The San Francisco call., 1905-03-16
SEA DIV WELLERS
FIGHT SALOONS
Oceanside People Appear Be-
fore Police Commission to
Oppose Doscher Transfer
FIGURE
Secretary Boyne Steps Be-
tween Belligerent Pair to
Prevent Physical Clash

The Police Commissioners met last
night to proceed with the trials of
Chief Of Police Whitman and Sergeant
Shaw, but upon motion of Congress-
man Kahn the officers attorney, who
was indisposed, their cases went over
until Monday night. Sentencing Of
Sergeant Ellis was also postponed.
Sergeants Brophy and FRAZIER were ac-
quilted of charges of neglect of duty
a popular verdict, as they are efficient
officers.
The commission transacted it's regu-
lar business. Residents of the Oceanside
section of San Francisco, armed with a
monster petition and stores Of elo-
quence, appeared before the commits
sioners to protest against the granting
of transfer of the saloon license of
Henry Doscher. Doscher is conducting
a saloon, called the Hotel Ray, on the
| ocean boulevard, or Great Highway,
near Ingleside. He has asked for the
privilege of transferring his business to
| the highway, between l. and M streets,
which location is in the heart Of Ocean
| side.
After debate and argument had been
| exhausted, the opponents became heat
ed and indulged in personalities that
! threatened to become warlike. The
| fighting propensities of the witnesses
were discouraged by the board after
| Secretary Boyne had stepped between
two belligerents.
The chief speaker on behalf of the
| beach residents was D. H. Biggs, who
told of the history of liquor licenses on
the boulevard. He aggressively at
tackled the proposed transfer and ap-
pealed to the board not to allow it. He
said that over 20 per cent Of the voters
| in the district opposed the saloons and
! If the position of the Board of Police
Commissioners was different and it was
| satisfied the people were not. He then
| read that portion of the charter cover
| ing the powers of the Commissioners
ard closed by saying that the residents
were not fighting the liquor trade or
saloon business, but did not want it at
their doors.
| D. Edward Marchus, secretary of the
Oceanside Improvement Club next
took the floor. His opening remarks
called forth statement from Commits
sioner Reagan that the board was not
antagonistic to the residents and would
! oppose the granting of any new
licenses on the Great Highway. Rea-
! gan added that in the granting of a
transfer he was not prepared to so
| pledge himself. President Poheim
said the evil existed in restricting IL
censes and that the more granted the
better, as many saloons would force
the cheap ones out of business. Rea-
gan strongly dissented from this view.
ROWDYISM ALLEGED.
Marchus. in continuing, spoke of
rowdyism. automobiling parties and
drunkenness at the beach. His state
ments were breathlessly seconded by
Mrs. Sorbier president of the Outdoor
Art League, and Richard Barker Of
the Improvement Club. The latter laid
much stress on rowdyism at the beach
and on cars returning therefrom.
Later in the evening Police Captain
Gleeson of the district was called by
the commissioners and told of the steps
he had taken to suppress rowdyism.
After stationing uniformed and plain
clothes men at the beach and on cars
and hearing their reports he had con-
cluded that reports of disorder at the
beach were greatly exaggerated. Every
effort to suppress 1t on the cars is be-
ing use, he said.
The other Oceanside residents who
did the talking were Mrs. Jessie Rob-
ertson, Professor w. T. Wenzell Mrs.
Charles Patriarch and Alma Keith.
Things became lively when Attorney
Thomas Keogh began his answer on
behalf of Doscher. He first discredited
Il
! claiming that Oceanside was divided
against itself on the saloon question,
TO the scorn and amazement of the
beach coterie.
Arthur c. Campbell, a contractor,
was very indignant at being named in
the petition as an unprincipled man
and made many charges against Mar
chuS.
FIST FIGHT PREVENTED.
Marchus advanced to refute Camp
bells statement with his fists, when
Boyne stepped between them and Pres
ident Poheim cautioned all belligerents
; Henry Doscher, when questioned as to
the place he intended to run replied
quietly, AN honorable business" The
decision CT the board was reserved until
Monday night, all witnesses being ex-
cused from further attendance.
After ceremonious calling of PATROL
men Mum, Doran. OBrien, McGrath,
Heinz and Sergeant Ellis, all accused
of taking bribe money in Chinatown,
Commissioner Reagan announced that
he had received telephone message
from the defendants attorney, Mogan,
saying he was i'll and sentence was de-
, ferred until next Wednesday night.
In the cases of Sergeants FRAZIER and
Brophy, Captain Duke was placed on
the stand and testified that he had in
structed the sergeants not to interfere
formed men might jeopardize the
chances of the Chinatown squad in
making raids or collecting evidence.
The verdict of acquittal was i'm
mediate and unanimous.