The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 17, 1895, Page 16

16 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1895. DURRANT AT WORRED AT THELEAK STORY, His Attorneys Maintain They Can Prove | an Alibi. ‘ THE LADY NOT AT HOME. She Has Not Been at. the| Hackett Residence Since Thursday. COMMENTS . OF THE ACCUSED. | The White-Halred Woman First Confided Her Tale to the | Rev. Mr. Gibson. | THE DURRANT CASE IN A MINUTE—MRS. | CAROLINE LEAK AND HER STORY. The prosecution in the Durrant case is for- +ward with 8 new witness in the person of Mrs. Caroline S, Leak of 124 Bartlett street. She has made & statement to the police that on | | Durrant on the day she was said to have church she saw her mistake. It was not Lucille Turner, but Blanche Lamont, whom she had noticed at church services quite frequently. The girl had a_package of schoolbooks under her arm, and as .the two passed -leisurely, chatting gayly, Mrs. Leak was convinced of théir identity be- yond a doubt.- Upon - reaching the church gate the couple stopped for an instant, and Durrant’| held openthe gate and passed in after his companion. _ ] “What an imprudent thing for her to do,” said Mrs. Leak to herself; not that she thought anything detrimental to the character of either, but for the reason that the young lady was laying herself liable to unkind remarks from others who might have seen her enter with the young man. Having nothing else 'to occupy ‘her time or mind Mrs. Leak continued her vigil, keeping her eyes steadily fixed on | the ehurch, expecting every moment.to | see the young couple come out. She | waited a long time, how long she cannot say, but considerably over half an hour, but_the gate did not reopen. Household duties then claimed her attention and she left her post. This circumstance: might have faded completely out of the mind of the old fady had she not heard within the next day or two of the mysterious disappearance of Blanche Lamont. She was certain that she had. seen the girl enter the church with disappeared, and the recollection came to | her in'the natute of a shock when shereal- | ized that the young medical student might have had ‘a hand in the :disappearance. - lon, the constant effort of the police ever since the day that the former divulged to the police the nature of the evidence he would give. With the statement of Mrs. Leak, they are confident that they have accom- plished their -purpose. The old lady, who, they say, is bright and ac- tive despite her silvery hair and her aver three-score years, is sadly positive that she could not have been mis- taken. - If she is not, what does her test; timony prove, and how closely does 1t con- | nect with King’s? At ten minutes. past four she saw Blanche Lamont enter the church with Theodore Durrant. For a ig time, certainly much longer than half an hour, she waited and watched and neither came out_of the church. Shortly before 5 o’clock King saw Durrant in the .| state described in the Sunday-school room of the church. Twelve days later the mu- tilated boay of Blanche Lamont was found in the beliry; her school-books were found there secreted in the rafters. These statements being offered by Mrs. Leak, say the police, who can deny that her statements are trne? They point to her acquaintances, to her life and reputa- tion in the neighborhood to establish her sinceri? and truth. They point to her sorightly eye and her elastic step to show that the advance of years has neither im- I‘»nired her vision nor deranged her intel- ect. She is the welder of the link and the prosecution is prepared to go freshly to the combat, re-enforced by her evidence. ‘T'hat is what the: prosecution thinks of the testimony of Mrs. Leak. e e DURRANT CONFIDENT. The Accused’s Terse Comments on Mrs. Leak’s Story. William Henry Theodore Durrant does not appear to be much concerned about Mrs. Leak’s purported testimony, although resumed in Judge Murphy’s court yester- day morning in full face of the informa- tion that a new and presumably a most im- gorunf. witness against the defendant had een found. It was patent in the nature of things that the defendant had been fully apprised of the damaging testimony of this new witness, butno one would ever have judged it from his demeanor. Dur- rant was positively mirthiul. He fairly beamed on the court officials, and when Mr. Deuprey came in a little late he leaned over smiling broadly at some infor- mation he had to convey, and Mr. Deu- prey, in turn, seemed to be struck by something very humorous in the remarks of his client. There was a full house looking on, noting every change ip the faces of the accused and’ his attornéy, and the specta- tors were not slow to see that Mr. Deuprey Wwas not in as fine form as he usually is. His eyes had the appearance of those of a man who has been burning the midnight oil in the solution of abstruse questions, and Mr. Deuprey at the present time, with the Durrant case and the Haskins will contest in full blast at the same time, has probably had to burn the necessary oil. Judge Murphy was behind time himself and labored painfully as he ascended the bench and looked out over the crowd in front of him. The defendant, by this time, had faced square around to the bench, the first time he iias done so since the trial began, his back to the audience. _His Honor got down to business imme- diately, and after the calling of the roll of the jurors in the box and the citizens in the new venire announced himself ready to hear excuses. At least fifty of the veniremen rose in a mass and for the next half-hour engaged the attention of the court with their pleas for releate. This task being finished, the work of ex- amining jurors was commenced, his Honor stating that he was feeling so badly that he would take a recess 2t noon for the day. JUDGE MURPHY AT CLOSE QUARTERS. [Sketched by a “Call” artist.] April 3 last, 8t 4:10 o’clock in the afternoor, she saw Blanche Lamont enter Emmanuel Baptist Church with Durrant. She knew both of them, the accused, particularly. In this statement Captain Lees places the most im- plicit confidence. Attorneys for the defense and the defendant himself do not seem to be in the least worried by the discovery of this new witness. They stoutly maintain their ability to establisn an alibi, and the accused remarks thata soman who wavered inidentification between Blanche Lemont and Lucille Turner could hardly be depended upon to see much across Bertlett street. Mrs. Leak is the divorced wife of the prin- cipal stockholder of the Lesk Glove Company of Gloversville, now residing in New York City. She bears an excellent reputation tn the Emmanuel congregation, of which she has been & member for sixteen years, but others state that she is inclined to talk considerably and is more than likely to be mistaken in her | dates. Mrs. Leak could not be found at her | residence yesterday, and it is more than likely that she has sought another abode in order to escape callers. The search for jurors went on for an hour yeeterday unsuccessfully. - At: noon Judge Murphy was obliged to adjourn court until | Monday on account of his illness. NotE To THE READER.—If you wih only to Know what was actually accomplished in the | Durrant case yesterday the foregoing summary will give you that information. If, however, it is your desire to learn the particulars of this interesting trial you will find subjoined a clear, succinet, impartisl account of all important matters. “Under no circumstances will the | offensive details be admitted. They are not essentisl to an intelligent understanding of the progress of the case, and will be sccorded me place in these columns. { The last, the connecting, the strongest | link in the chain of evidence against Dur- | rant has been forged. The steely circle is | complete. But one human force can rend | it.and that forceis an alibi. So the police say. That alibi, even in the face of this latest | and most important discovery, the ac- | cused and his counsel stoutly maintain | their ability to establish. | With this connecting link comes the wit- ness to support it. She is Mrs. Caroline S, Leak, a white-haired woman of 65,'who has | been a member of Emmanuel Baptist | Church for the past sixteen years, residing | at the present time at 124 Bartlett street, almost directly opposite the ensangained edifice. She has stated plainly to Captain Lees that she saw Theodore’ Durrant_and Blanche Lamont enter Emmanuel Bap- tist Church at ten minutes past 4 o’clock on the afternoon of April 3 last, and that, although she watched long and patiently, she saw neither of them make an exit. - According ‘to her story on April 3 Mrs. Leak was in ex[l»ecration of a:visit from hex daughter, who lives at San Mateo. Early in the -morning of that day she took her station at one of the windows:in her room in the second story of the house occupied by the family of “Andrew . J.. Hackett, a letter-carrier, at 124 Bartleit street, and there, hour after hour, she watched for the commeg of her child, Her vigi| was unre- warded, the noon .hour passed and she still watched on.. .When tE: clock struck 4 Mrs. Leak had alniost given up hope, but still lingered at the window. About ten | minutes later, while gazing in the direc- tion of Twenty-second street, she saw a young man and.a young woman coming up on the other side. She recognized the man as Durrant, whom she has known for years, but was puzzled at first as to.the idén- tity of his companion. Her first thought was that the young lady was Miss Lucille Turner, but as the couple neared tpe ¢ | saw Durrant and M She said nothing. A few days later came the discovery of the dead bodies of Minnie Williams and Blanche Lamont, both in the church across the way, and then the mass of circumstantial evidence. piled up against Durrant, the exemplary young man of the church; the companion of Blanche Lamont on_the afternoon when she so. suddenly disappeared from the world. It was too much for Mrs, Leak. Taking the evidence of her own eyes for it she could arrivé at but one conclusion, and that was ‘that the man arrested was the strangler and murderer. For days and days Mrs. Leak struggled with the burden of her knowledge. She shrank from the publicity which was sure to overtake her should she come forward as a witness, and her conscience continually whispered that it was her duty to furnish the knowledge which she possessed to the proper authori- ties. Torn by these conflicting emotions she sought a confidant to whom she could unburden her soul, and from whom she might obtain such counsel as would set her aright. She called on the Rev. J. George ‘Gibson, the pastor of the church, and to him she told her story. The pastor advised her ' to. communicate with the authorities. This conference ‘occurred ahout two weeks ago, as nearly ascan be learned, and the pastor’s confidential sec- setary, Mr. Lynch, was the medium of communication. When Captain Lees was informed of the story he detailed Detec- tive Seymour to call upon Mrs. Leak. Upon that visit ‘the ‘old lady again described what she had seen, and later on consented to make a full statement of her knowledge of the affair to be taken down in short- hand, transcribed and signed. This prom- ise she has fulfilled, and her signed state- ment is now in the possession of Captain Lees, to. await’ the day when Mrs. Leak shall have taken the stand to describe to Judge and jiry what she saw on that fate- ful afternoon from her sécond-story win- dow. That is the story of Mrs. Leak, and in it | the prosecution places the utmostreliance. 1t is the one link, they claim, to make the chain of circumstantial evidence against the young medical student complete. . It is the testimony needed to amplify and es- tablish the . testimony of those Normal School girls and Martin Quinlan, theattor- ney, and toconnect it with that of George R. King, the organist of the church, the -once comparion of Durrant. These three girls—the Misses May Lani- gan, Alice E. Pleasant and Minnie Belle Edwards — testified Positively that they iss Lamont board a Powell-street carat Powell and Clay streets | on the afternoon of April 3, shortly after 30’clock. They could not be mistaken as to Miss Lamont, as she had just left their company, and in the courtroom and at Clrief Crowley’s office they positively iden- tified Durrant as her companion. Martin Quinlan, an attorney, about an hour later on the same afternoon, was crossing Bartlett street, at Twenty-second, when he almost brushed againsta young man,whom ke identificd as Durrant, walk- ing on Bartlett street in the direction of Emmanuel Baptist Church, in company with rfioung lady, who_ had school-books in her hand. ¥ ;. Georid R. King, the organist,testified at both the Coroper’s inquest and the pre- liminary hearing, that at about 5 o’clock on that same afternoon, Durrant rushed into :the Sunday-school room.from the usper part -of . the church. His coat was off, his face was pale and his_hair dishev- eled, while beads of perspiration stood out on _his forehead.. King asked " liim what was the matter, and Durrant replied that he had been upstaijrs fixing the sunburners and had been overcome by the gas. At his request King. went for some bromo- seltzer, and when he had returned he founa Durrant somewhat more composed. To fill the gap between the testimony of Quinlan and that of George King has been he is fully conscious of the damaging effect of such a story if Mrs. Leak will really swear to it. He thinks he must have known her, but the name brings no iden- tity to his mind. He spent the afternoon in reading his first dime novel—an old Cap. Collier ver- sion of the Emmanuel Church murders, His only comment on the latest sensa- tion was: “Anybody who could mistake Blanche Lamont for Lucille Turner would be liable to mistake almostanybody else for me.” The force of the comment is explained by the fact that Miss Turner has a well- developed figure, while Miss Lamont was %uite slender and weighed, according to aptain Lees, but little over 115 pounds. Miss Turner is also nearly a head taller than was the murdered girl. Friends of Durrant recollect also that the clothing worn by Miss Lamont on the afternoon of her disappearance was comparatively new and had been recently worn by her at the church services and socials, so that Mrs, Leak, if she was at all familiar with the appearance of the dead. girl, must have readily recognized her dress. Mrs. Leak’s neighbors are inclined to discredit her alleged story and to represent her as a woman rather prone to gossip. They credit her with the origin of the statements that young people of both sexes were accustomed to_ resort to the church at all hours of the night and day. One woman,who refused to give her name, but who can be readily protfuced if neces- sary, ridiculed the whole story, stating that she had known Mrs. Leak for a long time; that she could do only the plainest kind of sewing and that her eyesight was so poor that it was preposterous to credit tte 1dea that she could identify any one from across a room, to say nothing of across a street. She thinks the foundation for the latest sensation lies in Mrs. Leak’s gossip about young people entering the church and the fact that Detective Seymour has visited her frequently of late to see whether she cannot remember that the date on which she saw one couple enter the edifice was April 3. To the attorneys for the defense the story of the prosecution’s latest and most im- portant witness came as a complete sur- prise, but, so far as can be judged from appearances, it causes them little if any uneasiness—so little, in fact, that General Dickinson, the leading counsel for Dur- rant, will spend to-day and to-morrow on a hunting and fishing trip in Nevada County. “The statement that Mrs. Leak would be a witness for the prosecution,” said the general last night, “was, of course, a sur- Erisew us. I know nothing concerning er except what I have heara to-day, and have been too busy with other matters to make any investigations. But, even if she will go on the stand and swear to the story that it is said she told Chief Crow- ley, I do not think it will affect the case of the defense. 1cannot see why it should. Our alibi is so complete, so invincible that Idonot think this story, even if testified to, can affect us at all.” . ‘“Has not your confidence in Durrant’s innocence been shaken by the great mass of tegtnpong against him?” was asked. ‘“Not in the least,” was answered in very gosmve_ tones; *I have the firmest con- idence in his innocence, and that it will be fully proved. Have I spoken to him of Mrs. Leak? Yes, I asked him whether he h]ald”beard she was to be a witness—that's all. General Dickinson’s trip will take him by way of Ukiah. He will return in time for the court proceedings on Monday. . ———— JURORS ARE VERY SCARCE. ‘Hard Work Filling the Box In the Durrant Case. The search for jurors to try Durrant was H. Herrman, the first venireman exam- ined, stated that he would not under any circumstances bring in a verdict of guilty on circumstantial evidence. He was ex- cused on the challenge of the prosecution. A. Burnham was challenged and ex- cused on the ground that he had an opinion on the case which could be re- moved only by the strongest kind of evi- dence. John L. Herget, the ‘“Young Mitchell” of the palmy days'of the prize-ring, stated that he had formed a strong opinion on the case. “We have tried Durrant often at my place of business,” he said. it He was challenged by the District At- torney and excused. A A. Lemaire was against_capital punish- ment under any conditions, and was Dromf)tly challenged and excused. X P. J. Eagan, a grocer at 933 Greenwich streat,was the possessor of a strong opinion on the case, for which reason he was ex- cused, as was also M. Mohr, a hookkeeper, resiaing at 2218 Van Ness avenue. 8. Tripp, an ex-employe in the railway mail service, residing at 131 Valencia street, was excused by reason of the fact that he was not on the last assessment roll. N. Bullerdieck, hay and grain dealer, re- siding at 833 Seventeenth street, was chal- lenged by the defense on the ground that he possessed a strong opinion on the case. He was excused, and J. E. Marks and W, G. Copeland were challenged and excused on the same ground. Some little interest was created in the examination of A. 8. Levinson, tne venire- man examined next. In answer to a ques- tion by the District Attorney he stated that he would convict on circumstantial evidence, but would require that that evi- dence establish the guilt of the defendant in his mind beyond a possible doubt. | When he had gone this far the court took him in_hand. " *‘Do I understand you to say,” inquired his Honor, “‘that your mind would have to be satisfied to the demonstration of a cer- tainty in the matter?” “Well,” was the reply, “almost to a cer- tainty.” Mr. Deuprey next took him in hand. ‘““Under the law,"” he said, ‘“‘a reasonable doubt is defined as follows: ‘It is that state of the case which, after the entire possession and consideration of all the points, leaves the minds of ‘the jurors in that condition that they cannot say that they feel an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charges.’ Now, that is the doubt you spoke of—a reasonable doubt ?” *‘Yes, sir,”” was the reply. “Now then, if they proved to you be- yond such a doubt as I have defined that the present charge that you are to try, if you should be sworn as a juror, would you acquit?” *‘I think I would.”” x “In other words, if you were satisfied be- yond that doubt which I have now defined to you, and as plainly Preunted by the law. you would convict ?” “Well, yes I would,” was the reply. “What I meant to convey was that where the evidence is circumstantial it would re- uire stronger evidence to convince me ltlhm where it was direct.” “We Deuprey. "&hn did you mean to say in answer toa qnenion of mine that you would not be satisfied with a moral certainty?” ““Well, I would not feel morally certain unless it were beyond almosta probable doubt. I should uire more positive ciecumstantial evidence than I would di- rect. : Mr. Levinson was }nauuoned again by Mr. Deuprey and Judge Murphy, his Honor finally allowing the challenge and the defense noting an emphatic exception. D. J. McAuliffe, a decorator and painter, residing at 2832 Sixteenth street, was ex- cused on the challenge of the defense for deny the challenge,” uir} Mr. < the possession of a strong opinion. C.J. Leist was chalienged and excused for the same reason. S0 L. Sloss stated that he would not join in & death verdict on circumstantial evidence and was excused. A. 0. Jungblut was challenged and ex- cused by reason of the fact that he pos- sessed a strong opinion on the case. Peter Fay of 1130 Vallejo street was ex- cused for the same reason. At this point his Honor stated that he was sufiering so badly that he felt called upon to take a rec:ss until Monday, at which time, after cautioning the jurors :nd veniremen, he requested them'to re- urn. i THE GRAND JURY. Preparations to Investigate Various Offices of the Municipal Gov- ernment. The Grand Jury held another session vesterday afternoon. District Attorne; Hosmer attended the meeting. 3 Word was given out that no business of special importance was transacted yester- day. One of the jurors said that the Hale & Norcross frauds had not been consid- ered by the jury. No indictments have been reported since the two against E. S. Cattley—one for forgery and the other for embezzlement—which were returned last Monday. . Itis known that the jury is preparing to investigate affairs in the various depart- ments of the municipal government, but jurors assert that there is no inclination to roceed with haste. Committees are col- ecting information and presenting their views to the entire body. MASS-MEETING TO-NIGHT Rev. Dr. M. J. Ferguson Will Preside at the Metropolitan Hall Gathering. Further Detalls Regarding the Pro- posed Anti-Railroad Con- vention. Three distinct and iruportant matters are to be considered at the mass-meeting which will be held at Metropolitan Hall at 8 o’clock this evening. Resolutions are to be introduced con- demning the action of General W. M. Graham for having the inscription, “mur- dered by strikers,”” placed on the Presidio tombstone, and demanding that the same be removed; expressing indignation over the failure to prosecute C. P. Huntington on the charge of having violated the inter- state commerce act in issuing a pass to Frank M. Stone, and providing for the ap- pointment of a committee of fifteen to issue a call and devise ways and means for a State anti-railroad convention, to be held some time in October. Rey. Dr. M. J. Ferguson, a member of the Civic Federation, will preside at the meeting, and the following named gentle- men will be asked to actas vice-presidents: Adolph Sutro, George K. Fitch, A. Schwatka, James H. Barry, Charles W. Reed, I. J. Truman, George T. Gaden, Eugene Deuprey, M. McGlynn, D. Mec- Arthur, E. D. Marlette, J. M. Bassett, Bar- clay Henley, Joseph Lejgyk%tt, John M. Rey- nolds, E. M. Gibson, J. W. Rafael, Isaac Upham, Green Majors, Gavin McNab, Richard I. Whelan, A. W. Thompson, John Nugent, J. M. Marble, J. G. Maguire, G. W, Van Guelpen, E. C. Barman, Wil- liam Zahn, 8. A. Lyser, H. Luttercourt. It is proposed to have the anti-railroad convention composed of 350 delegates, 200 to he elected at mass-meetings to be held in the various counties under the auspices of the committee to be appointed Saturday night, and 150 to be selected by the general committee. Care will be taken in the selection made by the general committee that only recog- nized anti-railroad men are named, and it is hoped to bring all the people in the State opposed to the railroad’sinfluence in politics under one banner. One of the committee having the mass- meeting in_charge had this to say yester- day of its ultimate purpose: “The editorial. in this morning’s CALL is well timed and wholly in accord with the views of the committee in reference to to-morrow’s meeting. We do not propose to allow this meeting to be used for the purpose of enabling blatant demagogues to air themselves nor to permit cranks or others of that ilk to sway the meeting from its fixed and earnest purpose. “The incidents out of which the meeting grew, while in themselves, perhaps, of no great moment, are of the utmost signifi cance in indicating the fearful dominion of the railroad in our National, State and municipal affairs, and we now propose by the exercise of our good judgment, com- mon-sense, will and determination to set oing a movement that will result in Cali- iornia’s deliverance, and all who feel an active and earnest interest in this question that so vitally affects us are cordially in- vited to join us in our present undertak- ing.” THE COMMITTEE OF ELEVEN. A Strong Appeal to the Citizens to At- tend the Meeting. The meeting at Metropolitan Hall to- night has received the unqualified indorse- ment of every prominent reform organiza- tion in the City. The following address was issued by the committee of eleven yes- terday: SAN FRaNcCISCO, Aug. 15, 1895. To the Citizens of San Francisco: The commit- tee of eleven which originated in the move- ment of January last against the Reilly fund- ing bill and to” secure action upon the part of the Federal officials against Collis P. Hunting- ton for violation of the Interstate commerce law is now advised that the indictment which was finally made against Collis P. Huntington is dismissed without trial. Bearing in mind the good results of the work done last Jauunrf and February (that the Reilly funding bill was defeated, and that the authorities did listen to the popular demand made at that time), we now deem it the proper time for additional effort. 3 We are informed that & movement is on foot to secure a public demand for a renewal of some action against Collis P. Huntington and the removal of railroad and corporation influ- ences from our State and municipal politics. The occasion warrants us in.again asking .the citizens of San Francisco to act. We trust they will remember that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” and that the railroad and other corporations are continually trying to influence our legislative bodies and officials. The time is not far distant when Congress will meet again, and the Southern Pacific Company will _probably trg 10 obtain the passage of some bill similar to the defeated Reilly funding bill. They are at work now. They, through their sgenis, are at work in City Counells, with our State Commissioners and in our courts. Every ublic protest against these unscrupulous and Pasiaions foes of the people should be sup- orted by all good citizens. Every public meet- Jog devoted -to" expressing populat condemna.- tion of corruption and favoritism is a benefit. We hope that the citizens of San Francisco will again indorse the formation of another committee which will take active measures to defeat the purposes of the people’s enemies. We believe that the movers of the mass-meeting to be held at Metropolitan Temple on Saturday night are sincere and patriotic. We therefore, as a citizens’ committee, hereby express our approval of any and all lawfu! measures toward the removal of the evil influences of the Southern Pacific Comvany and all other corporations and combinations from municipal, State and National politics, and understanding this to be the ultimate aim of those who have called that meeting, we urge all citizens to attend. We remain, yours faithfully, J. A. ANTHONY, JAMES H. BARRY, JOHN M. REYNOLDS, FRANK B. GIBSON, E. 8. BARNEY, C. B. WILLIAMS, JOSEPH LEGGETT, of the Com- mittee of El Free This Week. EIGHT BIG PRESENTS—ONE GIVEN WITH Each Pound of Our - EXTRA VALUE 50-CENT TEAS. GREAT AMERICAN IMPORTING TEA CO.'S, 52-568 Market street, S. F., Headquarters. BRANCH STORES EVERYWHERE. ———— The product of a date tree varies from 8 to 10 francs. 10 PHEVENT_CUHHUPIIUN. Organization of District Clubs to Make a New Campaign Issue. MR. REYNOLD'S ~ARGUMENT. Agitating the Municlpal Ownership of Water, Light, Street. Rall- ways, Etc. A movement, the ultimate aim of which is to bring about an area in which munici- pal corruption shall be a thing of the past, or at least reduced to the minimum, has taken practical form in ‘this City, and promises to lead to good results—if not to the immediate realization of its purpose. Indeed, those who are now active in starting -the movement do not expect the immediate realization of their object, which ‘is, in a word, the prevention of official corruption by removing what they consider the temptation and causes thereof. How is this to be done? By the munici- palization of public utilities. This is a high-sounding phrase out of the books on political econemy, but its mean- ing 1s very simple. It is that the City and County of San Francisco shall own and operate its own water system, electric-light plant, street railwn{s, and such other en- terprises that are from their very nature essentially monopolies in the hands of the private corporations that now - control them. It is the existence of these mo- novolies, 1t is argued by the pioneers in the present movement, as well as set down in the text-books on- political economy, that is responsible for official corruption in municipal affairs. ‘ The idea is not a new one by any means, and those who are now agitating it point to the experience of many Eastern cities that have partially or completely adopted the svstem to prove its utility and prac- ticability. They instance the cheap water and gas rates of Philadelphia and the ex- cellent service and lack of official corrup- tion, in these respects at least, in the Quaker City; and they point to Chicago’s admirable water system, conducted econ- omically by the municipality; and they point to many similar institutions in older cities all over the world. The first part of the plan is to organize clubs in the different legislative districts, and through them agitate the system of municipal ownership, with the end in view of making it a practical issue in politics at the next and its succeeding campaigns. The first club organized was in the Thirty-sixth Assembly District. It meets at 627 Jersey street, and J. A. Anthony is yresidem. J. D. Thompson, the manu- facturer, and several of the most promi- nent residents in the district have been active in the formation of this club. In the Thirty-eighth Assembly District J. M. Reynolds, Fred Raschen and J. Gib- ney are now orianizing aclub. They have a fair membership already promised. F. C. Porter, W. J. Greer, the contractor and builder, and E. 8. Barney are the moving spirits in the club that is being formed in the Twenty-ninth Assembly District. About a dozen other clubs in as many different parts of the City are on the verge of formation, and the prospects are that in a month’s time these clubs will be numerous enough and their member- ship powerful enough to command the very serious attention of the politicians— this is the purpose at all events, and a fairly good start toward its realization has been made. The Union for Practical Progress has de- cided to take hold of the matter in earnest, and the plan is that this influential and energetic body shall be the central organi- zation of the movement and a headquar- ters for the work of propaganda. The Civic Federation is also interested in the movement, to some extent at least, and it may be that the weight of its influence will be cast into the work. Of course, this is merely conjecture at this ‘time, though there is some warrant in fact for it. Ata recent debate in a session of the federation the matter was first broached in a practi- the Administrator’s assertions regarding the will of September 21, 189%. THE TIBURON BUTCHER. A Secret and Mysterious Boycott Estab- " lished at the Port of Bel- vedere. There is a secret and mysterious organ- ization in Tiburon that is boycotting the “0ld Butcher,” who has been doing busi- ness in his own peculiar way for several years to the let and hindrance of competi- tion. There have been three attempts at running him out and he is still there. Bug if the citizens’ committee can succeed in proving to the satisfaction of one of the half-dozen: aspiring butchers who re- sponded to the advertisement for a new butcher that there is something in it the +‘0ld Butcher”” will have to “hump” him- . self. The citizens’ committee, or any member thereof, was apparently a difficult problem to solve. Everybody seemed to know there was a protest against the butcher, but none seemed willing to adduce the names and testimony. “You see the women' in the cottages.” said one. “They know all about it. The butcher hasn’t been doing the square thing.” ; At the cottages the alarming statement 'was made that- the butcher_did not treat the workingmen fairly. - But instead of the good housewives answering the ques- tions two of the husbands told the cause of the excitement in Tiburon. “We do not get the best meat and he gbs]rzes us the highest price,” said J. B. eeley. “‘He holds out the best cuts for the ‘400’ at Belvedere,”” said W. Whiting. “Go over tothe shops,’” both of them said, “and you will find the majority of the 100 workmen there are with us in opposi- tion to this monopolistic butcher.” “‘He buys pork from qutugue{e who fatten their swine on swill,”” said Mr. Seeley. “There isa good show for a new butcher in this town.”” The aspiring butchers called on the “old butcher.” He answers to the name of Victor Beyries, and talks French because he was born and brought up that way. His shop was full of patrons. One customer was informed that certain parts of a new joint of porterhouse were already sold be- fore they were cut. Y x “You'll get a good piece,’” said the butcher, and the man thus discriminated against took his portion, paid for it and went away satisfied. Two ladies were in the shop. They both volunteered the information that the last meat they got was fine. % “I am grateful, ladies,” said M. Beyries. “There has been so much complaint. Iam happy.” “Who are the citizens’ committee mak- ing complaint?”’ was asked. 5 “Men that don’t pnf their bills,” said M. Beyries. ‘‘There is plenty room for a new butcher. Let him come. He will take the winter trade. I will take the summer trade. He may take it all if he like. I will sell him my shop. I move out.” And the boycott is still on. Phillips Brooks Says: “To do a splendid thing is simply to do a common thing bet- ter than othersdoit.”” Thatis just what we are doing. We are making just as good picture frames at a moderate price as can be made any- whére. We give employment to over 100 sober, industrious hands in the making of frames and mold- ings alone, which shows that the Eeople are willing to patronize ome industry, providing that home factories give as good an arti- cle at as low a price as can be ob- tained elsewhere. Six years ago, when our factory was initsinfancy, thirty-one traveling salesmen, rep- Tesenting thirty-one picture-frame molding factories in the Eastern States, arrived in this city (one each day) during the month of January. During January of 1895 only three came. For the THINK- ER, comment is unnecessary. Our factory is equipped with all the best and latest machinery and can turn out molding for the mil- cal way and several members of the federa- tion are now actively interested in it. It was James 8. Reynolds who broached the subject in the Civic Federation move- ment. The debate was upon the question of how best to prevent municipal corrup- tion. At first the subject was dealt with but from two standpoints—that of punish- ing the corrupt officials and that of elect- ing incorruptible officials. Then Mr. Reynolds spoke. He pointed out the diffi- culties of either course, and ‘also said that both of them meant a perpetual utrugfi}e against vast agsregl{iom of capi- tal. The one thing to do, he held, was to stop the evil at the root. Men. who were honest at the time of their election became corrupt because they could not withstand the great temptations placed before them when they accepted office. What were these temptations? The money and the influence wielded by the great corpora- tions that controlled” the public utilities— the water, the light, the power, the trans- portation facilities of the City and County. “And how do you propose now to com- bat these influences?” asked Mr. Reynolds. ““By collecting a few thousand dollars and attempting to punish some of their victims and tools. What are a few thousand dol- lars against the banded interests of mil- lions? Itisa useless fight.” The one thing to be done, said Mr. Rey- nolds, was to stop the evil at its root. San Francisco, like many older and better governed cities, must own and operate her own public utilities for the sole advantage of her taxpayers. This, coupled with a civil service system of tenure of office in these various departments, would surely reduce official corruption to the minimum, and ultimately prevent it almost entirely. For the average man will stay honest when the pressure 1s not too strong. Re- move the pressure and preserve the hon- esty of the official. his, in brief, was the burden of Mr. Reynold’s advice. It was favorably ac- cepted by many and carefully considered by all. One of the objections offered to it was that it would take fully three years to accomplish such results. “It will take a century if we never be- gin,” said Mr. Reynolds. So now a beginning has been made. Whether the issue will be suecessful or not remains to be seen. It depends a great deal, no doubt, upon the character and the standing of the men that may be- come interested in the movement, and the ability and honesty of purpose with which they push the work. 2 Since in essence the measures that are sought to be enforced are political, the work must be done largely through politi- cal ways and means. But it is not a party movement. So far men of all political faiths are active in the clubs. It will bea political issue, but not a party issne. It 18 olaimed to be purely a Non-Partisan movement, but one that seeks the aid and indorsement of ail parties. It strikes at the root of the evil, it is claimed and that those who have watched the trend of economic thought and politi- cal action will see in it but the foreshadow- ings of a consummation that must sooner or later be realized. . FAIR'S AFFIDAVIT. A Formal Denial in Relation to the ‘Will of September 21. An affidavit was filed in the Superior Court yesterday by Charles L. Fair to cover technical points raised by Attorney McEnerney in the answer recently filed for Administrator Goodfellow. the affidavit hesays: 1 do now and here deny the “genuineness” of the said alleged will of September 21, 1894, and do also now and here deny the “due exe- igtsi:n" of said alleged will of September 21, In addition, he makes a general denial of n lion just as good in quality and lower in price than it can be landed from factories on the other side. Our pine lumber is cut to size and to order in the mountains, and our plain and quarter-sawed oaks come in carload lots from the mills in the woods where the oak tree grows. In buying of us you not only give . employment to a large number of your own peogle‘ but you get every- thing at first hands and at lowest prices. % The things we make besides mold- ings for picture frames are room- moldings, mirror frames, drawing- boards, wood easels, artists’ stretch- ers, palettes, T squares, pine back- ing, plain and ornamented cornice- poles, screens, hat racks, towel racks and swinging mirrors. Our factory is located at 710 to 720 Minna street, and our Store and Salesrooms are located at 741, 743, 745 Market street, opposite Grant avenue, with Branches at Portland and Los Angeles. Visitors always welcome. SANBORN, VAIL & CO. | ‘We have recently found it necessary to increase our capacity for manufacturing STANDARD SHIRTS Thanks to the public of San Francisco and the Coast, who appreciatc our efforts to make this home product in every respect equal, in some superior, to any of Eastern manufacture. Do you ask your dealer for shirts with this mark ?— NEUSTADTER BROS., Mfrs., S. P, ¥ Thanks* —b NOTARY PUBLIC. Camie. & SRy g lfil’lfilfir Hotel, Residence IBMIOII.:: ?8: )