. Ind; Andrew J. Whip
ley, Scallton. Pa
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
NAPA RAILWAY
Is COMPLETED
Special Dispatch to IN. Cali.

NAPA, April 27.-The new San Fran
cisco and Napa steam railway was
completed to-day and the road will
Immediately be put in operation. 1t
will connect with the California and
Northwestern line at Shellville. twelve
miles west of Napa, and then on to
Tiburon. At Tiburon a fast line OF
steamers will connect with the line and
carry passengers and freight to San
Francisco. The new road will materi-
ally decrease the time for the trip from
Napa to San Francisco and the fare
will be less than that of the Southern
Pacific at present. The cars will be
set in operation next Monday. There
will be but four stops between Napa
and the metropolis and the trip will be
rapid one. The new line will also
make connections twice a day at Napa
for Santa Rosa and way points. Work
on the new stone depot building at
Napa is now under way.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
WANTS BETTER
WATER RATES
Company Supplying Redwood
City Asks to Be Released
From Existing Contract
APPEALS TO COUNCIL
Asserts That a Just Return
on the Capital Invested
Is Not Being Received
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

REDWOOD CITY. April q. = The
Redwood City Water Company has ap-
pealed to the City Council to be re-
leased from it's contract to supply the
town with water at the rates now in
force George c. Ross. representing
the corporation, has asked the Coun-
ell to cancel the existing contract and
enter into a new one, by which the
water company may make reason
able return upon it's investment and
provide certain improvements now
deemed necessary to secure a greater
supply OF water.
For two years the Redwood City
Water Company has supplied the town
with water at a rate of cents a thou
sand gallons. The company's plant
cost something more than S12, 900, and
Ross insists that the city does not pay
enough TO warrant a just return upon
the investment. He asks, therefore
quished and that a new rate Of 10
cents be established
The company. he says, must expend
at least $4,000 in the Improvement OF
its works to meet a rapidly increas-
ing demand for water. New wells
must be sunk and certain machinery
must be purchased to insure the city
an adequate and wholesome supply
Members OF the City Council declare
that even if the increased rate were
established the Redwood City Water
Company has given no assurance that
1T will be better able to supply Red
wood with water than il is at the
present This doubt exists in cOnnec-
ton with the opinion that the Spring
Valley Water Company can supply
water at the rate demanded by the To-
cal corporation.
Ross declares that the Spring Val
ley cannot undertake the task and il
the town officials win act fairly in the
matter the local corporation can ex-
ploit several advantages 1T possesses
and be able to give the town all the
water it requires.
The matter has been taken under ad-
visement by the City Council
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
KEEPS WEDDING SECRET.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY. April
27.-E. o. James, Stanford, '02. last
evening secretly welded Miss Flora
Mitchell of Pacific Grove. James is
one of the actors in the comedy,
Every Man in His Humor." taking
the part of Justice Clement, the jolly
barrister. His fellow actors knew
naught Of the intended marriage un-
til James appeared on the stage with
the bride and announced to the cast
the fact that Justice Clement had
really taken a wife," as the lines Of
the comedy go. Behind the scenes was
a package of rice which had been used
in one of the late college farces and
the students quickly made use Of 1t
James and his bride will remain or
the campus until after the production
of the comedy and then return to Pa
cific Grove, where they will make
their home.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
BICYCLE ORDINANCES DRAFTED.

OAKLAND, April 27.-A draft of
an ordinance was presented tonight
20 the Ordinance and Judiciary Com
n1ittee OF the City Council covering
the regulation of bicycle riding. 1t
permits wheelmen to ride on side
walks outside of the fire limits, but
requires them to dismount on the ap-
proach of pedestrians A minimum
fine Of IS and a maximum fine Of 800
Is imposed.
The liquor license Of J. P. Betten-
court, 962 East Fourteenth street, was
revoked because of violation of the
midnight closing ordinance The
Street Committee ordered plans and
specifications for bituminizing Eighth
street between Clay and Washington,
Tenth. between Broadway and WEBB
ster, Tenth between Clay and Wash
ington, Eleventh between Franklin
and Webster, Twelfth between Harri-
son and Oak. Thirteenth between
Webster and Oak, Fourteenth between
Franklin and Harrison.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-28
RAPID WORK on TUNNEL.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, April 27.
Work on the 1300-foot tunnel that is
being cut through the San Bruno
Mountain one mile north of this place
is being rapidly pushed ahead. On the
south side the hill has been pierced to
n depth of $50 feet and a steam shovel
Is operating at the entrance. This
will be the first tunnel on the south
end of the Bay Shore cut-off and the
only one in San Mateo County. inst
beyond the county line In San Fran
cisco County the Southern Pacific
Company Is putting through the sec
ond tunnel. A depth Of zoo Feet has
been reached