The San Francisco call., 1909-05-11
IN
TRUE De Luxe
STYLE FOR YOU
With BankrOII in Pocket and
LoIIing in Private Car Sol
der Vanishes
Preside in FURRY Over the Lat
est and Right Up to Date
DeSerter

With the Southern Pacific trying TO
explain TO the federal government and
the military authorities sweeping the
countryside for him. Charles Ackers. or
Ackerman. who made himself famous
in the annals of military history by
taking French leave from his job as
private in the United States army Fri
day afternoon, has stirred up veri-
table hornets nest in officialdom.
Where is the private car?
The Southern Pacific does not know.
To all points Of the system there has
been sent a deluge Of kilograms. Every
agent has been warned to keep
strict watch for the desertion de luxe.
The army growls itself black in the
face al this innovation in its workings,
and in Washington, d. c.. certain dig
nitaries with much army gold lace on
their clothing are asking what the tar
and blazes a railroad means by aiding
and abetting 10 desert one Charles
Ackers. or Ackerman, private in the
signal corps stationed at the Presidio.
by lending him a private car. switch
ing il on to a train and allowing it to
disappear.
DEEP Is THE MYSTERY
The Southern Pacific maintains
blank and sweet ignorance concerning
the episode. No soldier deserted in one
of their private cars. Such a thing
would be impossible. Yes. there was a
private car near the depot at Third
and Townsend streets Friday afternoon
and * was taken away somewhere
just where is the mystery.
To add TO the complications Private
Lynn W Appleton who was thought
10 have deserted with Ackers, showed
up at the Preside Yesterday, a tribe
the worse for wear and very penitent.
According to him Ackers and he left
the post Friday with the intention OF
fitting out on the following morning.
That night they went TO Oakland,
where a couple of young women were
met. a dinner enjoyed and their several
systems flooded with high priced wines.
HAS BANKROLL OF $4,000
~Ackers showed me $4,000 he had
received a short time before said
Appleton. and I understood his people
had sent il 10 him"
ing's entertainment in Oakland. How
long the frolic lasted Appleton could
not very well tell, but he finally came
10 a realization of the scenic surround
inEs with a vile taste in his mouth
and G headache OF adult size.
Ackers was gone. The young women
were gone. The sun was gone. All
was a dark blue blank. except vivid
knowledge that desertion sometimes
ra1 existence
traz Whereupon Private Appleton Of
the signal corps dragged his weary
feet toward the Preside and, with a
sigh Of resignation, gave himself up TO
2 grinning guard. Now he faces a
court martial for overstaying his leave.
WARDROBE FOR BEAU BRUMMEI
An investigation Of Ackers' trunk
brought to light several articles of
wearing apparel not usually found
among the belongings Of a private SOL
der A dress suit was there, several
fancy and expensive shirts, a few suits
Of up 10 date underwear and hose of
silk which a general commanding
might afford TO wear if he did not mind
about going into bankruptcy.
Further investigation yesterday
strengthened the presumption that
Ackers has some relatives or friends
high in railroad circles. Apart from
the bagateIe of $4,000 which he re-
eeived. he had sent to him passes on
almost every road in the country and
in Canada He had one pass over the
Rio Grande TO New Orleans. a ticket
10 Liverpool a pass over the Great
Northern and another over the Cana
dian Pacific.
If he has remained on the private
car there is but little doubt that he
win be captured before very long. His
unique manner Of desertion has aroused
the army and he viii be honored with
an attention such as is not usually
sccordee a deserting private The
army. feeling that outside influences
are attempting to manage its work
ines is not in a pretty state of mind
over the situation, and there is an
anxious longing to make it clear that
the United States army is one place. at
least. where the sons of railroad Off
f.fzlS do not rule.