The San Francisco call., 1906-06-29
TRAFFIC;
IN RELIEF
BLANkE IS
Red Cross Employe and
Park Engineer Con-
spire to Defraud.
While Refugees Shiver
They Negotiate Sale
Of Covering.
John Clark and George
Bryant Caughtin Das-
tardly Crime.

1t developed yesterday that while
refugees in Golden Gate Park have
been shivering in their tents for the
lack of blankets John Clark, superin-
tendent at the Red Cross relief station
in the Park, near McAllister street,
has been selling large quantities of
blankets and appropriatinE the money.
lie was aided and abetted by George
Bryant, engineer at the children's play
| grounds in the park. To what amount
the peculations will reach is as yet un-
known, but it is believed it will be
considerable. Clark and Bryant were
placed under arrest yesterday after
noon and locked up in 1.-The tanks" at
the OFarrellstreet police station
pending developments. The police have
400 pairs of blankets as evidence
against them.
The police were made aware of the
| graft" through A Suggerman. junk
dealer on Thirteenth street. While a
refugee in the park Suggerman made
the acquaintance of Bryant, and after
Suggerman had resumed business
Bryant called upon him and said he
could sell him a quantity of new Gov
ernment blankets, out of which he
could make money Bryant said he
could deliver him 400 pairs, and If the
price was satisfactory it would lead to
a delivery of 500 pairs per week Sug-
german promised to think over the
proposition and give Bryant an early
answer.
PROMISED 500 PAIRS WEEK.
Last Tuesday Bryant called at Sug-
germans store with sample of the
blankets, but Suggerman hesitated to
close the deal. and told Bryant to call
next morning. That night Suggerman
called at Detective T. l.. Ryan's house,
but Ryan was out. He called again the
following morning and saw Ryan, tell
ing him of the proposition made to him
| by Bryant. Ryan got Suggerman to
go with him to police headquarters,
where Chief Dinan was informed of
the proposition. The Chief instructed
| Ryan to work up the case, and a plan
was formulated to trap Bryant. Ryan
was to call in the services of James
Manning, a teamster, and Suggerman
was to arrange with Bryant to pur-
chase the 400 pairs of blankets.
When Bryant called upon Suggerman
on Wednesday he was told it would be
all right. Bryant took Suggerman to the
relief station in the park and introduced
| him to Clark who at once said that
| if Suggermans price was satisfactory
| he could have 500 pairs of new blan-
kets each week until the supply was
exhausted. Clark added that he had
been dealing with another firm and
the price would have to be the same
as that firm was paying.
BOTH MEN TRAPPED.
Suggerman said he could not give
more than 81 or 80 cents per pair, but
Clark said 1t was not enough. Finally
| Suggerman offered s125 and the deal
was closed. 1t was arranged that Sug-
german would take 400 pairs at once
and the other 400 in few days. Sug-
german was to send a wagon for the
| blankets yesterday, and in the after
noon, after they were delivered, Bryant
was to call at Suggerman's store for
the money. Bryant handed Sugger-
| man an envelope with Clark's name on
It, which the teamster was to hand to
/ Clark, so that Clark would know the
right man
Manning was sent with his wagon
yesterday for the blankets, and ii was
arranged that after he got his load he
| was to drive to Fifth and Point Lobos
4 avenues, where Ryan would be waiting
| for him. Manning made his appearance
at the place indicated with the load OF
! 400 pairs of blankets. and Ryan, after
placing Detective Mulcahey in charge
of the load, went to the relief station
and placed Clark under arrest. Ryan
procured the receipt which Manning
had given Clark Detective Riordan
was detailed to find Bryant, and he
arrested him at Suggermans store
where he had been waiting to receive
the money. Both were taken to police
headquarters and later to the O'Far-
reH-street station. Manning drove his
load to the Lowell High School, and
the blankets were delivered to Prop
erty Clerk Dinan to be held as evi-
dence.