The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-05-16
District Attorney Threatens
to Arrest Army Of De
tectives in Mothers En-
ploy if They Do Not End
Patrol Around Gait Chill
dren-Delay Until Today
NEIGHBORS HELD UP
ENTER COMPLAINT
Townsfolk Halted at Night
and Forced TO Explain
Their Presence in Vicinity
by Private Sleuths-Lid
Move Follows the Inves-
tigation of Shadowing

Claugnry and her husband. Hull Me-
Claughry. over their two children.
Dextra and Baldwin McCIaughry. who
are being constantly watched while
in the fathers care in Gait by small
army of detectives. received official
cognizence today when District Attor-
ney wachhorst and sheriff Ahern In
vestigated the situation.
After receiving an ocular demonstra-
tfon OF the manner In which Me-
Claughry and the children are being
followed In every step they take. Dis
trict Attorney wachhorst served mo-
tice on the detectives that they must
cease their shadowing or he would
have them arrested for disturbing the
peace.
He gave them half an hour to get
IN touch with Garrett McEnerney Of
San francisco attorney for Mrs. Nc
claughry. McEnerney notified wach-
horst to defer official action until At
torney John ]. Barrett of San Fran
cisco could arrive IN Sacramento to-
morrow morning. 'Ap the Mcclaughry
home remains under the watchful eyes
OF the secret operatives tonight
GAIT FOLK. HELD UP. COMPLAIN
Complaints from residents of Gait.
who protested against the actions of
the detectives caused the district at
torney to interfere. He was told that
residents OF Gait who happened to pass
the McCIaughry home at night were
stopped by detectives and flashed by
lanterns and made to explain their
business.
In company with Assistant District
Attorney Atkinson and County Detec-
tive Lamphrey. wachhorst and Sheriff
Ahern inspected conditions this after
noon. They found two automobiles
filled with detectives waiting In front
Of the little AfcClaughry home. while
sentries patrol1ed the alleys and rear.
McClaugnry stated that he did not
care to take the initiative In trying
to compel the detectives to retire. al
though they llarassed and annoyed him.
81 want to make my home here and
live In my own quiet and peaceful
way with my children" declared Me-
CIaugIlry. "I want to be left alone
that is all. IF they want to get the
children from me. the courts are open
to them do not mean to run away
with the children. I want to stay right
here
PROWLERs ANNOY NEIGHBORs
These persons are trying to annoy
and harass, they are trying to lead
me into side issues. I can not bulge
from this place without a force of de-
tectives at my heels.
"At night they sneak up to windows
and flash their lights. They prowl
about the house all night and annoy
the neighbors We are forced to draw
the curtains every night to keep out
their curious eyes.
Il am not employing armed men to
defend my children and myself. I am
among my friends In this place and
they are with me. They are the ones
who are helping me"
While McClaughry was explaining
the situation detectives paced back
and forth in front of the house. To
show the officers what restraints have
been thrown about him, McClaughry.
with his two children, jumped in the
automobile of James Whitaker, a Gait
merchant, and friend of the family, and
motored off.
AS soon as the children were seen
to leave the front yard. the engines
OF the two automobiles OF the de-
tectives snorted, and as the Whitaker
machine sped past they followed. 1t
was like thrilling moving picture
drama in real life to see the three
automobiles racing around in a circle,
the machines of the detectives speeding
that of Whitaker.
DETECTIVES ARE WARMED
AS the detectives automobiles passed
the McClaughry house after the dem
onstration was ended. Sheriff Ahern
stepped out and halted them
4. Martin. who was pointed out as
the captain of the crew, was ordered
to step out He was then notified by
the district attorney that there must
be a cessation of hostilities, or every
detective would be landed In jail for
disturbing the peace of the Gait resi-
dents.
That the peace OF the quiet town was
disturbed was indicated by the hum
dreds Of persons who rushed to doors
and windows as the detectives pursued
the McClaughrys.
Synpathy Is with McClaughry. ana
his pursuers were 5eered and hooted.