The San Francisco call., 1909-02-12
EVENTs BORDERING SAN FRANGsCO
ARREST NEGRO FOR
ATTACK ON GIRL
New Suspect Jailed in Case OF
Brutal Assault on Miss
Grapes

SAN RAFAEL, Feb. 1I.-With. the
arrest Of John Mills. a negro. whose
Handkerchief and shirt were round
stained with blood. and with the prob
able release tomorrow OF John Zaro.
who has been held in custody on sus-
picion. the case OF Miss Elizabeth
Grapes. who was brutally attacked last
Saturday night in Fifth street, today
took a new 1urn. Public indignation
has been aroused. moreover, by the in
situations OF a san Francisco paper
that Miss Grapes was q willing party 70
the assault Lastly. the charges made
by Dr. :. IL Augustine, foreman OF the
grand Jury. that Sheriff Taylor has not
been doing his full duty in the investi-
cation Of the crime. and the sheriff S
counter charge that DR.. Augustine He
gally gave orders that no person, in
Guiding Zaro's attorney. should have
access TO the prisoner have stirred the
town 10 a fever heat, and the meeting
OF The grand jury next Monday is
looked forward 10 with interest.
Mills, the negro. who is laborer.
was arrested this afternoon de VIII
be confronted by Miss Grapes tomor-
row. The young woman, who is rap
idly recovering from the attack, viii
make q formal statement 10 District
Attorney BOYD tomorrow. Mills de-
clares he is innocent but has failed 10
explain the blood on his garments
Detectives MacPhee and Charles Tay-
Tor OF san Francisco, who were sent
here by Chief Cook 10 work on the
case. have come 10 the conclusion that
FARO is innocent. and viii advise his re
lease.
Concerning his activity in the case.
Dr.. Augustine tonight made the follow
ing statement:
ITO correct the impression conveyed
81 some OF the morning papers that /,
as foreman Of the Marin county grand
sury had instructed Sheriff Taylor 10
deny the attorney for the suspect now
in custody access TO his client / wish
70 say that the sheriff knew that 1
had no authority TO control his action
and he knew that / knew 81 He knew
that the understanding had at the time
OF the arrest between the sheriff. my
self and the two detectives who had
just examined the suspect was that It
would be wise TO refuse access 10 any
one IN order 10 prevent his being
coached until the detectives had time
70 sweat him and gain a confession
in case he was guilty, which they told
me they hoped 70 DO that night. This
was perhaps not technically legal, but
II
stances. and is quite a different thing
from the high handed and absurd pro-
ceedings Of keeping a suspect in Sc
clusiOn and denying him the ordinary
rights OF & citizen indefinitely. which
the sheriff now seeks 10 attribute to
ne in the public press without taking
the trouble TO discuss IL with me in
person or BY telephone at any time
since the first time the suggestion was
made
AS a matter Of fact I am told the
sheriff has given the suspect access
10 his friends, contrary 10 my alleged
orders. The only one who was re-
fused Of whom I have heard is the at
tOrney for the suspect. who happens
also 70 be the personal attorney for the
sheriff.
My opinion is that his action is due
70 a desire 70 forestall and discredit
criticisms Of his Office which yester-
day frankly told him / intended to
make 10 the grand jury next Monday
As a matter Of fact the sheriff's
ONCE is suffering from acute political
inertia So fat as the innocence or
guilt Of Zaro was concerned, 1 had alb
solutely no opinion. All that I desired
was that proper precaution be taken
until his guilt or innocence could be
established after fun investigation. I
am satisfied now that this has been
done, and that the man is innocent