davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
LEON SOEDER WILL
co To GALLOW|S.
Man Who Murdered Broth
er-in-Law to Collect In
Surance Denied New Trial

Leon Soeder. convicted in. the Su-
perior Court of having murdered his
brother-in-law, Joseph Blaise, in this
city on January II, 1904, for the pur-
pose of collecting $4,000 insurance.
must hang. Without a dissenting voice
the Supreme Court sustained the YER
dict OF the trial court yesterday and
denied a motion for a new trial. The
opinion was written by Justice Angel
lotti.
Soeder. according to the evidence
presented at the trial, took Blaise to
the top of Russian HILL in the vicinity
of Taylor and Green streets, slugged
him with a blackjack, cut his throat
and then threw the dying man over
the cliff. Blaise was found dead at the
bottom of the bluff early in the morn
ing. The dead man had held life in
surance policy for $4,000 and an ac-
cident policy for the same amount,
payable to Soeder.
At the trial evidence was given
against the prisoner by a cellmate at
the County Jail, named Cooper. Cooper
declared that Soeder had confessed the
killing to him, and had illustrated the
story with a diagram. 1t was con-
tended in the petition for new trial
that Judge Cook erred in making 1t
appear to the jury, when Cooper was
on the stand, that he believed the de-
fendant to be guilty. The Supreme
Court sustained the rulings and de-
meanor of the court, however.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
SOCIETY FOLK To
. SELL CHINAWARE.

Fifteen thousand pieces OF chinaware
and art objects have been presented by
Shreve & Co., the gold and silver
smiths. to a committee made up of So
ciety women of San Francisco and will
be disposed of at sale commencing
next Monday for the benefit of charity.
All of the articles passed through the
April fire and have a value apart from
their intrinsic worth They were kept
in the vaults of the company's big shop
on Grant avenue. and although some
were slightly dana ged the greater part
Of them are unmarried Several hun
ydred pieces of the more expensive ware
are of exquisite workmanship and the
committee expects to experience little
difficulty in realizing appreciable sums
in disposing of them.
A meeting OF the committee, which Is
headed by Mrs. Louis Sloss, was held
yesterday afternoon at the temporary
shop of Shreve & Co., 2429 Jackson
street. The sale will be held at this
place and will probably last a week
The proceeds are to be equally d.
vided among one Catholic. one Protest
ant, one Jewish and one children's hos
pital.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
ORGANIZE BRIGADE
To FIGHT FIRE.

Milton H Cook and his brother Cliff
ford, the well-known manufacturers of
leather betting, have organized a fire
brigade for the protection of the prop
erty on Howard and Fremont streets,
and last Saturday night they had their
first drill. which proved to be sue
cess
Milton is the chief of his fire depart
ment and his brother is the assistant
chief. AS the Cooks were burned out
once, they are determined to try to
devise ways and means to save them
selves from the effects OF another pos
sible conf1agration.
The merchants doing business on
Fremont and Howard streets are with
out fire protection. Milton Cook has
purchased about 200 feet Of hose and a
hose cart, and as there is plenty of
water in the neighborhood with good
pressure, they are confident that they
can cope successfully with fire.
Clifford Cook, as the assistant chief,
handles the hose, and last Saturday he
showed that he could throw a stream
800 feet into the air and wash down a
shaky wall.
"As to help" said Milton Cook, I'VE
have all the fire laddies we need during
the day In fact, there are about 500
who respond to the alarm. AT night
we have eight well-trained night
Watchmen, who are as well drilled in
their duties as any of the regular fire.
men, Our district was positively with
out any protection from fire. and I de-
cided that something would have to
be done in order to protect ourselves.
as there was no one else looking out
for our interests. l went to work and
bought 200 feet OF hose and hose
cart and then called for volunteers.
There was no lack of enthusiasm. and
everybody promised to do his part.
and Is doing his part. We had a
regular drill last Saturday evening,
and we can go to Bed now and feel rea-
sonably assured that the buildings in
the vicinity of Howard and Fremont
will be protected.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
AN NTI-RUEF MAN IS
DENIED WRIT,

Henry N. Beatty OF 414 Fourteenth
street the anti-Ruef candidate for the
nomination for State Senator in the
Eighteenth District. had his aspir;G
tions finally terminated yesterday
when the Supreme Court, sitting in
bank, denied his application for a writ
Adams to issue him a certificate of
nomination. Now the name of d. j.
Reilly, the Ruef nominee for the Office,
will be placed on the ticket.
In his petition Beatty asserted that
the delegation in the Thirty-sixth AS
sembly District. headed by Fred Eg-
gers. was duly chosen at the primary
election. This was the delegation that
stood by Beatty in the Senatorial fight.
1t had eight votes. AT the Republican
local convention charges were brought
against this delegation by the Ruef
band that Eggers and his seyen col
leagues were chosen by fraud.
At the convention Henry Ach. Ruefs
chairman OF the committee on Gre
dentials, reported that the committee
had decided not to investigate the
charges, but in the interest of har-
mony" to give TO each of the contend
ing delegations representation.
Beatty declares the ruling was fraud
ulent. This reduced Beatty's eight
votes in the Thirty-sixth District to
four and lost him the nomination in
the Senatorial delegation. which COM
prises the Thirty-first and Thirty-sixth
districts.
Without comment the Supreme Court
ordered that Beatty's petition be de-
MED.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
OAKLAND LATHERS
ARE On STRIKE.

OAKLAND, Oct. S.-Two hundred
fathers went on strike today to enforce
q demand for an advance in wages,
which was recently rejected at a meet
ing Of the conference committee of the
Employers and Contractors Associa-
ton Of Alameda County. The fathers
demand an increase of from $3.50 to
1926 a thousand for ordinary work, so
cents extra for each coved room lathed,
$3.50 a day for patching, $3.50 day
for stapling metal laths and So a day
for day work.
The strike Of the lathers will also
throw out of employment all the plas-
terers of Alameda County, as the latter
can do no work while the fathers are
out The demands Of the fathers were
presented to the conference committee
of the Employers and Contractors AS
sociation about a week ago and were
at once rejected as unreasonable. When
the decision of the committee was made
known the Lathers Union served notice
that strike would be called this
morning, and the men, after appearing
for work walked out when their en-
ployers declared that the old scale of
wages would prevail.
The Cement Workers Union went on
strike today. demands for increased
wages having been rejected by the con-
tractors
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
COMPANY STATUS
IN QUESTION.
North German Not Ready
to Pay % Per Cent,
as Has Been Reported
FACTS ARE DEMANDED

Great anxiety exists among the poll
icy-holders of the North German In
surance Company of New York. This
corporation owes in San Francisco
SSS0.O0O. Some time ago 1t was under
stood that the company would pay to
policy 25 cents on the dollar.
Such an offer was supposed to have
been made.
A New York representative of the
company came to San Francisco and
talked with leading men here, and
asked whether they would sanction
settlement on the basis of 25 cents on
the dollar. The offer was refused.
From this proposition probably came
the understanding that the North Ger
man was ready to pay out 25 per cent,
and was anxious to begin payments as
soon as possible, seeking to escape
insolvency proceedings. About a week
ago large losers who held policies of
insurance issued by the company went
to the concerns headquarters and were
told that there was no outstanding
offer of % per cent or of any other
sum- This caused much complaint.
Since then others have been assured
that the company is not ready to make
any definite offer. The principal stock
holders are in Chicago and New York.
There Is no general officer OF the COM
pdUy OH THE TdCiAlS SOdSl. LII ILLS anu
in other particulars the situation is
displeasing to policy -holders.
Since the departure for New York of
a general representative of the North
German an investigation of the affairs
of the company has been authorized
by the policy holders in this city. 1t
is reported that the Insurance De-
partment of the State of New York has
also ordered that an investigation shall
be made Either or both of these pro-
ceedings may be sufficient to show to
the policy holders the exact extent of
the financial ability of the company to
pay its San Francisco creditors.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
WILL REPLY soon
To THE CARMEN.
United Railroads Promises
Early Statement Of Case
to Impatient EMPLOYEES

While deprecating the suggestion
that the United Railroads has been
hurried in the preparation of its reply
to the formal demand of the Garments
Union for more favorable conditions
Thornwell Mullally. assistant to the
president of the corporation, said last
evening that the company's statement
would soon be ready for submission to
the arbitrators. 1t may be expected
today, and If not forthcoming so
promptly will be issued tomorrow.
Richard Cornelius, president of the
union, has been quoted as saying that
the carmen are growing impatient at
the delay of the United Railroads and
that trouble might ensue If the 2rbitra-
tion proceedings did not progress
faster than they are now moving. The
only thing on which the arbitrators are
waiting is the statement of the com
pany.
In discussing what might be deemed
the implied threats of Cornelius, Null
lally said last night:
we are working as arduously as
possible on the preparation of our re-
ply. At present we have not caused
nearly the delay that the carmen did.
At first they refused to accept Chief
Justice Beatty, whom I proposed as the
third arbitrator, and there was de-
lay OF, 1 think, ten days before an
agreement was reached on that matter.
After the two representative arbitra-
tors had been selected, you know,
Judge Beatty was selected to serve.
Then there was a delay on the part
of the union in the preparation of its
statement and demands We have not
yet had the time for a reply that they
had to prepare their statement. But
our reply will be ready shortly-to-
morrow perhaps"
Secretary W. P. McCabe of the San
Francisco Labor Council, who is a
member OF the conference committee
Of the dissatisfied unions, said yester-
day that he had not heard that the
union men were impatient with the
United Railroads, but that such a con-
dition might arise if the company s
statement was not submitted soon.
"The arbitration is now in the hands
of the committee, however, and I favor
leaving it entirely with the three gem
tlemen selected to pass on the case, .
said McCabe.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
COMPLAIN of wEsTcHEsrER.
Action of Fire Insurance Company Is
Subject of Comment.

Stanley Moore and Dieckman Broth
ers have asked the Insurance Commis-
sioner of California to investigate the
acts of the Westchester Fire Insurance
Company law was passed by the
Legislature of California. at it's last
session, providing that fire insurance
companies that failed to extend the
time for filing proofs OF loss, or that
failed to file with the Insurance Com
missioner a complete list of policy
holders and policies, might be COM
PEELED to pay a fine of $4,000 and be
driven from the State. The Westchester
declined to fill the required stipulations
because, 1t was set forth, such act
would interfere with the reinsurance
in which the company was largely con-
cerned. Moore now alleges that he
represented Joseph Reubens, who had
a Westchester policy for $4,000 and that
two days. after the original limit of
sixty days had expired the company
through it's Oakland agency, informed
Reubens that he had forfeited his pol
icy by not swearing to the proof of
loss personally. Dieckman Brothers
allege that the company first denied
liability, but offered later to settle at
so cents on the dollar, a proposition
that was rejected. Commissioner Wolf
has received these complaints and may
act
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
CLUBS HORSE AND
STOPS RUNAWAY.

The quick wit and nerve OF Police
man Edward Stanton of the Mission
police station in clubbing a runaway
horse into insensibility at Eighteenth
and Diamond streets at noon yesterday,
undoubtedly prevented serious injury
and possibly saved the lives of a num-
Der of school children toward whom the
maddened animal was dashing at full
speed. His heroic act was witnessed
by dozens of people. and resulted in
an ovation being given him.
1t was just at noon while hundreds
of children were leaving the school
building and starting in groups down
the street, that the driverless horse,
dragging an empty buggy behind him.
came dashing wildly down Diamond
street. Realizing the danger before
the others had grasped the situation.
Stanton shouted warning and sprang
into the street to intercept the ami
NAL. His efforts to swerve the run
away from it's course were In vain,
and as the horse dashed directly down
upon him he .grasped the reins at the
bit in an Intellectual effort to stay the
wild dash. For a moment he was
dragged and whirled along the street,
and then, with unusual presence of
mind, freed his baton and dealt the
animal blow after blow across the head.
The horse staggered, slackened its pace
and finally fell within a few feet of
the frightened children.
The horse and buggy were the prop
erty of ]. B. Shredder of 2037 Howard
street. who had left the horse standing
in front of a house a Short distance
from the corner where the runaway
was stopped. The animal became
frightened and started to run before
the owner had returned.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
CHARGES THE TERMINAL
WITH INCREASING RATES
Brick Manufacturer Gives Testimony
at St. Louis With Reference
to the Alton Bridge.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. S.-The hear

ST. LOUIS, Oct. S.-The hearing of
the custer suit of the Government
against the Terminal Railroad Asso-
citation was resumed today Charles
F. McEwing, brick manufacturer OF
Calhoun County. Illinois, testified that
six months after the reported sale of
the Alton bridge to the Terminal Asso-
ciation three years ago, the rate on
material across the bridge had ad-
vanced from the former rate of four
tenths of a cent per 100 pounds to /
cent.
w. K. Kavanagh. president of the
Virgins Ferry Company and of the In
terstate Car and Car Transfer Com
pany gave testimony that showed that
the Interstate company was a Terminal
holding.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
~Acr OF GOD" NO DEFENSE.
First Judgment of Superior Court Rem
dered I'm Insurance Case.

First Judgment of Superior Court Rem
dered I'm Insurance Case.
The plea of "act of God" as an ex-
cuse for non-payment of fire losses is
of no avail to the foreign companies
which have made this the basis Of their
refusal to settle In full on policies, ac-
cording to a decision rendered yester
day by Judge Carroll Cook in the Su-
perior Court The decision in ques-
ton is the first that has been given in
the Superior Court on any insurance
case resulting from the fire, and was
made In a test case brought by A. S.
Newburgh against the Transatlantic
Fire Insurance Company, judgment be-
ing given for $3.50 as asked The
Transatlantic Company had no earth
quake clause in its policy, but based its
defense entirely on the general clause
relating to exceptions from liability
The decision of Judge Cook was as fol-
lows:
The insurance policy involved in this
case only relieves the defendant from
liability where the loss is caused by
insurrection, riot, civil war or COM
or by order of any civil authority. The
insurance company undertook to guar
antee against loss by fire from any
cause unless expressly excepted by the
policy. The exceptions inserted. in the
policy constituted all of the exceptions
from liability upon which the defend
ant can rely. There is no evidence
which can bring the case within any
of the exceptions contained within the
policy, and consequently the plaintiff
is entitled to recover
The value of the property destroyed
is admitted to be more than the amount
sued for Even If the earthquake
caused the fire, the defendant would
still be liable under the policy, but
there is no evidence that would justify
a finding that the fire was caused by
the earthquake.
Let judgment be entered in favor OF
the plaintiff as prayed for In the COM
plant with interests and costs.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
sPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
VETERANS IN ENCAMPMENT
Commander-in-Chief Says There Is
Great Awakening of Interest In
the Organization
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-Spanish-
American War Veterans from almost
every State in the Union are in at
tendance upon the third annual en-
campment of the organization, which
began its sessions here today.
Communicating Chief Miller submit
ted to the delegates his report for the
year. He reviewed his personal work
as ommanderin-chief and said he
was assured that there was a great
awakening of interest in the organiza-
ton tentative agreement has been
entered into between Commander Miller
and Commander Walker of the Legion
of Spanish War Veterans of Massachu-
setts providing for a consolidation Of
the two organizations.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
WITHDRAWAL OF COAL LANDS
SOON TO BE PROCLAIMED
Secretary Hitchcock Lays Before the
President the Data Necessary for
the Furuoee

WASHINGTON, Oct g. - Secretary
Hitchcock today laid before the Presi-
dent q memorandum containing data 10
be used by him IN his forthcoming g
proclamation Withdrawing from pub
lie entry all lands supposed to contain
coal This Will be done to prevent
such lands from falling into the hands
Of speculators Meantime an investi-
cation is under way by the Geological
Survey TO determine the real character
OF the lands to be withdrawn, and such
as are found not to contain coal de-
posts viii be promptly restored to
public entry.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
ESTATE REPORTS SETTLEMENT.
Adjustment Made by Three Companies
on Julius Friedman Losses.

Edward ]. Lande and l. Friedberg.
executors of the Julius Friedman es-
tate, yesterday filed a report before
Judge Trout showing contemplated in
surance settlement on property belong
ing to the estate The report was ac-
cepted and the settlement ordered made
accordingly The total insurance car
ried by the estate was $6S,000. and the
amount received will be approximately
$4,000.
The companies having policies Gov
ering property belonging to the es-
tate are the California Fire Insurance
Company, the Aachen- Munich Fire In
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09

Work has been started on the new
Western Union building which is to be
built on the northeast corner of Mont
gomery and Pine streets, according to
the plans made by Armitage & Rowell.
A B. McCreery is the owner of the
property and will erect a four-story
building and basement which will be
entirely occupied by the telegraph
company.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
TO HOLD RAILROAD CELEBRATION.

NAR1SNILLE, oct b.-Cltlzens OF
Marysville are preparing to celebrate
the completion OF the Northern Elec-
trio Railway from Chico and Oroville
Cars will run into this city early in
November and opening OF traffic will
be the occasion for a big deDonstra
tion. This will be a central point on
the new road All the rails for the ex-
tension TO Sacramento are piled in the
yards in this city and track laying has
Progressed TO a point seven miles from
Yiown and proceeds at the rate Of 5000
4 feet daily
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09

surance Company and the Hamburg
Bremen Fire Insurance Company On
several of the pieces of property the
adjustment reached was considerably
below that asked by the executors of
the estate, while on the remainder the
statement of losses was accepted with
out question. On the settlement re-
ductions Of from 10 to 33 per cent be-
low the adjustment were offered by the
German companies on portion of the
losses, while others were settled in
full.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
NO BILL OF ExCoMMUNIcArIoN.

PARIS. Oct. S.-Monsignor Cabrieres
denies that the Pope contempMtes is
suing bill of communication
against the priests and other Catholics
who participated in the formation of
the League of French Catholics. now
being organized with the object of
forming cultural associations to take
over church property in defiance of the
Pope's refusal to recognize the church
and state separation law.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
..san Franclsco,s UpraIsIng.. !.

October Sunset tells all about re-
building the city. Photographs of the
ruins OF old buildings. new ones being
constructed, the city's new centers, Van
Ness avenue, Fillmore street, Golden
Gate avenue and Union Square.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09

The building, of which the above is
a picture. will be entirely of Colusa
sandstone for the first floor and the
other three floors will be of red
pressed brick. with Colusa sandstone
trimmings. The Associated Press will
be in the building. The cost is esti-
mated to be about $500 and it will be
ready for occupancy in about three
months.
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09

EMBAssADoR TO JAPAN.-Paris. Oct. g.
Unless Japan objects the appointment OF NJ.
Gerard at present Minister of France at Brus-
sells as first French Embassador to japan will be
announced
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09
SENSATIONAL LITERATURE
UPSETs MIND OF CHILD

Little Bessie Gerady Take8 POlDOn In
Presence Of Four of Her school
mates and Expires on spot.
OWASSO, Mich, Oct S.-Bessie Ger
ady, aged twelve. a school girl, com
mitted suicide by taking poison today
in the presence of four of her little
schoolmates. The child committed the
deed at the pump house Of the country
school in Venice Township. That the
child could conceive and carry out
plan of suicide is attributed to the
reading OF sensational novels
The San Francisco call., 1906-10-09

CHINESE CONVICT COMMITS SUICIDE.
Phoenix. Ariz., Oct S.-Tom Quem the Chinese
convict in the Yuma prison. who last week killed
John Brown. a fellow convict has committed
suicide In his cell by hanging himself with
towel.