The San Francisco call., 1910-10-19
POLICE WATCH
At THE HOUSE
Of MERCHANT
Guard Placed Around Home of
B. KatschinsN to Balk
Miscreants' Plot
ThIeat to Blow Up Premises Is
Made by Men Who De-
manded $500 in Gold

B. Katschinski. the shoe merchant,
has offered a reward OF s2,50O for the
arrest and conviction of the black
raailers who sent him a letter demand
ing $500 under threat Of having his
house blown up. Katschinski placed
a decoy for the miscreants Monday
evening, and they would have been
captured had not the two detectives
detailed on the case stumbled while
running from their hiding place. Be-
fore the detectives could scramble TO
their feet after their fall the black
ulailers escaped in the darkness
The attempted blackmailing plot
against Katschinski, who is the head
Of the Philadelphia shoe company, has
aroused the business community of San
Francisco. and the police force and de-
fectives under Captain Wall are work
ing hard to discover the conspirators.
Katschinski said last evening that he
could not imagine who might be the
perpetrators Of the blackmaH scneme.
POLICE WATCH PREMISES
street corner Of Oak, Will be closeIy
watched by detectives to prevent any
attempt by the blackmailers to carry
out the threat made against the mer-
chant for his failure TO comply with
their criminal demands
Kstschinski received q poorly writ
ten note October 13. signed with the
deposit $500 in the lot adjoining the
sullivan mansion. now occupied by the
Catholic humane bureau. This prop
erty is near the handsome Katschin-
ski house al Oak and Webster streets,
and faces Oak The note said that
there We're eight in the conspiracy.
The Catholic humane society merely
keeps office hours In the building. At
night the place is left in the sole charge
OF a house keeper
TRAP TO CATCH BLACIxMAILERS
Ratschinski could not comprehend
the letter when he first received it.
knowing that he had no personal or
business enemies he could not under
stand why he should be selected for
the attack OF the blackmailers. He
thought at first that the letter might
be a hoax sent to disturb him without
cause. But he reported the matter TO
the police. and Captain of Detectives
Wall detailed Detectives Harry Braig
and William 9Iinnehan on the case. The
detectives concealed themselves in the
front room Of the Catholic humane
bureau Offices and waited there Mon
day evening for the coming Of the
hlackmailers.
Shortly after dusk Katschinski left
his home. carrying 2 coin sack in which
were A lot Of washers rolled together
Ia the shape Of a coin roll. with q
silver dollar on top. The merchant
walked briskly 10 the designated lot
and threw the coin sack far into the
lot. so that when they came for their
prospective reward the blackmailers
would have 10 expose themselves fully
10 the detectives, who were in the
window overlooking the area.
COUNTER PLOT DEFEATED
At s o'clock the detectives, in their
hiding place. saw a man coming
swiftly and furtively down the street
He reached the decoy point, vaulted
the fence and ran for the coin sack.
10 sooner had he grabbed it than the
detectives started from their hiding
place.
Then the fine counter plot failed.
Rrsig tripped on the stairs and fell.
Minnehan came tumbling after. and be-
fore the detectives could regain their
feet the blackmailer had jumped a
high fence into Webster street and was
dsshing toward Page and Haight al
fun speed. The detectives fred their
revolvers in the air after the fugitive
but the reports merely accelerated his
speed. At Pa ge and Webster streets he
joined his lookout and the two sped
10 Haight, where they were lost to
view.
FAMILY LAUGHS At FEAR
E. Katschinski is the head Of the
Phila delphia shoe company in Market
street near Fourth and is a pioneer
merchant Of San Francisco. He has q
family consisting Of himself and wife
2 daughter. Miss Helen Katschinski
and two sons. Alfred and Harold. who
are associated with him in his busi-
ness
We 90 not think that the black
u1ailers intended violence against my
father or against the family said Al
fred Katschinski yesterday afternoon
They thought that my father would
fall into their trap. would become
frightened and he an easy victim OF
their scheme. But he isn't that sort OF
q man. He would not submit tamely to
the plot. but Immediately planned to
circunnvent the crooks. If the police de-
tectives assigned TO the fob had not
fallen down stairs at least one of the
blsckmailers would have been caught
REWARD FOR CAPTURE
store. the Katschinski business house
sta ted yesterday that B. Katschinsk.
had offered reward of $1,000 for the
capture of the blackmailers. 1T is
simply a case of blackmail,' declared
Meyers. Mr.. Katschinski hasn't ar
enemy in the world and the crime could
not have been planned by any one who
was ever connected with the store"
Captain of Detectives Wall does not
believe that the blackmailers intended
violence against the Katschinski home
and family. but the crime was per
petrated by petty criminals. whc
thought that they could frighter
Katschinski into paying tribute.
The best description the detective,
have of the blackmailer. who jumped
the fence and grabbed the washers, il
that he is a man about feet
inches tall, weighing $50, and of darl
complexion.