The San Francisco call., 1909-03-19
MASS OF DATA
FROM VICTIMS
OF GAS ROBBER
Evidence Proves Larcenies
Committed With Defiance
of Moroccan Brigand
Proof Produced Showing 400
Per Cent Increase in Bill
in Fifteen Days


The Calls request for evidence
against the gas robber has brought
forth mass of data sufficient to CON
vict the culprit many times over. His
victims bear witness to his larcenies.
He has reduced the crime to a trade.
He operates openly by day with the
defiance of a Moroccan brigand. His
weapon is the monkey wrench. The
eXtortion must be met or. biff-oh goes
the gas. For the evidence against the
robber The Call offered reward of
$50. Every mail brings the proof. sup
ported by the documentary verifcation
in the receipted gas bills.
PRESENT STRONG CASE
A strong case is that presented by
Scharlin Brothers of 937 Grant avenue.
who say that they have been subjected
to an extortion of 400 per cent Sup
porting their statements with their re-
ceipted bills, they write:
We are inclosing you two gas
receipts of the San Francisco gas
and electric company. Bill for
January 2 to February IL, a period
or one month, showing 1000 feet
consumed at S5 cents, a total of
sl.'0; the other bill CLOSING Feb
ruary IL to February 26. period
of Is days. showing Il. 500 feet con-
sumed at 80 cents, a total of $11S5
Please note that although the rate
Tor the larger bill was less ESQ
cents per thousand) and the period
of consumption only one-half as
long. 1t still shows an increase of
I4O0 per cent, which We think will
be hard to beat in your contest
We are happy to state that we
are now taking gas from a COM
petltlye company, whose rate is
only 70 cents per thousand having
discontinued the San Francisco gas
1909
We neglected to state that we
they threatened to bring suit
against us. They could not threaten
to turn off our gas as the Metro
poiltan gas company ran their
service past our place of business.
SHOWS RAPID INCREASE
II, A Oliphant of 1853 Twelfth ave-
nue. was presented with bills that in
creased by arithmetical progression
month after month. He writes:
/ am one of the many consumers
or the San Francisco gas and cleo
trio company and think as a great
many many others do. that ! have been
neid up on my gas bill. | have
been a consumer for several wears
but have only saved my receipts
since 81 gas came on. I submit
you 70 aIte receipts rs from August. 8. 1908.
10 Gate. They started at So per
month and continued to climb until
December, when they more than
i doubled. l have a gas furnace and
your inquiry will result in much
good and reduction in gas bills.
d. Rosenzweig of 1911 Steiner street
was told either to pay or go without
gas, so he paid although he regarded
the charges as extortionate. He writes:
Inclosed find my two gas bills.
one from November 10 to December
3, 1908. and the other from Decem-
Der to January IA. The former
amounts to $40 and the latter
amounts to $S.15, which surely
SHOWS a good increase for the two
no good. had to pay or go with
out gas.
William e. Harm of 412 Dolores |
street used to get gas for 81 month. |
but now his bills are s6.25, an in /
'rease sufficiently startling to warrant |
In inquiry. He writes:
On or about the 10th day of
February the gas company Changed
our meter for an improved gas
rater. You will see according fo
my bills, that | am paying now at
the rate or S6-25, and | am sure I
am not using that amount, as our
bills have not been over 81 for anv
one month in theNlast three years.
ioT BILL JUST THE SAME
J. III. Ramley recites an interesting
experience. He didn't use any gas, but
vas rendered a bill nevertheless He
writes:
Last summer when 1 went away
on my vacation forgot to tell the
gas company to shut off my gas.
but / thought they read the meter.