davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
RATHER IN GIRLS RAT
STRIKES HER BROTHER
Boy ! in Critical Condition and
Dog Already Dead

MASON VALLEY. New. May. 25.-The
year old child of Andrew Ingman of
this place. is in critical condition and
the family. dog is already dead as re-
suit of small rattlesnake taking up
it's place of abode in a rat worn as
"a head adornment by young daughter
OF, the 1ngmans-
The. reptile entered the house in
some unknown manner and secreted
itself in the rat, which lay on the
floor of closet. The child picked up
the head appendix and was struck on
the wrist by the rattler, the fangs pen
etrating deeply
The dog. which attacked the snake.
was bitten and died. The child may
die The snake was killed
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Crime Discovered by Grand
Trustee Louis II. MOOser
and Expert
Former Trusted Official Threat
ems Suicide When Confronted
With Proof of Defalcati0n
Suspicion First Directed to Him
Just Prior to Grand ParlOr
Meeting
Bonding Company Is Notified
and Arrest of Turner Is
Expected Today

HARLES H TURNER. for six
1 years grand secretary Of the order
of Native Sons of the Golden West,
has been found $4,000 and more
short in his accounts for the year just
ended. The discovery was made yes
terday by Grand Trustee Louis II.
Mooser and an expert accountant dele
gated by the grand parlor to examine
Turner's books. The National surety
company. which was on Turner's bonds
during his incumbency, was notified of
the defalcations yesterday. and today
criminal proceedings will be taken
against the former official.
Irregularities were discovered in
Turner's books during the week prior
to the meeting of the grand parlOr at
MarysviIle, but the discovery was not
complete and as it then appeared from
a eursory examination of the books that
Turned had made good his peculation
the grand officers compromised with
the man, telling him that il he would
not run for reelection his conduct
would not be exposed.
Turner allowed his friends to make
his campaign for him in the face Of
the wrath of the grand parlOr until the
fnal day of the grand parlor. Then he
Withdrew and Fred H. jung was
elected grand secretary
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
SALVATION ARMY PLANS
THE CONQUEST OF CHINA
Big Campaign Will Be Under
taken in Near Future

NEW YORK, May 25.-The Salvation
army Will try to convert China. An
nouncement 40 this effect was made
at the national congress Of the army
tonight by Colonel Edward X. Hig-
gins Of London, representative of Gen.
eral Booth.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26

66TF you don't stop your accusations
Of graft I'll take it out of your
q Il hide" asserted President Charles
= Day Of the board OF public works TO
Isidor Jacobs. who is active in pressing
the charge before Mayor Taylor that
the board permitted inferior work in
the construction OF the county in
Urinary.
.eThe whole thing is crooked, and we
are going TO find out about it, shouted
Jacobs in his excitement
II YOU say I'm crooked I'll smash
your nose cried J. d. McGilvray Jr.,
another member Of the board.
Pandemonium reigned in the rooms
Of The board Of supervisors yesterday
afternoon just after Mayor Taylor had
taken a recess until tomorrow after
noon in the hearing OF the charges.
With Isidor Jacobs as the storm center.
there were three or four exciting tilts
between accuser and accused, which
threatened to develop into a fist fight
at any moment.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26

YEsTERDAY-west wind; clear; maximum
temperature, Ga; minimum. 81.
FORECAST FOR TODAY--Fair, With fog in
morning: moderate southwest wind, changing to
brisk west. Page Is
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Worked on Board Seal

For the last few years young Welch
had shown such an aptitude for cleo
trical engineering that his father had
encouraged the boy IN his bent. He
was registered as q pupil in the me-
chanical drawing course, and had dis
tinguished himself in this line and at
the time of his death was engaged in
preparing a design which, if it had
been completed, would have been made
the offlcial seal of the Alameda city
board of education.
But it was in electricity that the
boys talents were best displayed.
when other students were at play he
would be in the laboratory lingering
Dorc 2; Corux.,r
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
BOY
ELFCTROCUTED
INLAbORATORY
William Welch Found Writhine
in Agony on Floor of
High School
Lad Had Bidden Fellow Pupils
Goodby and Was Looking
Over His Own Work
[Speeial Dispatch 10 The ColIl

ALAMEDA, May 25.-Going into the
laboratory of the Alameda high school
this afternoon for the purpose of max
ing a final examination of some cleo
trical apparatus he had aided in in
staliing, William Welch, an Is year old
pupil in the school and son of sDennis
Welch. 1896 San Jose avenue, accident
ally grasped two wires in a transformer
simultaneously and was electrocuted
When discovered by his comrade
Charles Dodge, he was writhing in
agony on the floor at the point of death
and breathed his last half an hour
later.
1t was WelclTs last day in school. To-
day he was to have set out on his
life's journey. The boy, a keen, ambi-
tious student of electricity, had Sc
cured position with the Pacific tele-
phone and telegraph company as a line
man and intended to start upon his
career without any delay.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Found DYING by Friend

Dodge, his closest friend, not finding
him about the school grounds, and
knowing his fondness for the cleo
trical plant. went in search for him in
the laboratory and found him there
on the floor. writhing in agony. Call
ing to Maurice Kebby, another pupil
who was close at hand, Dodge told him
TO run for physician, and endeavored
to resuscitate Welsh.
Drs. Lum, Pond and Clark arrived
on the scene within few minutes of
each other, and did their best to bring
the young student around, but their
efforts were without avail and he died
under their hands.
An investigation of the death made
by Detective George Brown for the
police, George C. Thompson, principal
of the school, and Will c.. Wood. su-
perintendent of schools, produced an
unanimous conclusion that Welch had
short circuited the transformer and
received $500 volts in his body.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Volunteered His Aid

When the Alameda high school author
tiles decided to commence course in
electrical craftsmanship young Welch
was one of the students who volun
teered his aid in installing the plant.
The greater part of his leisure hours
was spent in Investigating and exam
inin gthe apparatus. His fondness for
it was more than the mere curiosity of
a boy-it was tantamount TO a craze
Time and again he would be found
manipulating the, devices, schooling
himself in the intricacies OF his chosen
ealing and perfecting, as far as he
could the working OF the plant.
Early yesterday afternoon he said
his farewelIs to his professors and
friends and then, before leaving the
school for the last time, ran down, into
the laboratory to move among his be-
loved wires once again. What occurred
there no one could definitely state, as
he was alone. but the presumption is
that in a careless moment he touched
two wires in transformer, thereby
forming a short circuit. and imme-
diately received the full force of 1900
volts of electricitv
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
BEN ELLIOTT IS
IN CUSTODY AS
POSSIBLE F|[ND
Nineteen Year Old Youth Taken
by Those Searching for
Girls Murderer
Arrested on Burglary Charge,
but Graver Crime Is Said
Be at Issue
Especial Dispatch 10 The CALI

Los ANGELES May 25.-Deputy
Sheriff Wright arrived from Redondo
late tonight with Ben Elliott of Tropico
in custody. Elliott, who is 10 years
old, is suspected Of being implicated
in some way in the killing of year
old Anna Poltera.
The young man was found in the
beach city, where he had gone with the
evident purpose of concealing himself
fro mthe officers. There are charges
of burglary, committed at Glendale,
which is near the scene Of the Poltera
murder, against him. and it was upon
these that he was arrested.
Elliott refused to talk of the murder,
but he is being subjected to a search
ing inquiry regarding his movements
during the last two weeks by Sheriff
Hammil. He will be held and further
inEeSti 90 fiO7 n1ade +ouaarrou
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Short Circuit Caused Death

II went to the school shortly after
the accident said Superintendent
Wood, land made thorough examina-
ton of the death. No one was present
when the boy met his death. We have
very full electrical equipment in our
laboratory, including wireless appa-
ratus and the transformer 1t was
commonly known that the boy, who
had done a great deal in the installa-
tion of the plant, was exceedingly
proud of his work and took a remark
able interest in it.
Il am convinced from my examina-
ton that he in some way or the other
grasped two wires of the transformer
at the same time and thus caused a
short circuit which resulted in his
death. / presume Welch was making
final examination of it, seeing if it
was in good shape when the accident
occurred
Welch was the son Of Dennis Welch,
a former policeman. who. lives at 1926
San Jose avenue Two other sons in
the family, Frederick and David, are
conductors in the employ of the South
ern Pacific railroad
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Negro Arrested

SAN MATBO, May 25.-Joe Webb, a
negro, answering in many particulars
to the man suspected of killing Annie
Poltera in Grifhth's park, Los Angeles,
was arrested here today and is being
held for a thorough examination.
The man was first seen by George
R. Byde, foreman plumber, who
struck by the resemblance he bore to
the description of the strange Mexi-
can, as published in The Call tele-
phoned Constable Jack Friel, who i'm
mediately took him into custody The
authorities do not think he is the man
wanted, but are holding him on a
charge of vagrancy, pending detailed
investigation.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
SELMA CLAY, aged 5 years.
DOROTHY CLAY, 5 years.
NELL McGEARY, 5 years.
LOUISE MARSHALL, 8 years.

Rena May Miller, aged years, was
badly burned, but may recover.
Business has been suspended as a
result of the tragedies. applause fol-
following drill proved too much. for
Dorothy Clay who dropped an electric
candle, which ignited her. dress and
those of the other children on the
stage. The house was in darkness and
a panic was averted only by men who
threw their coats about the scream
ing children.
Mrs. B. C. Boyd. the music teacher OF
the children, Is nearly insane from
grief.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Hard Names Exchanged

III any ones crooked it's you,~ said
the outraged member Of the board, who
then referred to former financial trou-
bles Of Jacobs.
That's lie" shouted Jacobs. i've
got a receipt right here for s1f5,o
that the law would not have required
me TO pay"
With Day and McGilvrsy dubbing
Jacobs "a scrub and McGilyrsy in
sisting that his reputation was as good
al Jacobs, the crowd moved toward
the door, when a chance remark
started the fuss over again Matt Sui
livsn. attorney for Condon-M -McGlynn
company. the successful contractors,
kd General S. w. Backus, president of
the Western expanded metal company,
who is interested in the cause of the
good government league. also became
involved in the melee. Another con-
tractor about this time insisted that
the whole investigation was develop
ing into q farce and was evidently in
tended for the purpose of doing poll
tics
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
MARINE

Pacific Mail liner Siberia due next Sunday is
bringing record list Of passengers. Page ID
SOCIAL
Society TO pass large part of the season in
grove and garden. Page
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
FOUR LITTLE GIRLS
ARE DEAD OF BURNS
School Exercises End in Horror
of Fatal Flames

CENTRAL CITY, Ky, May 25.-Four
children were burned during the COM
mencement exercises of Mrs. Boyd's
school here last night and died today.
The dead:
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Police Are Called

The police were called TO prevent
open hostuties. When the threats OF
bodily violence began Assistant Clerk
Lynch Of the board Of supervisors sent
word for the police. Lieutenant Shea
and Patrolman Perry Smith responded.
Their presence served to quiet the
throng Of excited officials. contractors
and attorneys. Lynch finally ordered
the han cleared.
1t was after three and a half hours
IF tiresome Investigation that the real
excitement occurred. Day and Jacobs
were soon involved in a spirited argu-
ment, in which the investigation was
termed a farce. Jacobs retorted that
lie considered it advisable to have the
, arges probed. as there had been com
plants against the board Of public
works for long time. He asserted
that demands We're made more than a
year ago by architects that the board
be investigated
why are you investigating this
bosrd?' demanded Day
we want to get the facts" respond
ed Jacobs
1t was then that Day promised Jacobs
2 drubbing.
You've got no business dragging US
into this" interrupted McGilvray.
Jacobs gave the reply which drew the
threat of a broken nose.
4 don't say you are crooked, but
we are trying to get the facts about
the board" returned Jacobs.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Misappropriates Over 10000

After the grand parlor had adjourned
more extensive examination was
made of Turner's books. with the re-
suit that it was found that he had
misappropriated more than $4,000 dur
ing the last year. OF this sum $4,000
was taken from the per capita tax fund
of the order and the balance from re-
turns on supplies sold by the grand
parlor to the subordinate psrlors.
1t is said that Turner has admitted
his thefts TO the officers OF the grand
parlor, explaining that he had no sys-
tenn of stealing. but that he took the
money when he needed it"
A curious feature OF the crime is
that Turner's predecessor in the Office
of grand treasurer. Henry Lunsted.
was found to have defaulted to the ex-
tent of $500.
When the grand officers. at the sen
sational meeting held on the eve of
the grand parlor session at Marysville
last month. confronted Turner with the
record OF his discrepancies. the cor
nered man drew revolver from his
pocket and rushed from the private
room OF the officers. threatening to
kill himself. The weapon was wrested
from him and the affair smoothed over.
Since a more active and penetrating
examination of the former grand ON
GERS books has been made Turner has
repeatedly threatened to take his life,
and members of his family have been
warned to guard him closely against
such a elimination of his disgrace.
Surety Company Notified
While Louis H. Mooser. whose ex-
animation OF the grand secretary's
books first led TO the disclosures of
Turner's peculations, would not discuss
the affair last evening. it was learned
positively that the shortage OF more
than $4,000 has been discovered and
that the National surety company. of
which Frank l. Gilbert is the coast
manager. had been notified.
Suspicion was first directed against
Turner during the week Immediately
preceding the grand parlor or the Ma
tive Sons. which met in Marysville on
Monday. April IS. Louis H Moossr
was chairman of the finance committee
of the grand parior.' and during the
fortnight preceding the session made
an examination Of Turner'S books.
He discovered. it Is said, that Turner
shortly before had changed the sys-
tenn OF booking in the Office A new set
Of books had been started and arbitrary
balances established. On Friday. April
es. there was meeting of the grand
officers held in the local headquarters
of the order in the DeIbert building.
Van Ness avenue and O'Farrell street.
The grand ofhcers asked Mooser at
that time for his report on the finances
of the oxder. Mooser replied that he
could not accept the books as they
stood owing to the recent change in
book keeping. He added that in the
books as they stood he had found that
during the months of April and MAY.
1908. Turner had tnrned in $1,000
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
Mexican Not Wanted

The theories of the searchers under
went a change since the discovery last
night of the school books, lunch basket
and trinkets belonging to the dead girl
near the place where the murder took
place. The officers are no longer look
ing for the Mexican said TO have been
seen close to the girl on the day the
murder was committed, as it is almost
certain that this man gould hardly
have been guilty of the crime.
Instead the search today centered on
Ben Elliott, whose father Was among
the most energetic of the searchers.
With the additional material to work
upon supplied by the finding yester-
day afternoon of Annie Poltera lunch
basket and schoolgirl possessions in a
tangled ravine 150 feet from the spot
where her dead body, was discovered
the scores of officers and detectives as
well as private citizens enga ged in
the search for her slayer today took
up the threads of the mystery with
renewed hope OF finding the brutal
murderer
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
INDEX OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO CALLS
NEWS TO-DAY
TELEPHONE KEARNY Sc
WEATHER CONDITIONS
NEWS TO-DAY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2s, 1909
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
New Theories Advanced

Several features of the crime appear
to point to some one who knew the
girl as her murderer. The fact that
she was slain after her ravishment
would indicate that she knew her as
sailant and that he sought to hide his
first crime by covering it with that Of
murder. The fact also that the stom-
ach of the little girl contained freshly
eaten food indicates that she may have
been enticed from the road and into
the woods by some supposed friend and
given somethin gto eat as a prelude to
the crime.
Elliott came originally from La
Mour, \. D. His father arrived here
from the latter place three days ago
and believes his son to be innocent of
all charges of crime against him. There
is strong suspicion that Elliott was In
the vicinity of Griffith park about the
time the murder was committed Since
he was charged with the small Tropico
burglaries some weeks ago, he fled his
usual haunts.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
President Day Promises Ia
Take 1t Out Of IsidOr
Jacobs Hide
1.-The Whole Things Crooked" ="
Shouts Good Government
League Leader
"PH Smash Your Nose" Cries
McGiIvray, and Police
Are Called

,eTF you don't stop your accusations
Of graft I'll take it out of your
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
COAST
EASTERN

Telegraph operator orerhesrs plot Il
and wires to sheriff to guard
Automobiles take place Of trains I
strike in Georgia.
Presbyterian church urged to
colleges and ''let Rockefeller and
aloDe."
Democratic senator's plead for pro
sugar and Beveridge quotes Taft t
fsrors revision downward
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26

contlnued ON rage 2, Column
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26
FOREIGN

Roosevelt says no new
tive with his party.
CDnDTc
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-26

Roosevelt for the senate. Page g
Tax levy must be ratified. Page 8
DObbin win get his due. Page 6
GRAFT
Luther Brown refuses to testify on ground that
be might incriminste himself. Page I6
CITY
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01

cleverly dealt with. 1t is not work of great
historical and philosophical value but it is I'M
deniably entertaining.
Those who contend in these days for the equal
rights of women will read with particular in
terest the authors notes on the high position of
women in ancient Egypt. their practical equality
with men and the reverence with which they
were treated. There was even something more
than equality, for the wife, not the husband. gave
rank and name to their child In BabylOnia
women had rights over their own property which,
as late as the earlier years of the last century
no American or English woman had. Madam of
BabyIOnia took care of her money and If
her husband presumed to NEEDLE unduly with
what was hers she sued him and collected dam
ages She went into trade when she liked. lent
money and organized partnerships. She was
withal an excellent domestic person. competent
ly attending to the affairs of her home. The
author believes, on the evidence of the surv wing
contract tablets. that these fair Babylonans We're
judiciously educated The women of Greece in
the days. of which Homer sang were legally
hardly above the status of slaves. and were edu-
Gated chiefly in housework. They knew their
place and kept it. and were respectfully treated
The whOle-hearte enthusiasm with which Dr.
Reich discusses the charms and virtues of
HoTners heroines is not directed TO any other
group of women described in his book The ideal
woman of the ancient Greek was probably not
very far removed from the ideal of the modern
German. One virtue inculcated in the period
succeeding that of Homer has appealed to man.
kind in many ages: silence at all times,
whether in or out of the house. was considered
the duty of woman; and not only was she ex-
pected to keep silence herself. but she was also
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01

sword on thigh. she rode with her mother and
her stepfather, Godfrey of Lorraine. TO defend
Rome against the Normans. She was a most
devoted child of the Roman Church-"daughter
of Peter" the old Pope. Gregory VII. called her
and she was of those gathered about the
pontif when the Emperor. Henry, half clad and
weeping crept on the ground before the throne
begging that the ban of accommodation should
be removed from him. Women in feudal DAVIS
generally shared in Matilda's taste for fghting.
In the absence of their husbands the wives of
forty knights in a castle by the Rhine one Sunday
held a tournament taking their husbands names
AT 'eiSt, al except one maiden, who called her
with such success that she sent most of the other
women out of the saddle. The Duke determined
narIe. and having presented her with a dovrrv and
two horses. she was soon married to a man of
In the reign of Peter of Aragon a Spanish lady
doCned arrnor and took French Knight prisoner
[irti!ierie In Paris can be the armor worn by
Elizabeth de Nassau. mother of Marshal Turenne
anu by charlotte de IA Mark. who died in 1894
whilst in 1928 gardener digging under the site OF
the present Bourse in Paris found nine cuirasssS
women appeared occasionally horseback armed
Win daSsers. and Orderic Nitalis slorihes Isabella
de CouCheS as a generous and ValorDuS woman ~,
war. mounted and equipped as a Knight. and
Siu'iAlihs G,thtILi tlppoiyt u and Penthesilea-
active assistance 10 the wearied Knights MANY
u t "e,hs Hiltd. notably in the last battle OF
70 Jerusalem U 0'''Oii
The lady Of the castle, in that period was not
at all slave of the tyrant man She MANAGED
domestic affairs much she chose, and when
her lord and master went away 10 court or on
some wariike expedition she ruled the roOst and
did justice or injustice to their dependents al her
own sweet will. AS for the burgher woman. her
contemporary. the author describes her as .iu
educated and violent in temper. uncouth In
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-01

expected to conduct herself in such way 'ha'
no one else should speak about her
Cornelia Arria Octavia. all the wen KNOWN
noble types furnish in the chapter on Roman
women the few high lights in an otherwise
gloomy retrospect. The author traces IN the de-
sire of the average respectable Roman Wohhah
to be notable for intellectual attractions much
that moved toward the decline of the empire
Her sense of duty disappeared-'the main idea
of those women who posed as intellectuals was
to be thought witty. brilliant and good company
The claims Of the home and family were sacr1-
feed TO notoriety and personal success Notor1ety
indeed and excitement became the ruling pas
sions of thousands upon thousands of women
and this road led to huge evils, the Roman sys-
tenn of marriage and divorce contributing to the
growing Generalization of society. The history
of Theodore, beautiful vicious. brutality cruel
and at the end of her life very pious. offers the
most curious page in the authors account OF
Byzantine women. OF medieval women that
militant dame Matilda of Tuscany. is the most
imposing figure in this chronicle. She was a
handsome girl only fifteen years old. when. with