The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07


lished today that the fugitive wanted
for the murder of the Kendall family
at the Starbuck ranch in Sonoma
county is Manjiro Yamagachi, native
of the island of Sagar. This proof of
the supposed murderer's identity is the
most important lead the authorities
have yet obtained in running the crimi-
nal to bay.
From Japanese societies and associa-
tions have come repeated offers to help
the. officers in capturing the Kendalls'
slaper, but in every case the friendly
little brown men despaired of success
without knowing more than that the
wanted man was named Yamagachi
Mistaken identity, caused by the
similarity of names, put the police on
false trail again today, with the usual
result of an innocent man being de-
tanned for investigation. Yesterday
the victim of circumstances was j.
Mayeda, a Japanese working as
houseboy at the Starbuck Lake street
home. He proved to be the original OF
the picture of "Yamagachf sent out
from Santa Rosa and he was arrested.
Today Yoshfo Yoshida, secretary OF the
Japanese association of Sonoma and
Mendocino counties, came from santa
Rosa with deputy sheriffs, and he at
once cleared Mayeda. The young
prisoner, who is the son of a Japanese
nobleman, was at once released.
TRAIL LEADS TO RICHMOND
The second false arrest came this
forenoon when X. Yamagachi, answer
ing to the general description OF the
fugitive. was captured In the tenderloln
at Point Richmond by Detectives NC
Sorley and Emigh and Special officer
Walker of Richmond. He desired to
hide his pame from the officers because
of his life, and this in itself seemed
a sign of guilt
Yama gachi was taken to the city jail
here and was questioned. The police
soon found that they had again fol-
lowed a blind clew. and Yamagachi was
set free. He proved to be no relation
to the Cazadero suspect, whom he does
not even know.
K Yama gachi was trailed by the po-
lice for two days before he was ar
rested He was living at Point Rich
mond with a woman of the tenderlofn
when the first account OF the Cazadero
murder was published, and he disap-
peared that day. The police here
learned of him and for two days fol-
lowed his trail. He was lured to the
Richmond resort through the woman.
and all last night detectives waited for
him
When Yama gachi appeared today he
was intercepted and questioned. He
denied his name at first, saying K.
Yama gachi was in Golden Gate avenue,
San Francisco, and would return later.
Confronted with identification, he ad
mitted his name finally and went to the
Oakland jail, where an interpreter,
trusted by the police, got his explana
tion.
JAPANESE OFFER AID
The failure of the Point Richmond
clew to bring forth the suspected mur-,
derer left the police without a lead on
which to work. The prospects OF cap
turing the criminal seemed scant until
the offers of help began to come from
the friendly Japanese. These orientals
have a deep interest in the capture of
Manjiro Yamagachi. for if the Kendall
crime goes unavenged the Japanese will
surely be run out of Sonoma county.
The law abiding element of the silent
aliens is taking up the cause of their
countrymen and the movement was felt
at police headquarters today when II.
Matsushita, secretary of the Japanese
mission at $50 Eighth street, offered the
help of his countrymen in the pursuit.
The Japanese asked the police to
learn the true name and nativity of the
murderer Without knowing which
Yamag gachi was sought and when he
would be impossible for even Yama
gachi's countrymen to identify him in
his hiding.
For several hours after Matsushita's
visit Captain of Detectives Petersen
bent his energies to procuring the
needed information. He finally learned
that the suspect was Manjiro Yama-
gachi, born in Sagar island, and later
confirmed this information through
hn Va Chi ra1I
and who came here this morning to see
Mayeda. the suspect arrested yesterday.
EXONERATES SUSPECT
Yoshida came here today with Dep
uty Sheriff Ramsay, Ticket Agent Car
lyle and Poundmaster j. NJ. Samuels, all
of Cazadero. He was brought to iden-
tify Mayeda. Samuels came to see the
dog at the Starbuck house. which had
been left there by Yamagachi the day
the Japanese told Mrs. Starbuck of the
murders.
Yoshida was questioned by Captain
Petersen concerning the conversation
he had with Yamagashi at Santa Rosa
the day the suspected murderer was
fleeing from the Cazadero ranch. He
could add nothing to the information
already Cleaned, declaring that Yama-
gachi did not tell him of any trouble
on the ranch.
oner he saw as one of the Japanese
employed at the ranch last winter,
and eh declared Immediately that there
was no connection between the Star
buck houseboy and the murderer. When
Yosfida had told the police this and
brought about Mayeda's release the
young noblemans son spoke for the
first time Of the crime.
'I do not believe any Japanese killed
the Kendalls," he said, "for Japanese
always kills himself when he takes the
life of another. This is the custom of
our people, and I am sure If Yama-
gachi had been the murderer he would
not have escaped but would have slain
himself"
DISCREPANCY IN EVIDENCE
Out of the visit of Yoshida, Deputy
Sheriff Ramsey, Carlisle and Samuels,
has come discrepancy which the po-
lice can not now explain. Yoshida,
Samuels and Carlisle all assert that
Yamagachi. leaving Cazadero and Santa
Rosa on the Supposed day of the mur-
der, had no marks on his face and gave
no evidence of any excitement. But
the first report from the Starbucks was
that Yamagachi, when he called at their
home, had a bruised eye. Starbuck
himself had an explanation. He said:
"Yamagachi told of the fight, and
showed a bruise but to me the injury
1.