davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
THREATS AGAINST LIFE
CHARGED IN DIVORCE SUIT
Wife of Placer County Capital
ist Lived in Fear

OAKLAND, Dec. 6.-According to the
story told in a divorce complaint by
Mrs. Duncan B. Croft, wife OF a capi-
talist OF Placer county, life with him
was for her a continual condition of
fright. She described him as a man
who has murder in his heart On one
occasion. she declared, he threatened
to murder her. and on another he
pointed z loaded revolver at her head.
She was compelled 10 fee for her life.
Mrs. GrOff said her husband was worth
S50,0 900, of which she asked a large
share.
According to Tony Cheney, his wife.
Lulu, had at least six lovers at one and
the same time. He was granted an
interI Iocutory decree Of divorce.
In the case of Gerhart Cortland il
was the husband who was promiscuous
with his affections, according to Mrs.
Anna NJ. Cortland, the wife, who testi-
fed that he had many sweethearts. She
was granted an interlocutory decree.
The following DEGREES of divorce
were granted today:
Mary McChesney against ". B. Nc
Chesney. interlocutory, habitual neg
lect; Susan H. BothsoW against Henry
n Bothsow, interlocutory. habitual
neglect; Henrietta Simpson against
William NJ. Simpson. interlocutory.
hsbitual neglect; Carnitta Enos
against Joseph Enos, cruelty.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
FACES TRIAL FOR
ALLEGED SWINDLF
Familiar Figure at st. Mark
Hotel Must Face jury on
Grand Larceny Charge

OAKLAND, Dec 6.-James I. Rollins,
'of late a familiar figure at the Hotel
st. Mark, where he maintained a suite
to transact his alleged fraudulent min
ing business and spent much money
for wines and automobiles, was held
for trial in the police court by Judge
Samuels this afternoon on a charge of
grand larceny. With his two asso-
ciates, A. S. AmaraI and E. C. Wilson,
he was charged by Norman Mcleod
with obtaining $500 on false promise
of lucrative work in a fabulous Alas
kan mine.
Amaral and Wilson were discharged
from custody, having turned state
evidence against their chief. Amarai
was once a deputy sheriff in Merceo
county and more recently served
term at San Quentin, where he met
Rollins, also a convict. Because or
Amaral's past the police will keep MIN MIN
and Wilson under surveillance untii
the Rollins trial is closed
Rollins was caught three years ago
in Oakland while working precisely
the same fraud which he is now
charged with operating~ He dweit IN
the penitentiary for two years, meeting
Amaral and laying plans to reopen his
alleged Illicit business on release. IN
stead of taking new haunts he returned
to Oakland, and since last June mas
been watched by the police, but nau
always eluded detection in any crime
until Mcleod. an employe or the gen
eral hospital at the San Francisco fre-
sidio. came forward with complaint
Rollins business was to adveruSe
for labor. He would take deposit OF
from $50 to $500 from the men VINO
answered and promise them Work IN
his Alaskan mines. The former trans
actions which landed him in prison
were closed by him when he took
crew of men to Seattle and le1t tneHi
stranded. He was arrested on his re-
turn.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
De lANC[Y WILL Be
SENTENCED TODAY
Convicted Attorneys Father in
Law Faces Quizzing by
the Grand Jury

OAKLAND, Dec. 6.--W. M. Mackin-
non, father in law of John S. de Lancey,
the attorney who was convicted Fri
day of the embezzling of $4,000 from
former Public Administrators Gray
whose legal representative he was. to-
day turned over to Gray the sum of
$2,37950 which Mackinnon owed as a
payment on land he bought from the
estate of the late Florence V. Donnelly.
The grand jury announced a few days
ago that it was going to investigate
Mackinnon's connection with the office
of the public administrators, and sub
penaed him to appear December 16.
Gray paid the money into the county
treasury.
When before the grand jury several
months ago, Mackinnon admitted that
he had purchased the property in ques-
tion from the Donnelly estate through
w. E. Dean. and that he had made only
a small payment in cash, and that the
balance was still unpaid. He said that
the reason for this was that there was
a flaw in the title, which has now been
cleared away.
Mackinnon will be questioned by the
grand jury about commissions which
he received from estates of dead peo-
pie for selling property, when the pur-
chaser was either himself or dummy
from whom he purchased. He has al
ready admitted doing this, and was Sc
verely grilled by Judge Ogden for do
ing so.
De Lancey will come up for sentence
tomorrow morning before Judge Brown.
His attorneys, NJ. c. Chapman and A
J.. Frick, have intimated that they
might appeal, but no definite statement
to that effect has been made, and much
speculation is being indulged in by
those conversant with the case. Dis
trict Attorney Donahue declares that
the record in the case is exceptionally
clear and that a reversal is extremely
improbable. De Lancey's friends say
that If he is not given heavy sentence
tomorrow morning he will not appeal
as he himself realizes the improba-
bilfty of success
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
NEW ZEALAND FROZEN
MEATS IN COMPETITION
Argentina Making Bid for Trade
of British Merchants

Consul General William A. Prickitt
of trade in favor of New Zealand for
the first half of 1909 was over s23,-
600, 900, as the following figures show:
The imports for the quarter ended
March 81 were. in value. s20,541, ,942,
and for the quarter ended June 30
s15,sS7,5S7, while the exports were, re-
spectively, $s4.171.311 and s25,614,4S4.
This shows an excess of exports Of
s23,S76,266.
Business. however, is still dull. Al
though the returns from wool, con-
sidering the low prices ruling last year,
might be regarded as satisfactory and
although the butter and cheese manu-
factories have been doing an increas-
ing and prosperous business, the ex-
treme depression in frozen meat Is
causing some uneasiness. 1t seems that
Argentina is becoming a formidable
competitor in the London market The
price has declined from 8 to 5 cents
pound, and If the depression continues
it means serious loss to New Zealand,
as frozen meat is the export second in
Importance.
The values of imports from the Unit
ed States for the quarter ended June
80 was $1,504,962 a decrease, compared
with 1908. of $259,451. which was a
much less percentage of loss than that
of any other foreign country. The
value of exports to the United States
for the quarter was. according to the
customs returns. s92s.12s, a gain over
1908 of s424,s66, this time exceeding
totaIed $745,20o, gain over 1908 of
the declared consular returns, which
$37S,456.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
KAT PLANT ROUSES TO
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT
Consul General Reports on Ef-
feet of Chewing Leaves

In reply to an inquiry of an ofnciai
in the department of agriculture, Con-
sui General Robert P. Skinner of Ham
burg transmits a report on the prop
critics of Catha edulis. or the kat plant,
from which the following extracts are
taken:
Some years ago, on reaching the town
of Harrar after a long and fatiguinS
climb from the Abyssinian lowlands.
the Ras Makanon served hbations OF
"tedj," a variant of hydromei, to his
numerous American visitors, and it was
then learned that in this extremely re-
freshing beverage Catha edulis, or the
kat plant, was used to some extent, ana
that largely because of the presence
Of this principle the beverage operated
so agreeabiy.
Certain tribes in Abyssinia chew the
leaves of the kat plant commonly when
they are compelled to exert special or
long continued effort, the immediate ef-
feet of which is to produce an agree
able sleeplessness and stimulation
The freshly cut leaves have a. rather
pleasant taste and produce kind OF
intoxication of long duration, with none
of the disagreeable features of ordi-
nary inebriety. Messengers and sol
diers are enabled, by chewing the
leaves, to go without food for num-
Der of days.
The use of the plant is even more
common in the Yemen (Arabian Tur-
key) than in Abyssinia, and in Hodeida
there are cafes frequented by the COM
mon people, who consume an infusion
of the freshly cut leaves, or perhaps
chew the leaves The better class of
merchants chew these leaves two or
three times day, the habit being fair
ly comparable to the use of tea In the
United States. Gabriel Guigniony of
Harrar writes as follows:
Generally speaking. the action of the
kat is stimulating and tonic and non
narcotic. Many OF our natives would
be incapable of accomplishing their
ordinary tasks before the absorption OF
fat, which takes the place of the Euro
pean alcohol accompanied by the same
phenomena of excitement. Among those
who abuse the habit the body tends to
dry, the visage becomes emaciated and
nervous trouble follows, the most usual
being a trembling of the limbs; but
these cases are rare. At times a too
copious absorption of kat produces a
state of drunkenness, particularly
when the large leaves are employed
The consumption of the kat is gen
eral throughout the Yemen, while in
Abyssinia it does not extend beyond the
districts surrounding Harrar, and is
unknown in Abyssinia, properly so
called. The Christian element of the
population consumes no kat, and the
domestic crop is taken up by the
Moslem population.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
WORTH KNOWING
Simple Remedy That Any One Can
Prepare at Home

Most people are more or less subject
to coughs and colds. A simple remedy
that will break up-a cold quickly and
cure any cough that is curable is made
by mixing two ounces of Glycerine, a
half ounce of Virgin Oil of Pine COM
pound pure and eight ounces of pure
Whisky. You can get these in any good
drug store and easily mix them in a
large bottle. The mixture is highly
recommended by the Leach Chemical
Co. of Cincinnati, who prepare the
genuine Virgin Oil of Pine compound
pure for dispensing
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
EVENTS IN THE COUNTIES BORDERING FRANCISCO
Urges New Grammar
School Courses and
Change of Methods

4 LAMBDA, Dec. 6.-Superin-
"a tendent of Schools Will c.
= Wood is in favor of reor-
ganizing the course of studies in
the grammar schools. He said
yesterday:
THAT change in the gram
mar school method of teaching
and in the studies taught in the
grammar grades is necessary at
this time is patent to educators.
Statistics show that 43 per cent
of the students from the gram
mar schools who enter the high
school drop out at the end of
the first year, indicating that
the high school course is too
hard for them, and also that
they have not been given suffi-
cient insight into the high
school work while in the gram
mar grades to fit them to take
up the advanced course and con-
tinue it easily.
The change from the present
grammar school work to high
school work is too much for
many pupils, and these are not
dull pupils, either. am in favor
of revision of the grammar
grades course. so that when a
student finishes his studies in
the grammar school he can take
hold and go right ahead with
the high school course"
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
QUIET WEDDING AT
HOME THEIR PLAN
Herbert Dingley and Miss Grace
H0stetter Will Be Married
Without OstentatiOn

OAKLAND, Dec. 6.-The wedding of
Herbert Dingley and Miss Grace Hos
letter is planned for the evening of
Monday, December 27. The marriage
will be celebrated with the least pos
sible ostentation at the Hostetter resi-
dence in East Oakland with only the
member of the immediate families and
a half dozen of the closest family
friends present. After their honey
Gatos, where the bridegroom elect has
large ranch properties. The ceremony
Will unite two of the most prominent
families of the bay cities. Since the
announcement of the betrothal late In
the summer Miss Hostetter has been
the inspiration for a round of social
pleasures. Miss Ciaribel Williams and
Mrs. William Wakefield each entertain
ing In her honor last week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Jay Welch, for
merly Miss Blanche Hostetter. will
come up from their country estate near
Los Banos to spend the holidays in
Oakland and to be present at the we'd
ding. The marriage of the elder daugh-
ter of the home and the well known
businessman was a notable event Of
the midsummer.
Tomorrow Roy Miller will claim Miss
Irene Hamblin as his bride at charm
ingly planned ceremony in the Uni
tartan church of Berkeley. The we'd
ding is to be quite simple in detail, the
brides only attendant being her sis
ter, Miss Ruth Hamblin. Rev. John
Rowland will read the marriage cere-
mony.
Miss Eleanor Lillian Garrigue, whose
marriage with Michael Frances CAL
lagher will be an event of Thurs
day, December 16, will be the motif for
the luncheon over which Mrs. John A.
Murphy will preside tomorrow after
noon at the Hotel Carlton. Covers
will be laid for the members of Miss
Garrigue's bridal party.
Wallace Alexander, who was called to
the Hawaiian islands a few weeks ago
on brief business trip, is planning to
return to Gray Cables" the hand
ders in Piedmont, in time to spend
Christmas with his wife and little
daughter, whose advent was SO eagerly
welcomed early in November.
Miss Dolly Sumner has chosen Sat
urday, December II, for her marriage
with Elmer E. Richards of Hilo. The
residence in East Seventeenth street
with a prettily appointed house serv-
ice. Besides the members of the FAM
lily Miss Sumner has included num-
ber of her oldest friends In her invi-
tations. Richards and his bride will
make their home in the Hawaiian ISL
ands, where the bridegroom has impor-
tant business interests. Miss Sumner
is the only daughter of Mrs. Sarah
Sumner and the late Prof. ]. III. Sum-
ner. who was we'll known in educa-
tional circles in this county, She is an
attractive girl and has host of friends
in Oakland, who regret that she is to
leave California. Last week she re-
turned from an eastern tour. Rich
ards has arrived from Hilo and Is shar-
ing in a number of the compliments
which are being offered his bride elect.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. B. Lastreto will give
up their Linda Vista home early in
the year. planning to make their per-
manent home on the beautiful suburban
estate near Redwood City, which they
have recently purchased.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
WESTERN PACIFIC
HANDLES FREIGHT
Oakland Merchants Send Ship
ping to New Railroad for
California Points

OAKLAND, Dec. 6.-Freight shipping
has now been carried on by the West
ern Pacific for nearly a week. and
already local shippers are according
the new railroad an encouraging pat
ronage. A freight train steams out of
the Oakland yards each evening, bound
for the Livermore valley and other
central California points. After the
first of the year the number of trains
on the local run will be largely in
creased. Two brand new giant freight
engines arrived last evening and will
be impressed into active service at an
early date.
Freight destined for transconti-.
mental points will not be handled by
the Western Pacific until December IL,
when the company becomes an active
party to the transcontinental freight
bureau. After that date the railroad
will carry freight to all parts Of the
United States.
A plentiful supply of freight cars is
now available for California traffic,
and the force of men at the Oakland
freight depot, Third and Alice streets,
is kept busy each day loading empty
cars and preparing them for the even
ing train.
Freight Agent. c. P. White, who is
in charge of the local depot. is greatly
pleased with the progress he has made
in bidding for the local shipping.
For a time there appeared to be
a general belief among the shippers
of Oakland that the roadbed of the
Western Pacific had not settled suffi-
GENTLY for active train service" said
White this evening. "and that the rains
would make it unsafe. There is no
foundation for this belief. The rains
have settled the roadbeds and increased
their stability, so that we are now in
position to handle large shipments
of freight, and guarantee them quick
transportation. The shippers of
Greater Oakland are apparently aware
that we are doing business, for we have
been kept busy each day answering
inquiries about our rates and train
schedules. After the first of the year
we will be in a position to compete on
even terms with the other transcon-
tinental roads for national shipping
There are 80 stations on the Western
Pacific in California, % of which are
in Alameda county. From Oakland
proper to the eastern border the pass
enger stations in Alameda county are:
East Oakland Fruitvale, Melrose,
Fitchburg, Elmhurst, San Leandro, San
Lorenzo, Meek, Hayward. Sorenson, De-
coto, Eberly, Niles, Goad, Mayburgs
Sunol. Hearst, Pleasantou. Livermore,
Goecken, Altamont and Midway. Out
side of Oakland in Alameda county
freight agents have only been estab-
lished at Niles, Pleasanton and Liver
more, ard for the present freight des-
tined for other points in the county
must be prepaid.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
INDIA'S COAL INDUSTRY
SHOWS LARGE INCREASE
Outbreak of Cholera Stops Work
for Two Months

The coal industry in India has now
assumed very important proportions;
the increase is again very marked,
the output having exceeded that of
the previous year by over 1900, 900
tons. The output was 12,149,020 tons,
as compared with 10,526,46 in 1907,
an increase of 15.41 per cent; practi-
cally the same rate of increase was
reached last year. There is no doubt,
says the Indian Journal that these
figures. large as they are. would have
been materially increased but for the
almost complete cessation of work for
two months owing to the severe out
break of cholera in the coalfelds
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
MANUEL NOT TO WE'D
PRINCESS ALEXANDER A
Rumors of Alliance False, Says
English Writer

1t appears to be as useless to contra
dict. says the Gentlewoman, the rumors
that an alliance is to be formed be-
tween King Manuel of Portugal and
Princess Alexandra of Fife. as it was
to assure people that the Grand Duke
Michael of Russia and Princess Patricia
of Connaught were not secretly affi-
anced. King Manuel and Princess
Alexandra as yet have never seen one
another. The story was contradicted
oflcially by Lord Knollys last july and,
says the writer, I have good reason to
know that the statement is a pure in
vention from beginning to end.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
"KISSLESS SMILES" ARE
SOLD BY PRETTY GIRL s
Substituted for OscuIatory Sa-
Iutes at Chicago Bazaar

CHICAGO, Dec. e.-with the kiss
less smile" understudy of the tabooed
direct kiss" as the star feature of
the evening, the annual bazaar of the
Temple Emanuel was held with big
success at the North Side turner hall
last night
The "kissless smiles" were intro
duced at the bazaar to take the place
OF the different grades of real genu-
inc kisses that had been advertised
and then dropped from the program
on account of the storm of protest
raised against them.
score or more of pretty girls dis
tributed the dainty but hollow smiles
with great profusion.
Besides scattering the s'kissless
smile" through the throng in attend
snce at the fete the girls sold flowers
and tags.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
BANNER GIVEN TROOPS
BY NAPOLEON IN MUSEUM
Interesting Relic Given French
Nation by Owner

An interesting addition has been made
to the contents of the Army museum In
Paris in the shape of the red and white
ensign ornamented with gold beetles
which Napoleon gave to the troops in
the island of Elbe during his sojourn
there, says the Westminster Gazette. A
French contemporary informs us that
the flag came into the possession of
Colonel Campbell, whom the allies set
to keep watch over the emperor, when
he made his sudden departure from the
island. and has remained in the family
ever since. The gift is one which the
French nation will no doubt be glad to
have in its possession.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
BERLIN LITERARY WORLD
STIRRED BY FREAK BOOK
Novel in Twelve Chapters, Each
Written by Different Author

The literary world of Berlin has be-
come quite stirred over the announced
publication in that city of what may be
described as a freak book. The volume
in question is a novel in IL chapters.
each one of which has been written by
different author. 1t seems that sew
eral of the best known modern writers
of Germany have collaborated in the
scheme Each author was instructed to
make his portion of the work as in
volved as he could. so that the work of
his successor might be the more diff
cult. Prizes are to be given to readers
who will guess rightly the authors of
the various chapters.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
CASES MUST BE READY
FOR SUPREME COURT
Highest Tribunal Announces
Rule in Emphatic Terms

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-In emphatic
language the supreme court of the
United States announced today its de-
cision not to receive cases on certif-
Gates from lower courts until they
have reached the proper stage for
such certiflcation.
This announcement was made in the
two important cases OF the Southern
Pacific and of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad companies against the inter-
state commerce commission.
The former involved the right of the
commission to reduce rates. the latter
the right of railroad companies TO
discriminate in the distribution of cars
among coal mines.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
OAKLAND SHIPPING
SHOWS BIG GAIN
Fifty Per Cent More Vessels
Docked in HarbOr During
1909 Than in 1908

OAKLAND, Dec, ,e-The chamber of
commerce has compiled table of ship
ping statistics which shows that the
maritime commerce of Oakland has in
creased nearly so per cent during the
current year.
These figures are regarded as sig
nicant criterion of -the proba BILE
amount of shipping which will be di-
rected to the local docks and wharves
when the harbor development now
about to be commenced is finally COM
pleted.
The showing made will be the basis
of an argument for increased congress
sional appropriation for Oakland har-
Dor TO be made by the local delegates
TO the national rivers and harbors
congress, which convenes in Washing
ton this week.
Following are the figures. showing
the total number of vessels which cast
anchor in Oakland harbor during the
two years, and their combined ton
mage:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
JUDGE LURTON MAY
BE SUPREME JUSTICE
Circuit Court Jurist Intimates
He Will Be Appointed

CINCINNATI, Dec 6.-Judge Horace
H. Lurton of the United States circuit
court of appeals, who arrived today
from his home in Nashville, Tenn, said
he had heard from high private sources
that President Taft would appoint him
to the United States supreme court
bench, but that he had no official infor-
nation.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
DENIES ENGAGEMENT
TO KING OF PORTUGAL
American Girl Will Not Be
Bride of Manuel

NEW YORK, Dec. 6.--Afiss Yvonne
Townsend. daughter of Lawrence
Townsend, former minister to Portu
gal. whom European cables had sug-
gested as bride for the young King
Manuel Of Portugal, arrived here to-
day from Antwerp with a denial of
any engagement.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07
SUPREME COURT DENIES
PETITION OF MORSE
Refuses Writ, Leaving Fifteen
Year Sentence in Effect

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-The supreme
court of the United States today denied
the petition of Charles w. Morse, the
New York banker, for writ of GER
tiorari. The result of the decision is
to leave in effect against Morse the
sentence of Is years imprisonment
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07

Leading Japanese provision mer-
chants have agreed to dispose of $500
bags of Brazilian coffee during the
next three years.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07

You're invited to visit our new Crys-
tai Room A variety of gift sugges-
cfions Sorenseu Co., jewelers., 715 Mar
ket st.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-07

Wallace Alexander, who was called to
the Hawaiian islands few weeks ago
on brief business trip, is planning to
return to Gray Cables" the hand
some new residence of the Alexan-
ders in Piedmont, in time to spend
Christmas with his wife and little
daughter, whose advent was so eagerly
welcomed early in November.