The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 21, 1898, Page 1

Tall VOLUME LXXXIII - The SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1898. PRICE FIVE CENTS WILLIAM A. CLARK IS SLAIN BY HIS -BROTHER GEORGE Unsuccessful ANDERSON = THE MODERN CAIN A, Cal, Jan. 20.—Willlam | urday. The officers claim to have suf- | = section boss of the n of the Southern Pa- assassinated a few v 5 o'clock this morning. and there is little doubt that his brother George was the murderer. It is knowh that George Clark made several prev- ious attempts to kill his brother by ad- ministering pof and the residents of St. Helena were|so enraged by the rrurdet ihls morning that the suspected assassin was removed to the County Jafl at Napa for his own safety. All the circumstances of the crime indicate § that it was deliberately planned and conlly carried out. Anderson St. He cific T W. A. Clark arose as usual at about | 5 o'clock this morning and proceeded to prepare his breakfast, according to his usual custom. A few minutes later his son-in-law, George W. Day, heard what appeared to be the report of a pistol. He did not arise to Investi- gate. However, Clark, hearing a nolse similar to that of a person stru up blood, 1 went to the kitchen. There floor, weltering in his own ; her husband. His head was inside and close to the end of the k table; his feet were upon the door ng while close to his hips Near his feet, but on 32-caliber revolver, still from the shot that had been There w a ghastly wound just and to the left of the left eye, ng where the bullet had entered. Clark aroused the household and d her husband to be placed upon A physician was summoned. Mr. Clark never spoke after being shot. Osborne arrives! upon the scene, but his services were of no avail, so he noti- fled Marshal Johnson. George W. Clark, a brother of the murdered man, sleeps in a room on Dr. Osborne’s prem: and the Mar- shal, accompanied by the doctor and Charles Jackson, proceeded to the place and placed the man under arrest. He appeared very much surprised at his brother’s death and protested his in- nocence, saying that his brother had committed suicide. The officer, how- ever, noticed that Clark’s shoes had ‘fresh mud on them, although the man caid he had not left his room since the night before. The shoes exactly fitted the tracks leacing from his cottage to the home of his brother. seorge Clark formerly lived with his brother William, but was ordered from the 1 e on suspicion of having placed poison in the latter’s coffee. On two o1 ons Willlam Clark narrowly el d death from poisoning. In each instance the coffee had been poisoned. An examination showed the coffee to contain strychnine sufficient to kill a dozen men. The affair was myster- fous, and George was accordingly or- dered from the place until the matter was cleared up. George begged to be allowed to go back, but was refused. W. A. Bingham to-day identified the pistol found on the porch as one he had sold to George Clark a few days ago. Lou P hard said he gave George a bottle of strychnine some time ago to kill mice witn. A Call reporter interviewed Mrs. Clark, and she said of her husband: “If he had an enemy outside of his brother I don’t know it.” Peter York, on his way to work shortly after 5 o’clock, s=e a man run- ning in the diregtion of George Clark’s room. William Anderson Clark was a na- tive of Ohio, 43 years of age. In add:- tionto the widow, he leaves seven chil- dren, who are destitute. Clark was a quiet and industrious man, and has lived in St. Helena eight years. His brother George is a cranky, disagree- 1 able fellow and hard to get along with. * The jall was guarded by officers all day, and in the afternoon the prisoner ‘was sent to the county seat. A Coro- ner's jury was immediately impaneled, but on motion of the District Attorney the inquest was postponed until Sat- CLARK ficient evidence to convict George | Clark of the murder of his brother. | NAPA, Jan. 20.—George Willard Clark, who was arrested at St. Helena this morning for the murder of his brother, Willlam Anderson Clark, was brought down to the county jall this afternoon by Sheriff McKenzie. He was seen this afternoon and said: | “I have lived in California for nhnutfi eleven years. I have béen In Napa | County for over six years. I have been | a Christian for more than five years, | having first Jjolned the Methodist church, then the Salvation Army. Later | I reunited with the Methodist church, but now I belong to the Seventh-day Adventists. As God is my witness, this is the first crime of which I have ever been accused. I protest my innocence and shall fight the case to the last. ‘Would I murder my brother? Never! I have my suspicion as to the murderer, but I will not divulge it. I am 37 years of age and was born in Ohio. Last night T retired to bed between 9 and 10 | | o'clock, after attending prayer-meet- | ing. I room at Dr. Osborne’s, in St. Helena, and have roomed there since my brother and I had a falling out, | some time ago. The only thing I know | is that early this morning, between 6 and 7 o'clock, City Marshal Johnson called at my rooms and stated that he wanted me. T was surprised, but sur- rendered readily. I was taken to the local jail and there was visited by three Christian friends before noon. These friends expressed their belief in my in- nocence and will contribute their aid | to my defense. God will see me through |in this matter.” ‘““Were you near your brother’s resi- dence last night?” was asked. | “No, I was not,” he replied. | | “How about the footprints that cor- | respond with yours?” | “I know nothing about them. I am | innocent.” | “How about the attempted polsoning of your brother on two different occa- sions last month? Do you know any- thing about it?” . “I did not do it, as God knows. I told | you I had had suspicions against a cer- tain person. I have told the officers whom I suspect. I shall be proven in- nocent at my trial. My brother also suspected another.” “Were there ever rumors that you were unduly intimate with your brother's wife?"” “Such rumors are false. They are monstrous. My brother and. I had trouble and I left his house, but not‘ over differences of that sort. Nothing of such a horrible character ever oc- curred.” | The prevailing opinion at St. Helena | is that George Clark is the guilty man. | He is of dark complexion, medium stature and has a dark mustache. He | looked The Call representative square in the face as he remarked: “I am both sorry and glad over this tragic | affair. I am sorry my brother has been murdered and I am glad that I am in- nocent.” He was particularly inquisi- | tive about the appearance of his brother after death, and when told was very much affected. He seems little dejected behind the bars of the County Jail and appears to trust in the Lord. DENOUNCES THE SYSTEM OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. Judge Wofford Sustains the Police Courtsin Fining Mrs. Baird for Failing to Report a Case of Diphtheria. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 20.—In the | Criminal Court to-day Judge Wofford sustained the decision of the Police Court | fining Mrs. A. J. Baird, one of the lead- | ing Christian scientists In this city, $50 | and costs for faillng to report a case of | diphtheria. The patient, a child, had died | under Mrs. Baird’s treatment. Mrs. Baird | was arraigned in the Police Court last November, her case causing unusual in- terest. After examining witnesses to-day Judge Wofford upheld the sentence of the lower court and took occasion to de- nounce the system of Christian science. 000660000000000000060 | Washington @00@0@900@050@@@@;@@@@@OO@@@Q@@@@@@@@@@@Q ®® Attempts at Poisoning Followed by a Bullet of the Assassin. AND HIS VICTIM. “I think,” sald he, “a monstrous wrong I do not think the penalty is sufficient. If this woman is going to be turned loose on this community I am going to let a higher court do it. the power to do so under this ordinance.” Mrs. Baird will appeal the case. BRITISH SHIPS DAMAGED BY STORM AND COLLISION, The Wendur From San Francisco Reaches Queenstown Badly Battered, and the - Samoena Has Rough Experiences. QUEENSTOWN, Jan. 20.—The British ship Wendur, Captain Nicoll, which ar- rived here January 18 from San Fran- cisco, is serfously injured about the miz- zen m and the British ship Samoena, Captain Boyce, which arrived here from San Francisco the same day, has her bows damaged. ing to the Wen. ving at anchor. The Samoena anchored after the collision. GOVERNOR BUSHNELL’S RECOVERY DOUBTFUL. Examined by a Washington Courthouse Phy- sician and Found to Be Suffering From Diabetes. NEW YORK, Jan. 20.—A special to the Herald from Columbus, Ohlo, says: A Courthouse physician says that he was consulted by Governor Bush- nell and found that the Governor had dia- betes. The doctor says the Governor's recovery is doubtful. pta S Farmers Hold an Institute at Loomis. AUBURN, Jan. 20.—A Farmers' Insti- tute was held at Loomis, Placer County, yesterday. The principal speakers wera Professors Fowler and Woodworth of the State University. Local papers were read and much interest was manifested. —————————— The Samoena, while be- PPP0qo0P0 P00909 90000 0600@ | @ NEWS OF THE DAY. REFFY @ bd b4 bd @ & Weather forecast for San Fran- cisco: Falr on Friday; continued cold weather; probably frost in the morning; northerly winds. Maximum temperature for the past twenty-four hours. San Francisco Portland .... Los Angeles . San Diego .. +.56 degreee FIRST PAGE. Brother Murders a Brother. Annexationists Want Delay. Murderous Assault on a Girl, No Water to Fight Fire. SECOND PAGE. Surveys of Nicaragua Canal. To Improve California Rivers. The Great Billlard Tournament, Warrant for Alsip's Arrest. Russia Threatens China. THIRD PAGE. Blanco May Leave Cuba. Japanese Cruiser Launched. Senator White to Lead. Maryland Senatorial Deadlock. Riots Continue in Parid. FOURTH PAGE. Cuba’s Cause in Congress. To Pay Bonds in Silver. Steamer Signal Not Lost. Cashier Foils a Bank Robber. FIFTH PAGE. An Advance in Klondike Rates, How a Woman Lost Her Diamonds. Trouble Over an Interne. A Novelty in Sports. SIXTH PAGE. ) 0000090000600 9000069009000 0000000600 Editorial. Warning of the Los Angeles Case. The Ready Warrant. ® Farmers Against Annexation. @ The Immigration League. P¢ The Klondike Trade. p-€ The Water Front Market. ® History of the Bruce Medal. P Stories From the Corridors. SEVENTH PAGE. A Woman Wants Solace. Salutes for the Jubilee. Jubllee Preparations. EIGHTH PAGE. The Commercial World. NINTH PAGE. News From Across the Bay. TENTH PAGE. Racing In Oakland. The City Sued for Damages. ELEVENTH PAGE. Births, Marriages and Deaths. TWELFTH PAGE. Coal Famine Getting Serious. Yosemite Commission Accounts Tangled. Union Box Factory Burned. PPOPPPPP 0000090900000 ® © @ PP09000006966006006 as been done in the death of this child. | I would fine her $1000 if I had | PLAY FOR DELAY TPON ANNEXATION Schemers Make a Bad Break in the Senate. Beaten in a Test Vote of Their Own Inviting. Waiting Now for the Arrival of President Dole of Hawalii. HE If the Game Cannot Bs Won With Him It Is Hopelessly Lost. | Epectal Dispatch to The Call. ‘fifififififlbfififiafififififlfig WASHINGTON, Jan. 20— O Senator Bacon of Georgia to- day followed his action of yes- terday in offering an amend- ment to the treaty providing for a vote upon it by the people of Hawali by offering the amend- ment to Senator Morgan’s bill for annexation, thus making the amendment public. It is as fol- lows: “That this act shall not be op- erative and of binding effect upon either the United States of America or the Republic of Ha- wail until the same shall have been consented to and approved by the majority of the voters voting at an election to be held in the Hawaiian Islands, at which election all male natiyes of said islands of the age of 21 years, and all naturalized male persons of the age of 21 years shall be qualified voters. Sald election to be held at a time and in the manner and under regu- Jations to be prescribed by the ¥ President of the United States.” =3=3 3R eE o2 -3ag 3 2-3-3-3-2 3] Call Office, Riggs House, ‘Washington, Jan. 20. This has been a bad day for the Ha- | wallan annexationists. In an unmis- takable test of their strength they find they have been performing that act so familiar in politics and legislation of counting their chickens before they are hatched. Feeling secure in the stories FLUCVVICVUAUUCOTAAOVOOOROGCQCAAQ carried to them by their runners inside and outside the Senate, the men who are engineering the annexation scheme determined upon a coup which was ex- pected to show their strength, and the result was a pair of black eyes for an- nexation. For days the annexationists have nexation sentiment which has been | developing in the Senate. They talked so much about it they began to believs it themselves, and when it was decid- ed to make a showing they fell into the trap they had set for themselves. It all came about in this way: Senator Vest gave notice yesterday that he would call up for consideration to-day the resolutions which bear the name in legislative history of the late Stanley Matthews of Ohio, and which declare in so many words that it would not be repudiation to pay the coin bonds of the United States in standard silver dollars. Pursuant to that notice given vesterday, Senator Vest, at what is known as the conclusion of the morn- ing business of the Senate, rose to make his motion. Before he could se- cure recognition, Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, one of the most ardent | of annexationists, jumped to the front | with a motion that the Senate proceed | to the consideration of executive busi- | ness. That meant, of course, the fur- ther consideration of the Hawailan question. It has developed that the annexa- tionists have been hugging to them- selves the delusion that in the hearts of all those who talked favorably about annexation this Hawaiian ques- tion was uppermost and that the sil- | ver Senators of the West and some of | the Eastern men on the Democratic side would put Hawall above silver or anything else. It was to show this they determined upon the test. They belleved a majority of the Senate | | would promptly go on record as in fa- | vor of the consideration of the treaty | rather than thresh over old straw on the money and bond question. and they were foolish enough to boast of their | supposed power before the Senate con- | vened. The result was disastrous to their hopes. By a vote of 39 to 27 the Senate determined that it did not care | to go into executive session just then, | and later, by the decisive vote of 41 to | 25, the body decided to proceed with he consideration of the bonds resolu- | tion. Senator Vest held it there until | he made the men on the other side of | the chamber agree that it should be re- | garded as the unfinished business of the Senate and should have the right | of way, and then he consented to the executive session. And instead of making a coup that would help them, the annexationists made a bad break. That is particu- larly manifest to-night nouncement that has gone out to | friends of the treaty to play for de- lay. They are by no means as cer- tain as they have been of their ulti- mate success and so they have deter- | | i | Continued from First Page. - IS THE LAST CARD.| o =3 bed b= g fod e b b bed bod b bed o o =3 b < o o b o o o =3 b bod o b o { of their invincibility, which had been | been prating about the growth in an- | in the an-| MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A REDDING GIRL Shot Twice While on Her Way From School. Mary Christensen Has a Narrow Escape From Death. | Crazy Deed of a Lover Whose Infatuation Was Not Reciprocated. WOUNDS NOT DANGEROUS. Talk of Lynching the Assailant, Who Tries to End His Life With Laudanum. Special Dispatch to The Call. REDDING. Jan. 20.—While on her | way home from school late this after- noon Mary Christensen was shot twice | by Sam Shields, a lover whose lnfatuw | ation was not reciprocated. She had | | reached the alley between Court and | Oregon streets, on the West Side, when | she was met by Shields, who said: “Mollie, I am going to kill you.” The girl attempted to ward off the pistol, while pleading: *“O, don’t do | that; for God’s sake, don’t do that.” | | | ‘Without heeding her entreaties, the | wretch fired point blank in her face, the ball cutting an ugly gash in her | cheek. With blood streaming over her | clothes the girl fled toward her home, | screaming: “I am shot. O, I am| killed.” | Her murderous assailant then ran up | behind her and fired again, the ball | striking her in the left shoulder andi | coming out above the breast. This shot | set her clothing afire. The third shot | did not take effect. James N. Logan Jr., District Attor- ney Rose, John E. Reynolds and Night | ‘Watchman Johnson ran to her assist- ance and disarmed her assailant: The young woman is staying at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James N. Logan Jr., whither she was carried. Her ‘wounds are not dangerous. Shields was locked up in the County Jail. He at- tempted suicide by, taking laudanum, but succeeded in swallowing only a few drops. He is a shoemaker by trade, in | the employ of W. P. Buck, and is a | man ot about 35 or 40 years of age. | Miss Christensen is a daughter of Colin | | Christensen, an expert accountant of Gas Point. Shields first became ac- | quainted with the young woman i | that section. James N. Logan Jr. says that Miss | | Christensen complained of Shields’ at- | tentions and he ordered him off the | premises. It was feared that Shields | might attempt something desperate, and Marshal Eckels was warned. Lo- gan also spoke to Shields’ employer, | but he considered him a harmless fel- | low. Several months ago Shields wrote | an anonymous letter to the girl's| | mother, making slanderous accusa- tions. The mother forwarded the let- | | ter to her daughter, who is 16 years of | | age and one of the brightest pupils in | | the public schools of Redding. A few | | days since she carried off a $10 prize | | for making the most changes in the | sentence “Homeward the plowman | plods his weary way,” in “Gray’'s Ele- | "Had the young girl been fatally wounded her slayer would not have | | lived till morning, and as it is, threats |of lynching are freely and openly made in all quarters of town. Shields | is fearful that he may be lynched. He | | submitted to interviews, but could not | be prevailed upon to tell why he had | shot the girl. TIARRY WINTERS' DOOX 1S SEALED Sentenced by Judge Buck to Be Hanged by the Neck Until Dead. | Motion for New Trial Denied—The Condemned Man Has Nothing to Say. Special Dispatch to The Call. REDWOOD CITY, Jan. 20.—In the Su- perfor Court at this place this morning Judge Buck pronounced the death sen- tence upon Harry Winters, one of the | murderers of C. A. Andrews. Before | court convened the entire seating ca- pacity of the courtroom was full to over- flowing, even to the jury box, and stand- ing room was at a premium. At 10 o’clock Sheriff Mansfleld brought the prisoner handcuffed to the courtroom. He looked pale and worried, but kept composed during the trying ordeal of the passing of the death sentence, Attorney Nagle asked the Court to de- fer passage of sentence for a month, in | order to allow him to move for a new trial. This the Court refused to do. Nagle then made his motion for a new trial on the statutory grounds and also moved an arrest of judgment. The Court refused both motions. Winters was then told to stand up, and was asked if he had anything to say why the sentence of the court should not be passed upon him. He had nothi to say, contrary to the expectations of all present in the courtroom. The Judge Fhen sentenced him to be hanged by the | neck until dead, and the time for carry- | ing out the sentence was fixed for April | 8 next. P ST Young Petaluman Succumbs to Consumption. PETALUMA, Jan. 20.—This morning, at 4 o'clock, William K. Hill, the 26-year-old and second son of Mr. and Mrs. Hdll, dled. He shad long been a sufferer from consumption. | mains as the company had in operation | fit for a village of 5000 people. |pany asks $3,000,000 NO WATE R TO FIGHT THE FIRE Los Angeles Danger of a Is in Daily Disastrous Conflagration. ‘And Still the All the Southern M ied Villainies of etropolis Plead for Delay in Securing City Water. 555 70 0 20 52 52 b <in Sn g5 60 < 2 5 50 2 g 43 2l i 1 £ 4 g 28 2B TR g 25 8 o 2 + + + “The fire on Pico Heights is an unanswerable plea for the early 4 4 settlement of the water question. The three syndicated dailies can 4 4 now continue their policy of defending those officials who are block- 4 4 ing the city's acquisition of its water plant if they wish, but every + 4 time they bolster up procrastination in this matter they are jeopardiz- 4 4 ing the lives and property of hundreds of people.”—From an interview + 4+ with Mayor M. P. Snyder of Los Angeles. + ~ + LR R S R R e R et bt o o o R e LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20.—The people | —has the audacity to endeavor of Los Angeles to-day had the fact|to either mulet the people of brought forcibly home to them that the water service of this city now given by the Los Angeles Water Com- pany was not only inadequate, but the further fact that such of the pipes and were out of repair, worn out and not Owing to the fact that not even ordinary gar- den-hose pressure could be obtained through the water mains on Pico Helghts, one of the most imposing | school buildings in the city is a mass of smoldering ruins and the lives of hundreds of innocent school children were jeopardized. The homes of the substatial workingmen who reside on Pico Heights, one of the most closely populated residence districts of the city, were all in danger at one time of being consumed by the conflagration, and two of them were .reduced to ashes as it was. It was 2:15 this aftern@on when the fire_alarm was turned in. The fire started fn the school building in which there were some 200 school children. The blaze was fortunately discovered early and the little ones were marched out in safety, without panic. The build- ing was an eight-roomed, two-story structure, and the loss to the city is $10,000. As a high wind was prevailing and the firemen, who turned out promptly, had absolutely no water to work with, he flames spread to the adjoining cot- tages and three of them were con- sumed. The Chief of the Fire Depart- ment was forced to send two miles to| Vermont avenue to cause the water to | be turned on in the old zanja, a relic of the adobe days. It then percolated down near the scene of the conflagra- tion. In the bed of an old creek, wells were dug and here in the holes the water collected. The fire engines were usd to pump the water upon the flames and thus was a spread prevented and the Pico Heights district saved from devastation. As to the inadequacy of the water service, the Chief of the Fire Depart- ment, Walter S. Moore, said to-night: “With the pressure of an ordinary gar- den hose we could have saved the three residences. But we absolutely could not get water in buckets to prevent the sparks from igniting the houses adjoining. We finally dug wells in the bed of an old creek and thereby cut off the flames as soon as we could get the water forced by our engines.” The water service in that district is a disgrace to the city. The homes of hundreds of working men are entirely at the mercy of any fire that may start. If the flames had not been dis- covered when they were, so that chil- dren could. be marched out of the schoolhouse, there would have been a frightful catastrophe. Yet in the face of this presentation the syndicated press of Los Angeles is advising delay in the settlement of the water question. The three combined dallies advocate a policy of procrasti- nation when, if the city were to come into the possession of its property on July 22 next, it could at once proceed to improve the plant so *that every por- tion of the city would be adequately protected. The sentiment and feeling of thou- sands of taxpayers is vorced by Mayor M. P. Snyder, who this -~~ning said: “The fire on Pico Heights is an un- answerable plea for the early settle- ment of the water question. The three syndicated dailies can now continue their policy of defending those officials who are blocking the city’s acquisition of its water plant if they wish, but every time they bolster up procrasti- nation in this matter they are jeopar- dizing the lives and property of hun- dreds of people. Until the water ques- tion is settled we can not have an ade- quate service for this city. The longer settlement is delayed, the longer we will be without it. “Every day of delay that could be avoided by the City Council taking up this question and treating it intelligent- 1y, honestly and fearlessly as represen- tatives of the people and not as speciai pleaders of the water company would be a great boon to the people. Just think of those innocent school children whose lives were in danger this after- noon. Why, the contemplation is ap- palling. If anything was needed to arouse the people to action, my opinion is that Providence has sent that thing. close on to $2,000,000 or to force a renewal of its lease and a continuation of the present water service, which is a disgrace to the city.” Councilman Edward L. Hutchinson, in discussing the matter, said: “Con- sidering the fact that almost every vesidence in this city is built of wood, that all the school buildings but two are huge wooden structures, that many of the so-called business blocks are of wood, that most of the flats and tene- ments of the city are of wood and that many of the bulldings wherein great crowds assemble for purposes of amusement are of wood, and the ad- ditional and appalling fact that most of the water mains are of two-inch pipe, making the facilities for coping with conflagrations absolutely inadequate, it is almost miraculous the fire demon has not already wiped us from the face of the earth. It is fortunate for the hundreds of pupils who escaped death at Pico Heights to-day that the teach- ers of this city have long recognized the supreme danger and have frequent- ly drilled the children systematically for just such emergenctes. If the city water company and the syndicated sys cophants of the press manage to con- trol the water supply of this city much longer a special ‘fire drill’ should be ar- ranged for the grown people who con- gregate in buildings where there is hardly enough water to drink, to say nothing of extinguishing conflagra- tions.” “By the way, what has become of nearly all the huge wooden hotels that ornamented this city a few years ago? ‘Wood-built cities that are careless of water vanish sooner or later. Our buildings are as dry as powder houses and almost as inflammable. When a holocaust oceurs here, as it surely will occur, I should not like to answer forthe City Water Company, for its syndicate press nor for those who aid and abet them in their nefarious schemes to keep this fair and flourishing city from hav- ing one of the finest and most econom- ical and efficient water systems in the world.” Do ing i INWARDNESS OF THE GREAT CONSPIRACY TO FLEECE THE PEOPLE. Powerful Combine foifliispase of a Compara- tively Worthless Water Plant and Control City Politics. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20.—Each new disclosure made in connection with the issues that have grown out of the School Board scandals shows clearly that a powerful and unscrupulous ring has been endeavoring for more than a ye ar past to secure control of the gov- ernment of the city of Los Angeles. Back of all the peculiar manipulation that has been going on is the powerful corporation which is now seeking to unload upon the people of Los Angeles a rust-eaten and otherwise worthless water plant at nearly three times its actual value, namely, the Los Angeles City Water Company. Its plan of op- eration has been shrewd and subtle. It has also had as able allies the Los Angeles Lighting Company, the Los Angeles Electric Company and the Los Angeles Electric Raillway Company. Realizing the importance of securing the support of or gagging the local press their first efforts were put forth in this direction. The Herald and Ex- press were brought under the domina- tion of these corporations by directpur- chase of an interest in them. From all that can be learned the money for this investment was provided by the Los Angeles City Water Company. Just how the support of the Times in behalf of these corporations and the objects which they are séeking to accomplish was obtained is not definitely known, but numberless residents do not hesi- tate to fix the price for which the influ- ence of the Times was purchased. The figures vary from the price of a small advertisement to a respectable sum in cash. ‘With the three papers mentioned thus virtually forced to talk with the tongue of the Los Angeles Water Company and its allied cvorporations, the next step in the great conspiracy to rob the peo- ple of Los Angeles of their money and their rights as free-born citizens was easily taken. This was the formation of an organization dubbed the League for Better City Government, C. D. Wil- lard being used to make the prelimin- ary arrangements. This organization, while being coddled and nursed by the “For this old, battered, worn-out, de- pleted plant, with forcible evidence of its inadequacy at hand, the water com- of the city Times-Herald-Express syndicate into vigorous life as an ostensible purifier of local politics, was simply laying the ground work for capturing the city,