The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 12, 1897, Page 30

30 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 1897. F SCORCRED THE SCORCHER Charles S. Wheeler Pays His Compliments to D. M. Delmas. Says Part of the Little Napo- leon’s Speech Was Stolen. Tnnuendos and Intima- | | Accusations, tions Cast torney in at Mrs, Craven's At- Sensational Volume, the Fair-Craven case S. Wheeler has had the “Little Napo- The argument in is over and C his retaliatory leon.” | For a day and a half Wheeler sat with the attorneys for the plaintiffs and list- | rap ened to keen sarcasm and stincing denunciation whick Mrs. Craven’s attor- | ney directed toward him. IL was pre- | dicted that his reply would be sen J‘ tional, and wuen the young attorney | arose to spe on behalf of the inter-| venors yaster forenoon there was no | diminution in the crowds which had at- | tended the previous session. Wheeler's introduction was brief. He | contented himselt with stating that he would meet, step by step. every proposi- tion which the defendant had advanced. | Then he turnea his attention to bis op- | ponent, and the flaving began. He paid a | brief tribute to Delmas’ oratorial | abilities, but the commendatory Words were soon exhausted. | “I will not speak of homs and paternal | love.” he said. “Perhaps tne five chil- | dren whom I leave every morning, per- | haps the fact that my nights are spent | under my ¢wn roof leaves me incompetent | to speak upon the subject of home life. 1 ! will leave that to the who comes into court grasping a Bib! one hand and the arm of a police detective with the | other. | “I will not speak of intimidation and | assassinati I bave heard those words before. I have seen them before. They were stolen rom the lips of the zreat Irishman who uttered them. I have read an account of a case in this City where D. M. Delmas used the same words stolen | from Curran. A wandering minstrel sing- ing the same oid tune? No, a crushed tragedian flitting from court to court seeking the same old vindication which once before a jury of his peers has refused to accord hin which I feel certain, gentleme in deny him.” i Mr. Whe then wert into a minute | acco of the dealings with Mrs. Craven | of the firms which Deimas had denounced. He contended that the firms mentioned, | when they believed the will genuine, had stood by it, but_when they came to view itasa forged document they repudiated it, thus refusing to be parties io a crime. In the course of this part ot the argu- ment Delmas objected to Wheeler's com- | menting upon his own testimony. Strik- | ing a serio-comic attituke Wheeier ex- | c'aimed: “You may intimidate or assassinate me but you cannot stop me.” Again Judge Slack irowningly rapped for order and then ruled Delmas’ objec- tion uot well taken. was saying, when the string continued Wheeler, and_then he | t into the intricacies of James G. to the subject of the aban- of the pencii will, he said: pecame demonstrated that that was a forgery, the time had | the Wilson & Wilsons, the ods, the Knight & Heggertys, ber, Boalt & Bishops 10 leave the time had arrived for | the Delmases ¢ Kowalskys and the Ruefs of this (ity to get aboard.’” Mr. Wheeler wound up his morning's speech with another broadside at his op- ponent, which caused a sensation through- | out the courtroom. “Gentlemen, who is the man who makes | this assault uvon the reputations of these firms?” he demanded. “That man is a enius, and he 1s 3 man of -moral worth ecause Judge Curtis says so, arfd Judge | Curtis is an impcrted expert who ougnt to know. If he were not the man Judge Curtis says he is, what a loy he would be | 1o & band of perjurers, forgers and unmit- igated scouncrels. If he were not, as Judge Curtis says, an honor to his Scate and his generation, if he were a man who had been found guilty by a jury of rob- bing an old man of §30,000, it be were a scoundrel who had flaunted his infamy in the face of the people as no other man has ever dared to do, Icould stand the opprobrium which he has heaped upon me, but bemng the man Judge Curiis says he is, God pity me.” Mr. Wheeler devoted the aiternoon to m “When 1t en that analyzing the defendant’s testimony, which he contended was unnaiural throughout. Incidentally he defenaed the part taken by John R. Aitken, who had been treated roughly by the defendant's counsel. He said Mr. Aitken bad acted prudently and honorably. He had simply disclosed the evidence of a crime, as was his duty as an attorney and as a good citizen. Judge Slack will charge the jury at 1 o’clock to-morrow afternoon. A WOMAN SUSPEGTED. The Sneakthief of the Girly’ High School Said to Be an Outsider. Principal Bush Declares the Pupils Are Careless With Their Property. A shrewd suspicion exists among the public school teachers that it is a woman who has been helping herself to the be- loneings of the pupils. Several times within the last few weeks a queer-looking woman has been seen around the Girls, High School, and a couple of days ago she was confronted by the principal and one of the teachers, When questioned as to her business she | made some feeble excuse and hurried out of the building. Elisha Brooks, the vrincipal of the school, speaking on the subject yesteraay gaid: “This is not the first time the pupils have complained of losing articles. Only a few weeks ago there was quite a fuss made. Every year it is the same thing, especially at the beginning of the term, as the new pupils, being inexperienced, leave their prcperty around, end consequently it is most liable to be taken. «I did not post any notice up regarding the thefts that were taking place, but I requested tbe teachers to keep a sharp lockout for any suspicious actions on the part of any of the pupils and, 1f any were yesterday morning for arraignment. When he was asked to plead he said: * lam euilty of atempting to make hali- | them. noticed, to watch that pupii and report the matter to the principal. Not one pu- pil was found doing anything that would warrgnt our suspicion, and even the pu-| wora at the court of Louis XIV. pils themselves cannot point out one girl whom they suspect. “The appearance of that woman around here has thrown a little light on the mat- ter, but still we cannctsay she is the guilty one, for we are not positive; we anly have our suspicions. There was a report around that the girls had formed a vigilance committee. This is not true. The girls are taking precaution and the teachers are doing the watching. A “One thing, though, must be said in re- gard to the articles that are missed. Sometimes it is a case of the pupils’ care- lessness in leaving their books around, and very often when articles are reported missing or stolen they Lave simply been mislaid. “The girls used to leave their purses and change in their coat pockets, and in a school of this size it is hittle wonder that they did not fina them tbere when they returned. “A stricter watch than ever will now be instituted by the teachers and every effort will be made to protect the girls’ prop- erty.”’ COUNTERFEITERS' CASES. Ibura Will Be Tried on Embezzler Welburn October 4 for Shaving His Dep- uties’ Salaries. William J. Griffith, who was recently indicted by the United States Grand Jury for making counterfeit coins, was in United States Judse de Haven’s court Jdollars, but I neitber passed nor maue ' He will be tried next Monday. P. Jolly, the manufacturing jeweler who went into the business of coining base metals, will plead n-xt Monday. He has already confessed. —FExtra heavy grade, an elegant 00 Tue trial of Osca M. Welburn, ex-Col- fabric for the money, 1 Irlu-s!‘s1 —— lector of Internal R:venue, has been set cn-:m‘ pioksand vla h. & for Octover 4. There are forty-three ARS8 v 3 counts in the indictment against him. . Rubenstein, indicted for passing counterfeited §5 pieces, will be tried on Septembe: L TOSTER'S PHONE 0. " At Least So Says A, H., Hogg Who Is in a Position to Know. Veracious History of a Friendship Ruptured by a Practical Joke. 1f you should happen to be wandering aimlessly in the neighborhood of the Grand Hotel bar, and desire to enioy a few moments’ quiet fun, combined with a liberal education in the use of exaggerated expletive, step into the bar, call for Mr. Ned Foster, the presiding genius thereof, QT e e e R S T T I T HALE BROS. A, = 937-939-941-943 THE winter. patterns NEW BLACK BRO. CADED SILKS—A com- plete assortment. in ele- E£aut designs, the best made, all pure silx, 21 and 22 inches. These are absolutely ihe best Hlack Satin Brocades offered in this city for the money. Hale’s prices: 75c¢, $1, $1.25, $1.50 and $1.75 Yard. ¥ VELOURES FOR SKIRT EXTRA BLACK SATIN DUCHESS — A perfect fabric for a modest skirr, extra heavy, all pore silk, special finish, durable, siylish ana preity with any walst. We claim leadership on these prices and sk com- parison. At Hale's 75c, 85c, S, $1.25, $1.50, $2 Yard. NEW DRESS GOODS — Mohair Broche, combination patteras of lovers’ knots and ivy leaves, i raised black moair figure forms the design, exquisitely set off by colored backgrounds, new .50 browns, myrile, olive, garnet. — navies, calet, @ firm. hard-fin- | ished, durabie fabric. At Hale's Yard | Many designs new to you. pretty—mostly scroll effects in autumn shadings. | HALE BROS. I INCORPORATED. -945 Market Street. ©00000000000000 000000000000 000000000000 000000000000 NEW SILKS AND DRESS STUFFS. Fashion-fixers have gauged your fancy. Rough stuffs for fall and Plenty of color in medium ; Many variations of weave. And Silks! Charmingly NEW DR GOODS, Mohair Novelty, st fabric in rich autumnal , the new browns and navies, 250 myrile, olive and carnet; hiack mobair patches raised on ‘he colored back ¢ und AtHa and browns,’aso new myries, olive, garne., navies and cadet, a stylish cloth. At Hale's. NEW DRESS GOUDS, Novelty Colored Crepe Mohair, new créens, browns, navy and blues, also combinations of green aud brown. biue und brown, red and green, At Hale Yard Yard New lines arriving every day. Fall shipments fairlv pouring in—all purchased before the tariff advance, NEW DRESS GOODS, onr great line of 50c Mohairs, 3 new patterss, the latest autumn shadings, a siylish tabric at a popular price. We are sure to please. AtHale's............ 2% 5000 YARDS OF THE HEAV ST, + IRMEST, ol 30 inches widi i samples the wouldn's hold the crowd. Notov.r 15 yards to eac stomer and nonel sold 1o dealers. Come early it you ca Al Hale's : : Yard | NEN PURE WHITE CRASH and mention casually that you desire to A Nt O Barvyrair: d"mle‘sh test his telephone. Also ask him to pro- | 15 inches wide, the 7c¢ kind. ItU'sal nounce slowly loudly, and h due re- snap. Ceme with the early ones.....Yard | gard for distinctness this formula: “One, ‘ two, three.” Watch the expression on el e ! Mr. Foster's face. Note the genial smiie E,‘,ml““m;m,mm-“i,_;‘,‘;b,-zs‘ with which your suggestion will be greet- | v:rum:rgun ";;”‘f,mi’ aud new . 5 = striped effects. At Hale's........ are ed, and get out of reach of his good right (Better qualities 50c and 60¢ yard.) arm, lest you be pursued by the vengeance of the righteous as by a whirlwind. It came about in this wise. Mr. Foster hasa telephone in his bar. He also has friends who occasionally ring him up for the enjoyment of the conversation which maketh a ready man, as Bacon has it. Among his iriends is one A. H. Hogg, who pursues the gentle avoeation of trading in drugs at the corner of New Montzomery and Market streets. Between the genial dispenser of liquid refreshment that maketh glad tne heart of man and the gentleman who fills physicians’ prescrip- tions there was up to yosterday astanding friendship, which seems likely to be ter- minated by the telephone connecting the two establishments. It was during the noon bour yesterday, an hour that is an_exceptionally busy one for gentlemen in Mr. Foster’s line of busi- AN ness, that the telephone rang. Ned stepped to the ’phone. “*Hallo.” “Is that Mr. Foster?” “Yes, sweetheart.”” (M= Foster has had one or two affaires du ceur in the course of his eventiul existence.) “No, it isn’t ‘sweetheart.” This is Cen- tral, and we want to lest your instru- ment,” -*Ah,” murmured Foster, with a falling inflection. *Now, Mr. Foster,”” said the voice (and it reverberated not with a feminine soft- ness), ‘“‘please count *One, two, three.”"” Mr. Foster obeyed. *‘Louder,” demanded the voice. Mr. Foster obliged. +Still louder,” floated soothingly over the wire. And again the du!cet tones of Mr. Foster were heard 1n obedience. Now,” said the voice, “will you kindly step a foot to the lef. of the instrument and count ‘One, two, three?’ *’ To the left stepred Mr. Foster and counted three in the accent affected by the primary school marm. Stili his in- quisttor was not satisfied. “A little louder, please.” it was. “Awfully sorry to trouble you, Mr. Foster, but would you mina stepping a foot to the right of the ‘phone and count- ing three. You see, our electrician wants this test to be thorough.” And it was done by the saloon man, iike a mariyr to principle tha; he is. “‘Louder, oh louder.” By this time Mr. Foster was beginning to agree with the philosopher who re- marked that patience is not always a vir- tue, but with fair grace he again voiced the numerals. “‘Louger, please.” Mr. Foster ejaculated & word that began witk a d and rhymes with jam. “Eh? Louder.” “One, two, three,” roared Ned, the veins on his forehead appearing like mountain ranges on a map of the Kiondike. Aud then—how shall we writeit? How tell the cruel sequel? How describe the wrong perpetrated on a noted citizen of tnis City? How picture the justindigna- tion of Ned when the modest request came over the wires: “Mr. Foster, will you ki.dly stand on your head and count twenty The voice had become distinctly mascu- line, and it was the voice of his whilom friend Hogg, accompanied by such sounds as c-rtain long-eared beasts make in mirthtul moments. Mr. Hozg was not And louder alone! Thus it is that when the man of liquors meets the man of drugs he bestows upon nim the Klondike stare, and it 1s for this reason thatit is not safe to mention the subject of testing electric telephones with- in the hearing of Mr. Ned Foster. And further deponent saith not. ——————— Beaten With Brass Xnuockles. A warrant was procured in Judge Conlan’s court yesterday for the arrest of Lewis Ba- doun on a charge of battery. The complain- ing witness is David Tarpey, whose daughter was ruined by Nicholas Brennau and died. Badoun is airiend of Brennan, and Friday heme: Tarpey’s son, a boy 16 vearsof age, and itis alleged beat him unmercifuily with & pair of brass knucl Brennan is serving asentence of three years in San Quentin. Ee A Mirsing Sealskin, H. Tolston, a fur dealer on Bush street, se- curec a warrant in Judge Conlan's court yes- terday for the arrest of Miss L. Brothier, 205 O'Farrell street, on a charge of misiemeanor embezzlement, ' Tols:on aileges that he gave Miss Brothier a sealskin coat to renovate and sell and that she appropriated it to her own use. Miss Brothier ciaims that some one broke the window in ber store where tue coat was displayed and stole it. —————— Shoes with heels six inches high were A SPECIAL SALE OF WRAPPER "LANNELS — Casbmere finish, ce Iined, bright lit..e figures o dark crounds. pretty s can be for NEW SILKOLIN ES—Can't help but piease a big line just arrived, all shades an1 des AUTUMN-TIME IN DOMESTICS. The Domestic Department Has N Has Made Our Store Famous. 3000 COMFORTERS AT HALE'S, a perfect assortment of pure white cotton filled and elder- downs, all fresh and <lean and new, pretty figures in chee: as toast, durah size for wide douu! Listactory; good, big, tul COTTON FILLED Fizured Silkoline Comforters— 95¢, $1.20, $1.50, $1.75, $2.00 and $2.50 Each. COTTON FILLED Fi:ured Sateen Comforters— $1.25, $1.50, $1.75, $2.00, $2.25, $2.50 and $3.00 Each. EIDERDOWN COMFORTERS, Silk and French Sateen Covers— $4.50 to $12.00 Each. MARSKILLES BEDSPREADS, 81x80 inches, hemmed and reaar to use elegani patterns in genuine Marseilles work. At Haie SLI5, $1.50, $2.15, $2.75, $3.45, $4.50 and $5.00 Each. NEW EIDERDOWN S, for bath robes, dressing sacques. baby coats, ete ; a large varie y of the very newest effects on sale at our counters, plain shadiugs and faucy novei- ties. 27 inches wide........ ... 36 inches wide (plain). yard 40¢ to 75¢ yard 10%ara. 30 inches. 36 inches wide. Q1C 84 Vara. wide. 55 Light as air. warm | HALE BROS. I A T T T T T T T A9 THE WATCHWORD AT HALE’S: \\\l\ljl://]// RVERY OUR Our Store News is as interesting |STORE . INEWS, toyou (if you're| a money-saver) | as anything the newspaper prints. Fresh breezes of economy in every ad. Al |modern store for modern| |folks —at the top at all| | times—anxious to please— ready to rectify. Retailers| {of the best that the world produces. AUTUMN FURNISHINGS JUST ARRIVED—200 dozen of those celebrated German made Black CASH- | MERE HOSE for Ladies: the deep, Jus: | trous, handsome, stainless Hermsdorf fast black dye, medium weight, high-spliced heels, double soles and tocs, not to be du- plicated for less than one-third more. | 33ic Pair | Extra High Grade Extra Superior Grade.. ADIES, ALL-WOOL SANITARY HOSE, a cold-preventer, a saver of doctors’ bills, natural gray, medium weight, the softest, casiest, most comfortable and sensible winter stocking you can get. The “about -town price” is 35c. Hale's price is. L. 25c‘ Pair LADIES’ SUPERIOR MACO COT- TON HOSE, the finest selected and combed Maco cotton, fleeced, double soles, double toes, high-spliced heels. Just 25c¢| Pair came 1, for Fall wear, warm and casy. b At Hale NITARY WOOL DERWEAR, a health - giving cold-preventer, a garment that | abundantly supplics the wants of a California winter, natural 75C gray or camels’ hair, silk-bound. Male’s price... Garment 1 GENTS’ NON-SHRINKABLE COT- TON RIBBED UNDERWE i xi'ood and warm and heav: 5c leeced and thoroughly well made, silk-bound. Hale’s price. Garm’t GE v ETTE WORK- ING SHIR non-tearable,” very heavy, dark colors, yoke | back, full cut, felled scams, 36 50(: inches long, a shirt worth bu: ing. At Hale's Each a perfect stocking, | T | BLACK CUBE PI HALE BROS Type talk cannot do justice to the display of Autumn Coats and Outer Garments; but we've made the seeing so easy and comfortable th only need the hint to enjoy this feast of beauty. There's no questioning the fact that this store shows lower prices ; there’s no questioning the more important fact that good taste governed the gathering—right styles, right fit, right workmanship, right prices. THE NEW FALLJACKETS, fly front, high colar infaid with velvet, per fectly plain, 34 silk lined, sizes 32 Lo 44 Now at lale's. 5.00 fach THE NEW FALL JACKETS Jittle garment of mixed chy fron: and high collar, as neat and stylish as a jacket can be, sizes 32 Lo 40. Now at Hale's. ach HE NEW JACKKTS—Tan Covert Cloth Jacket, fly front, high collar, 3 silk lined, hard to ted from a tui or- 50 made garment, as chic and smart as — can be, very new usnd very swell, sizes 32to 40, At Huie's.. 3 Each [ NCORPORBED, 937-939-941-943-945 Market Street. ©000000000000000000000000 00000000 000000000000 000000 THENEW CAPES,JACKETS and OUTER GARMENTS. ! HALE BROS. mmmmmmmmmwmmrmmmmq 1) at you'll THE NEW FALL CAPES, Em- pire bac< and front, higlh col inlaid with velvet, very st black, blue, green or t sizes. At Haie's THE blac! NEW FALL SKIRTS i figured alpaca, & thor- Iy well-made garment, al , boun fe aterea to tallorm BROCADED FAMOU: SATIN SKIRTS, the fall ship. ment just arrived, pa‘terned after the swellest Styles this season affords, thorougnly lined and bound, hangs per- fectly, altered to fit. A famous leader av Hale's SR AUTUMN NOVELTIES. 15° 50 10° MUSLIN ALLOVER SWISS, 32 inches wide, pretty open figures, the 25c and 35c kind at Hale's for. Yaru FANCY M navy. At H VEILING—Brown or ale’s. Yard PLAIN BLACK E LADIES BAND BOW 71 SATIN back. At Hale's. LADIES' POINT VENIC LACE 10 CULLARS—Points 5 inches long, the 2 25¢ Kind. At Hale's. 5 —100 on a cube. .Per cubs 5 81 Pair At Hale's SAMSON PINS—400 on a paper. At Hale's Per paper NEW GLOVE brated Al A bg line of our cele- Clasp Kid Gloves for ladies, justarrived, New greens,blues, reds, browns, tans, pearls and white. also 4-buttons. ‘I he glove that built our glove business. At Hale's y NFEW MILLINERY RIBBONS—Some swell pat- terns, in stripes, checas avd plaids, Just arrived. 35%ara. | Wide™%? 45%ars. THE BAZAAR. JAPANNED TIN CUSPIDORS, only 2 Lo each customer. TIN COVERED BUCKETS, zood lunch buckeis, hoid two quaris, only 1 to each buyer. --Each TIN DRINKING CUPS, the big, STOVE - POLISHING sheeps wool. shines till you o your reflsction. At Hale's. Each GLOVE Steel Enamel Basting Japanned Twin Match Safes AUTUMN NOVELTIES [ (CONCLUDED). NEW FUR TRIMMINGS, the fall line just recetved In time 10 be advertised. We note exquisite and perfect imitations of Stone Marten, Mink Tail, Pulled Sheared Coney, Fox, Genet, an- Thibzt, etc. On the counters to-mor- 'HE NEW MILL Birds, Plumes, Feathers, in Shades. Birds Wings Feathers from : Algrettes from 13 Ete., Etc, SERY TRIMMINGS, Wings, . izrettes and perfeci assortment. New Novelties galore. from 10c up to $1 from 20¢ up to $1 25 mmmmmmmmmmmmmumuumusmmmmmmmmzmmummmmmmmiuuuummnuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm&’ ey TWILTME | HOLD IN 98 The New Law on Elections to Operate in Janu- ary. A Very Important Opinion Rendered by Attorney-Gen- eral Fitzgerald. Officials of Several Large Countiez | and Municipalities Deeply Interested. Attorney-General W. F. Fitzgerald nas rendered a very important opinion rela- tive to the holaing of elections this year. ftis particularly important at the pres- ent time in view of the fact that this year there will be several elections held in dif- ferent places in the State, and’ the ques- tion was whether such elections and the selection of the Election Commissioners should be under the old law or under the law passed by the late Legisiature. The opinion has a particular bearing uoon this City and Bacramento, besides one or two other cities where elections will be held this year. The Attorney-General’s opinion was given in response to an inquiry by Mayor Hubbard of Sacramento, and the answer is here given in full: SAN FraNcIsco, Sept. 10, 1897. Hon. C. H. Hubbard, Muyor of the Ci f of Sac- ramento, ramento, Cal.—DEAR SIR: In Teply 10 vour leiter of recent date requesting my opinion as to whether or not primary elec- tions held prior to 1898 should be held uuder the act providing for general primary elec- tions,approved March 13,1897,1am of the opin- ion that said act is not operative before Janu- ary, 1898, and does not govern primary slec- tions he.d prior to that time. Section 1 of said act (Stats. 1897, p. 115), provides: All primary eleciions held within this State for the nomination of any candidaie for a State or district office * * * city * * or town offi- cers, or for the election of delegates t0 a conven- tin for the purpose of making such nominatios, shall be held under the provisions of this act. * * Section 2 of said act provides: That during the month of Januzry of each year in which a general election is 10 be held, it shal be the duty of the Board of Election Commissioners of each county to select from the precinct regis- ters of the county or City, the names of not less than fifteen eiectors, from which the primary elec- tion officers shall be chosen when the occasion to appoint such officers occurs * * No other provision is made iu the statute for the appoiniment of such officers. This act was passed in March, 1897, #nd as the first requisite to hold primary elections under said act is the selection in Jenuary of the names from which the election officers are 10 be chosen it is impossible to put the act in operation before January of mext year, unless the time fixed tor selecting the election officers is merely directory. 1tis held by our courts that: “The general rule in the construction of statutes relating to the performance of a public duty whick does not affect any private rights or interests, but concerns the public alone, is that the ian- guage of the siatute although imperative in terms must be regarded as directory rather than mandatory. The intention of the Legis- lature is '0 be gathered from the manifest pur- pose of the statute itself, and also irom a con- siaeraiion of all its provisions.” (Board of | Education vs. Trustees, 96 Cel., p. 451.) i The above ruie of coustruction is subject, however, 1o the further rule tnat “although tatutes which fix the time within which of- clal acts aze tu be periormed are often held | jay town.” 10 be merely directory as to the 1ime fixed, yet such n statute 1s never so construed when its language indicates tne contrary intention, as when tie statute attaches a consequeice 1o the jiiure (o perform the act within the time limited. In such a case, the consequence can be avoided b: a compliance with the statute.”” Pe:rine vs. Forbush, 97 Cal., 3 1i the act provided that the selection of elec- tion officers should be made in January of cach vear it would come within the general rule above given, making it directory merely, and such selection co 1d be made at any time prior (o calling a primary election, but as it is specifically pr-vided in ihe act thai the selec- tion of such ofticers sball be made during the month of Junuary in each yvear in which a general election 1s 1o be held, it is manifest thaiit was uot the intention of the Legisla- ture that the selection should be made in any other year. I awm, therefore, of the opinion thatitisa limitation of the power of the Board of Super- visors to select such officers in any year other than that in which a general election is to be held; and as this is not a year in which a gen- eral election is 1o be held, the Boara oi Super- visors have no authority to make suah selec- tion of election officers and the act is there- fore inoperative until January, 1898. Re- spectiully, w! FITZGERALD, Attorney-General. “NEVER SAID JAY TOWN” Actor Crane After Seven Years Denies the Invidious Report. Had Dyspepsia and Lost Fifty Pounds Here but Never Slandered the City. William H. Crane of Boston, the actor who was last here seven yearsago and who spent a year in this City in 1874, denies most emphatically that he ever remarked that *‘San Franciscoisa So ncw Lillian Russell alone «fall that celebratea list 15 left to come and make denial. Corbett and Blanche Walsh have long since returned to re- nounce the report on their own account. “You see, when I was here a little over seven years ago, Il was a pretty sick man; I bad nervous dyspepsia, il you know what that means. I probably did say some disparaging things about the weati- er and the sights, for I was in a mocd to take a pessimistic view of life. But as for saying that ‘Frisco’ was a ‘jay town,’ [ never did. That is a phrase [ have never applied toany town. “As for the houses that received me | here, 1 could not have complained of them, and I did not. My reception was most pleasant. But I was on the verge of aserious illness, Within a month after 1 left here I had lost fifiy pounds and my friends thought that I was done for. “We will put on ‘The Fool of ¥ortune’ next week, and the week aftera nawdpuy of the old shool of comedy entitled, ‘A Virginia Courtship.” Tbe third week we will play either ‘The Senator’ or ‘His Wife’s Father.” The latter has had quite a success in London under the tiile of ‘The Sleeping Partner.’ *There are twenty-one persons in the company, which inciudes as new members Miss Annie Irish, who was leading lady with Irving in London; Miss Percy Has- well, who was Daly’s second lady for years, and Walter Hale, who was leading man at the Lyceum in New York for years, and Boyd Putnam, a leading man in New York for several years. “‘From bere we shall work eastward. ‘We shall probably play in San Jose and Sucramento, and certainly in Los Angeles and Denver.” —————————— Accused of Stealing Harnest. Charles Newman, a drayman living at Twen- tieth and Alabama streets, swore to & com- plaint in Judge Joachim-en’s court yesterday tor the arrest oi Joseph Phelan on a charge of burglary. Phelan is accused of siealing two sets of harne: N stable and on reet and Cortland avenue, who reporied the matter to tho police, OOR PRUNES (R NONE AT ALL The Coast Must Supply the, European Shortage in Fruit. Favorable Conditions @ive Us| Control of the World’s Market. Santa Olara County Left on Early Contracts—Several Dealers Caught Heavily Short. Conditions in the prune market have been intensely excited in the past few weeks and prices have been on the jump, with a prospect of ultimately reachinga point in excess of those wiich have pre- vailed in this market for many a year. To those orchardists who have resisted the offers of the early season and did not con- tract their crops the situation is most cheering. The year 1896 was the worst for the prune crop and fruit generally that has ever been known in this State. The crop of 1895 had not met with prompt sale and a large quantity had to be carried over. Prices were merely nominal and declined to2}4 cents per pound, with demand in- active. The crop was also short, amount- ing to only 60,000,000 pounds, but, not- withsianding, prices sagged until they reached a point below the cost of produc- tion. Several causes contributed to the reduction, principally the unsettled politi- cal outlook and want of confiience gen- erally, assisted by the enormous crop ot apples in the Eastern States as well as large crops of prunes in Turkey, France and the Bulgarian provinces. Last year standard apples, which are the zreat com- petitor of the prune among the mass of consumers, declined to 3! and 3)4 cents ver pound, at which price the consump- tion of prunes was greatly curtailed. The total crop of prunes of the United States for 1896 was, approximately, 70,- 0C0,000 pounds, and- though they were ail disposed of the net result showed a loss to the producers, generally speaking. The cbange of administration and the prospect of a higher tariff stimulated im- portations to some extent, but not mate- rially, as shown by the low stocks that everywhere existed at the opening of the present year in all the great msrkets. Low prices continued until about the first of last August, when the rumors of short cropsin all the Earopean countries reachea this market. By the middle of the month these rcports were confirmed and prices experienced immediate stimulation and prunes, which were then selling at about 214 centd per pound, quickly strenethened until they markea, yesterday, 314 cents, with an advancing tendency. The situa- tion is completely reversed from that of a vear ago. The Eastern apple crop is les: than one-half of that of last year, and of- fers of 74 cents for standard dried apples are refused, owing to the inabiiity of driers to supply them. Thus the great competitor of the Cali- fornia prune is removed irom our home markets. In addition fo this fact the crop of L 1 prunes in ail those countries of Europe producing them is less than one-half the average, and the astonishing fact exists ihat California, Orezon and Washington, the three States that grow prunes, will ex- port to France, Germany and Turkey and her depenpencies the deficiency caused by short crops. 2 The normal output of France is 75,000,- 000 pounds, and ber estimated production this vear is but 33,000,000 pounds. The advices from all the prune-growing coun- tries of Burope are of the same unfavor- able nature. For the past three months buyers from Europe have been exceedingly active in all the prane markets. It is said that the port of Hamburg will absorb immense quantities of our product. The crop of prunes in the United States for the present year is expected to reach 90,000,000 pounds, of which California will supply all but 10,000,000 pounds of this State will require 3500 cars to trans- port it, To what extent the local crop has been contracted only an approximate estimate is possible. It 1s not believed that over one-half is now beyond the control of the orchardist. 8anta Clara County, which produces five-sixths of all the prunes grown in the State, it is said, will not reap the full benefit of the advance, owing to the freedom with which future contracts were entered into by tbe agent of the Santa Clara Fruit Exchange, Colonel Hersey, who has had no confidence that the high prices now prevailing would be reached. The exchange, so it is stated by local jobbers, has been a full seller aud recently contiacted several hundred car- load: at a price below three cents, with commissions and brokerage to be de- ducted. The great advance in prices has caused a great dissatisfaction among those | whose product was disposed of before the advance. Among jobbers the present high prices are regarded as permanent and dealings are cautiously entertained. A late circular of Castle Brothers sums up the prevailing tone of this market: All that needs to be said in confirmation of our strong views on this article is to inform the trade through our representatives that we have within the past few days succeeded in selling a considerable quantity of the three lnrge sizes, 40-60's, to Paris importers at 614, 53, and 43{ cents in 25's f. 0. b. for Sanutu Clara stock. Germany, England and other European countries have been liberal buyers of California prunes since it became apjarent that a big shortage existed on the other side. France, now being in line for our product, is, in our judgment. the most bullish factor to the situation, and we are personally backing ou'r views by buying liberally at full market rates. The short interests on Santa Clara prunes are doing their utmost to beer the market by pointing out that our crop is large and by stating that present prices are unwarranted. Although not admitting it publicly, no one aporeciates more than themseives the fact that withso many new markets opened up to us, together with the general improvement in United States trade conditious, even allowing that this year’s crop is larger than that of the past season, it will surely be found entirely insufficient to meet tne demand coming from 50 many sources. Among the brokers and commission men dealing largely in dried fruits sev- eral are said to have so!d neavily previ- ous to the late sensational advance. FEARS FREDERICX BELL. The Young Man’s Foster-Mother Has Departed for Her Ranch. Fearful, it is said, that the wrath of yvoung Fred Bell will so combat the dis tates of his better judgment that he will goon the warpath Mrs. B:ll, who a few days ago denied in open court that he was her son, yesterday left her home and fam- ily of chilaren and went to her farm in Sonoma County. Although it is true that a warrant was issued for the impulsive young man’s arrest 1he day of the sensa- tional court proceedings his foster-motner felt that it further ‘notoriety could be avoided by flight it would be beiter, even tihough it greatly inconvenienced her. The ca-t-off son, whose anger is feared at “the house of mystery,” disclaims that he ever ihreatened to injure Mrs. Bell, and would not, though it brought | him everlasting peace of mind. statement on the part of Frederick, how- ever, which was ma te by the young man in his cool moments, went but a little way toward allaying the fears of his fosfer- mother, and until matters are adjusted she prefers residing in some town other than the one that harbors him. Next Wednesday may see the conclusion of the case brought against Mrs. Bell by her putative son, and peace mav come with the conclusion. Although Frederick is bitterly opposed to Mrs. Bell, his sister still remains loyal to her foster-mother, and it is believed that she will remain so until the end. WANT TRACKS REMOVED, Oak - Street Property - Owners to Ask Market-Street Company to Take Up Unused Rails. Because for about four years the Market- street Railway Company has not used irs track system along Potrero avenue, from Twenty-fourth street to Tenth, up Tenth to Market, across to Fell, out Fell to Franklin, along Franklin to Oak and out Oak to Golden Gate Park, the Oak-street Property-owners’ Association has put the matter in the hands of Attorneys Lane & Lane to ascertain what the railway com- pany intend to do about it. The associa- tion wishes to have the unused rails re- moved on about thirty blocks, and if the company does not manifest a desire to act suit will probably be brought to com- pel it to do so. ———— NE® TO-DAY. 3 R A AR AR AR AR AR AR AR A A b k% *THE CREDIT HOUSE.” Six Stories High. | XAAANNAN R KA A parlor pleasure for visitors or home folks. Mahogany Corner Chair, with high carved back. Spring seat, upholstered in silk damask and striped velours. Triumph Foldi—n—Bed,big enough yo o : $7.25 for two adults. Fifty other styles. Seven-piece Bedroom Set—Bed, Dresser, Commode, Rocker, 2 Chairs and T: ble........ LBl Is vour Dinner 7lable large enough? A 6-foot Extension Table for eight persons—ten will not crowd it much—for.... $2.45 Ingrain Carpet Rugs, oxg feet, big enough to carpet most rooms— variety of patterns and harmonious colors... § 50 M. FRIEDMAN & CO. 233-235-237 POST ST., 130-132-134 MORTON ST., Near Stockton. OPEN EVENINGS. RPN XN AR K R AR AR AR AKX RO AR A KA A E K X FOH KA NN AR KN H NN NA NN YNNI A NN XN NN IR RN KRNI NN YTy YTV YOIV TR i Yy Y Yy Y Yy Ty Y YT PP Y Y YT Y P YT YR VO ez ey \ g