The San Francisco call., 1907-02-27

not understand that it is a crime I'm
America to attempt the debauchment
OF young girls mind, and after fall
ing In their endeavors to spirit the au-
thor of the letter out of town they fol-
lowed him to San Francisco, assuring g
him of all the assistance that they
could render. The arresting officers
could no more explain to them the
enormity of Mukai's offense than they
could change the Mongolian yellow of
their countenances to Caucasian white.
When The Call reached Mill Valley
yesterday morning the Japanese colony,
which is large there, read the story
and became alarmed They bought all
the papers containing the account of
the impending arrest of Mukai. BY 9
o'clock there was not a copy of The
Call to be bought in town. Then the
japanese held a mass-meeting on the
slopes of the Marin County hills. Mu-
kai. who had left school at the Ii
O'CLOCK recess, was present. It was
decided to hide him until he could get
out of town and then send him to
South America. A Japanese companion
secured his books from the schoolroom.
Mukaf was secreted in the rear Of a
japanese cobbler's store. There he was
located by Inspector Dennis Coyne and
Town Marshal Staples.
PLEADS 1T WAS "JoKE.-
1T was a joke. honorable sirs,"
pleaded Mukai, with deferential bow.
1t was a joke" solemnly asserted his
fellow wits from the Land of the Ris-
ing Sun. The point of the joke was lost
on the official, who had never studied
Japanese humor and did not under
stand wit as expressed in an unspeak-
able letter to a beautiful child of tender
years and sweet innocence
Mukaf was brought to this city, and
after an examination before Commits
sioner Heacock was escorted by the
inspector, accompanied by the faithful
brown friends, to the Alameda County
Jali' where he will await trial for send
ing obscene matter through the mails
The Objectionable letter was sent to
Miss Havelock about a week ago. 1t
was addressed to her in care of Mrs
M. ID. Ballentine in Mill Valley. a
friend of the family with whom the
Havelock girl lives
am going TO write you a melon
emory letter, said the message, ''since
suppose you know who I am. am
young sport of Mill Valley and low
ing you very much, almost to make me
very much sick. So I hope you will
come to see me and give me a kiss l
give You 20 cents for this kiss. I
think 1T is very good the idea if you
will"
The rest is not printable and the let
ter is signed Frank"
SENT IMPROPER VALENTINE
Mrs. Ballen,Ane turned the letter over
to Principal F. Houch, who positively
identified the handwriting as Mukafs.
Prior to the sending of the letter the
Japanese youth had sent an improper
valentine to the school girl during the
regular valentine day celebration,
when the messages were placed by the
little children in box at the school
house and then distributed in the after
noon. Houch was preparing a case
against Mukai and intended to expel him
for that offense.
that Houch had it turned over to the
town marshal, who in turn handed it
over to the Federal officials. The arrest
followed yesterday, and the Japanese
boy made full and frank confession.
why shouldn't he. queried Deputy
Inspector Coyne. He doesn't think
that 1t is a crime to send such letter
to little girl" But the look on the
arresting officers face BODIED no good
to any one who would send such let
ter to any one dear to him.
Marie Havelock, the girl to whom the
letter was sent, is an orphan. Her
mother died in 1905 and Mrs. o. c.
Briggs, who is interested in settlement
work in this city, took her in charge.
She is living with Mr.. and Mrs. A.
Graupner in Mill Valley and has been
attending school there since January.
She is modest pretty and good, and her
wide open eyes. proclaim truth when
she says that she does not know what
this trouble is all about. Attired in a
natty sailor dress, her blue waist