The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-10-29
julius W. Asch Soours San Fran
cisco For Fugitive While Latter
Accepts Service In Divorce Ac-
ton, Hunt Leading Into Mexico
IAlLBtRD AND BARTLETT
ARE GUESTS OF RANCHER
But Honolulu officer Could Not
Get Near Them - Startling
Story of Maladminishation At
Prison and Release Of Criminal

John J. McGrath, convicted "badger
gone artist, who is wanted here for
sentence and servitude Of term in the
territorial penitentiary, is in San
Francisco, or was on October 4.
Apparently there is no secrecy con
corning his whereabouts, He appeared
before the city and county clerk of
San Francisco on October 4, to accept
service of papers in the divorce suit
brought here by his wife.
He was found easily enough by the
officers Of San Francisco in the matter
# the divorce. t-
Julius W. Asch, deputy sheriff, left
II honolulu September 8, going directly
to San Francisco to search for NJ
Grath and Charles J. Bartlett, former
president of the Honolulu Brewing ami
Mailing Company.
Asch returned to Honolulu yesterday,
without either man in custody. He
said neithcr could be "located."
He told The Advertiser early yestrr-
lay he had not been outside San Fran
cisco. He likewise denied he had been
looking for either McGrath or Bartlett.
He told the Star Bulletin he had been
searching for both and had received
reliable information that both were a
'"w miles from Tia Juana, in Mexico,
and therefore cOuld not be reached W
I'm, Afterwards he repeated this
'c~y to The Advertiser.
While McGrath has been badly
wanted in Honolulu ever since he cs-
cLped from the county Jail the night
# April 30, and while Deputy Sheriff
Asch has been feyerishly hunting him
on the Coast, the convicted crook has
been peacefully and openly residing in
San Francisco.
He has made no effort at conceal
ment. walking the streets of the city
by the Golden Gate as freely as any
"itiaen Of the Republic.
Pound without Difficulty
lie has been found without difficulty
by process servers and at their behest
has appeared openly before the city
and county clerk, to accept service Of
peppers in his wife : action for divorce.
And this was while Deputy Sheriff
Asrh was on the Coast, "fevcrishly
hunting his tricky and most elusive
quarry!
II likewise was most pccuIl%r
coincidence that the same boat which
HIDuRnl lHe lcSdl nNIiltl mum
without his game, brought also the pa
prrs in the McGrath divorce suit, dm'v
accepted by McGrath and bearing hjS
signature, which had been placed on
it in the presence of the city and cOun-
ty clerk of San Francisco.
Mrs. McGrath brought suit for srpn-
ration after her husband had vanish"
from Hawaii The notice of the action
must be served on the husband wh"a
he can he found. The papers were re
ceived in yesterday morning 8 mail nV
Mrs. McGrath 5 attorney, Leon N.
Straus, according to the statement of
the latter. Straus said:
"McGrath was served in San Fran
cisco on October 4 with the papers in
the divorce action pending here and
brought by his wife,
81 understand that he appeared he
fore the clerk of the city and county
+ San Francisco and accepted service.
No Business With Bartlett
He said that his business had moth
ms to do with Charles G, Bartlett, an
ether of the Territory's prize all
scondPrs. s...
"The federal authorities in San
Francisco want McGrath just as badly
as eve do" vOuchsafed the deputy,
"and If they are unable to locate him
there WASH t much chance that | cOuIh
do 500 Asch looks fat and well aud
reports prosperous trip. He said ne
did not leave San Francisco while
away.
Later, however, he said he had spent
much time in Southern California, even
going down to Tia Juana, Mexico, in
his b FRY. fraitIess search for MeGr"th and
Guests OF French Rancher
He objected strongly to the state
ment made public that he had ''lO-
Gated the two men.
~ did not locate them" he de.
clared. at don I say have located
man until | get my hands on him in
person. What ] did was to ascertain
beyond all reasonable doubt that both
are the guests of FreBchman who
has big ranch two miles south Of
Aguas Calientes, which in turn il
twelve miles south of Tia Juana.
I 81 was assured by officers in San
Diego and Tia Juana that my men
were on the ranch, but ! didn t see
them. The American customs OIficer
at Tia Juana assured me there was
no hope. of getting my, hands on Nc
Grath ard Bartlett because the greas
or officials in Mexico refuse absolutely
any assistance to American officials
He said there were hundreds of men
! 'ar Tia Juana who are wanted in the
States, hut unless they could be led
across the boundary into California
there was no way Of placing them un-
der arrest ..s '-.f...