The San Francisco call., 1909-11-09
SHOOTING IN
SAUSALITO IS
PUZZLE Still
Members of Sylvia Gang Sus'
pected, but No Wounded
Person Located
Feeling Between Fl. Baker Sol-
diers and SausaIitO Residents
at Dangerous Pitch
Iseeeiol Dispatch 10 The Call


sAUsALITo, Nov s.-Relations be-
tween this town and Fort Baker have
reached a serious crisis. The mystery
of the shooting which occurred here
two nights ago still remains unex-
plained. No soldier or civilian has been
found wounded, despite the blood stains
which We're found on the pavement in
front of the public telephone office. The
feeling against the Sylvia gang among
the soldiers of the reservation is at a
dangerous pitch. A number of the sol
diers claim they viii not enter the town
unless they are armed and that they
viii shoot the minute a Sylvia man
draws a blackjack or shows fight.
Mayor Jacques Thomas has appointed
Jack Greed. one of the best known Of
hcers in this county. as night watch
man. He has given him instructions to
show no mercy to law breakers. wheth-
er uniformed or not. Greed win be
mounted and two other officers will be
at his command. Time clocks will be
installed. so that the men will be COM
PEELED to remain on their beats all
night
SOLDIERS CAP FOUND
The first time an officer fails in his
duty" exclaimed Mayor Thomas today,
''he viii be instantly discharged. This
conflict between soldiers and civilians
must cease. We are not on the borders
OF Mexico. A citizen should be able to
walk down the street at , o'clock in
the morning without fear of his life. 1
believe the Sylvia gang had no connec-
tion with the fight early yesterday
morning We know soldiers were there,
because a cap has been found belonging
10 q man of the SiNty-first company,
coast artillery The cap bears the name
-Crutcher' inside the band. l depend on
Major Ruckman TO Investigate the af-
fair"
When seen at his headquarters at
Fort Baker today Major Ruckman pro-
nounced the situation between the post
and Sausalito as most serious. L de-
sire TO treat the people of Sausalito
fairly" he said, 7but I must protect my
men, great number of complaints
have come TO me regarding assaults
which have been made upon our SOL
diers. In many cases my men are not
TO blame. l do not meddle in their af-
fairs Of the heart II a soldier calls on
a young girl in Sausalito that is his
privilege. If members of the Sylvia
crowd object to Private Iandon Burgan
calling on Edith Lawrence, that is none
Of my affair. But if this gang. or any
other. continues TO modest and assault
the soldiers who visit the town. then ii
is time to cry halt. And that time has
arrived.
CRITICISES BOARDS ACTION
4 asked the board of trustees to pro-
tect. my men, and they placed night
watchman on duty who is an uncle OF
the leader of the Sylvia gang. Matters
were then worse than ever. The watch
maj n resigned a few nights ago, but we
have had trouble since. If it continues
] viii forbid our men to visit the town.
] viii install a ferry service to San
Francisco, SO that the men may break
the mOnotony OF life here by trips to
the city. This will mean loss to Sau-
salito merchants of from $4,000 TO $50
600 a year. 1 very much regret the
necessity OF such a step. but fear that
il viii have TO be done"
The major laughed at the account of
how Edith Lawrence Tilted Manuel Sill
via to bestow her affections and the
diamond rings he had given her upon
the handsome soldier Of the SiXty-first-
"All is fair in love and war" he quoted.
Too much liquor is another cause OF
the complications. according TO the
commanding officer. He says that the
saloonmen cater to the soldiers and
hold their trade by extending them
credit from one payday to the next.
Women and liquor explain the situa-
tion in nutshell" concluded the major.
Meanwhile Edith Lawrence, whose
tickle heart is said TO be the origin of
all the trouble. has been ordered by the
juvenile court of San Rafael to have
nothing to DO with her soldier lover.