The San Francisco call., 1905-04-13
Charles Merrill
Is Captured at
MilpitaS.
FOPn nlGP COnduC-
tor False to
Promise,

Charles E. Merrill star witness
against Public Works Commissioner
Frank A. Maestretti, under indictment.
for subornation of perjury, was
brougt back from Milpitas last night by
Detective Bolger of the Curtin agency,
Merrill had played the Grand Jury
false and tried to make his escape from
the city. The suspicious of Foreman
Andrews of the jury sssre aroused on
Monday and Merritt has been closely
watched since that time, with the re-
suit that he was intercepted before he
had proceeded far
Merrill was the car conductor who
went to Foreman Andrews few weeks
ago and told a sensational tale of how
he was offered $500 to leave the State.
He boasted of his honesty in spurning
the tempting offer and vowed he would
stand by the jury and give his testi-
mony at the trial of Maestretti But
an offer of more coin or some other
important factor must have been
brought to bear on Merrill since that
time, it seems, for he laid his plans
carefully to play the Grand Jury false
at the last moment.
The suspicious of Andrews were
aroused when Merrill called on him
last Monday morning and informed him
that he was sick and tired of the city
and wanted to get away to the country
for a while. He told Andrews he was
going on camping trip to Fairfax by
himself and that his wife would be
home. He added that the Grand Jury
could keep in touch with her and in
that way be familiar with his where
abouts.
SAYS HE WAS HoUNDED.
They have been bounding me to
DEATH" said Merrill. Men have been
coming to my house at all hours of
the day and night and trying to get
me to play the jury false | have got
a leave of absence from the railway
company and / am going to Fairfax to
get a rest and dodge these fellows.
Fairfax Wheelan, president of the
Merchants Association, was present
when Merrill made this statement An
drews and Wheelan became suspicious
of their man and they notified Detec-
tive Bolger of !, the Curtin agency to
have him watched. \ sleuth was set
on Merrill's trail, but he suddenly
dropped out of sight.
The detective went to Merrills house.
1865 Sacramento street, on Tuesday
morning and discovered that the f,,r-
out. Inquiry disclosed the fact that
Merrill had sold all his household goods
the day before.
The detective asked Mrs Merrill where
her husband was and she replied he
had gone across the bay. She did not
know when he would return or what
his mission was. This confirmed the
suspicious of the sleuth and he watched
the woman.
Yesterday morning she took an early
boat to Oakland, accompanied by her
two children, and two detectives from
the Curtin agency were also on board
The woman got off at Broadway and
there met her husband. who had ar
rived ahead Of her on bicycle He
had camping wagon ready for the
woman and children
GIVE CHASE ON BICYCLES.
The detectives secured bicycles and
followed Merrill out the Haywards
road He drove his team fast and
made excellent time over the highway.
The sleuths kept at safe distance.
but never lost sight Of the wagon.
Shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning the detectives wired Chief
Bolger that Merrill had passed through
Alvarado and was evidently on his way
to San Jose or some other town in the
vicinity. Bolger decided to go after
tfe>man himself, so he boarded the 2:15
train for San Jose and Intercepted
Merrill at Milpitas as he was passing
through the town.
Merrill was overcome by surprise
when Bolger confronted him, and did
not realize for several minutes that the
deep game he was playing was known
to the Grand Jury. Bolger informed
him that 1t was all of and he had bet
ter come back. Merrill readily Welded
to persuasion and came back with
Bolger last night, arriving in this city
at 10:45.
1T was q lucky coincidence that Fore
man Andrews of the Grand Jury took
the precaution to have a detective