The San Francisco call., 1910-12-20
grand JURY tn
DELVE into The
BULLION Theft
Indictments Expected Against
Smith, Henry Woman and
WOOdsons
lazif Is Raised on the Poppy
Dreams as Result of
Crusade

'i'ie-its charging grand larceny
1saihsl Elmer Smith: his woman com
p3hlon' Margaret Henry: Little Tex,,
=. IT, Woodson. and Big Tex G. M
Noooson, are expected tonight from
tHe grand jury. Though part Of the
stolen $4,000 was taken from Smith
"nen he was captured. the prosecution
aalhits II has not sufficient evidence ~
-Ie conviction in the police court.
ot tnls reason Assistant District
-A1torney Norris Oppenheim moved for
= ~eAtiLuance until Friday when the
case was called in Police Judge short
a-i court yesterday In granting the
nouon Shortau indicated that in the
event the prosecution was not prepared
Tor us case Friday. the proceedings
would be dismissed.
Dlstrlct Attorney Fickert VIII prob
aoiy make report TO the grand jury
tonight on the steps he has taken to
suppress opium traffic. Recommends
lions Tor breaking up the opium ring
n4 TIE jury had been hinted at by
oienan J. Goldman, but now that
DIlet Of Police Seymour has taken up
The matter, immediate action by the
grand 3ury may be postponed.
DRUG RAIDS MADE
Chief Seymour has been advised that
number Of customs inspectors 10
round up Opiums distributing places in
Chinatown. Inspector +. r. EnlOw led
several raids yesterday Afternoon A
quantity Of opium was seized as well
as some morphine and cocaine, which
We're turned over TO the police.
Don kee, the proprietor of a smok-
ing den in Dupont street near Sacra-
mento. was arrested and booked in the
city prison. Other arrests were made
which STATIONS Office viii not make
public. The police have been working
with the federal men and the special
investigators employed by Fickert with
The result that the net has been drawn
tightly about some Of the drug Venders.
AS result Of the crusade the price
Of opium pills" has increased. The
price in the Palm lodging house, oper-
ated by Mrs. Catherine McGee, before
the secret service men swOoped down
upon it. was so cents and IS cents. The
present price is from 81 TO $50. This
is because of the increased risks.
The arrival OF H Durand, postal in
spector Of Portland with claim that
the recovered gold bullion belonged
10 a Canadian shipment OF S1S,232.
threatened TO spoil the prosecutions
plans yesterday. Durand accompanied
by NJ J. Madeira and Inspector W. G.
Swain Of the local Office, visited the
property clerks Office and examined the
gold bars. These failed TO correspond
10 any Of the list OF so gold bars stolen
from the Canadian registered mail and
directed TO Portland
The gold taken from the registered
mail was part of the gold shipment in
which the $4,000 OF the Fireman's fund
insurance was included. Durand be-
IieVes that the same band conducted
both thefts. The boxes Of bullion We're
allowed TO remain in plain sight of the
passengers on the deck like so much
pig iron. The theory was that what
ali the passengers could see was bound
10 be safe.
A queer tangle has occurred in the
property clerks office Little Tex, when
arrested had over $500. This money
was claimed by the Firemans fund in
surance as part Of the proceeds from
the stolen bullion It has developed
that the money was part Of a sum real
lied for smuggIed opium which Little
Tex had disposed of for the ring. Little
Tex has tried every eXpedient TO save
the money from going as part of the
bullion money and members Of the ring
have demonstrated with him to recover
the money.
MANY WITNESSES EXPECTED
Before the prosecution goes on with
the bullion case il viii be necessary to
bring many witnesses from Oregon and
the north have a list Of witnesses who
are willing TO appear. w. K. Field has
assured Attorney Oppenheim that the
necessary witnesses can be had If time
he allowed. The testimony of these
witnesses would be Of such a nature as
10 insure a conviction, says Oppenheim
Dick Meditth IS among those wanted.
The evidence at hand is insufficient TO
risk a police court trial, but there is
sufficient evidence, says Oppenheim. to
bring about grand jury indictments.
One Of the exciting tits between
counsel yesterday was when the at
torneys for the defense asked for a re-
duction of bail Oppenheim opposed
this on the ground that the original
sum stolen was S57. 600 and that the
bail was in keeping with the size of the
theft. The matter was continued. The
bail for each is s25.0o0 cash or $50. 900
bonds.
In the event that Judge Shortau dis
misses the defendants. the prosecution
viii Immediately rearrest them, and
this procedure viii be continued in
definitely until the witnesses from the
north arrive.
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