The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 4, 1905, Page 1

San .‘Francisco THE WEATHER. gy = =5 V= '."kb“ - Forecast made at Sen Hfanciséo fo thirty bours ending midnight March 4: . Saturday, eooler; light morth winds. | ™ : A. G. McADIE, ! Distriot Forecaster. | 7 4 and vicintty—Fair COLUMBIA—Grand Opera. CENTRAL—“Why Women Sin." CHUTES—Vaudeville. < GRAND—* MAJESTIC- “ola other Goose.' Heldelberg." MECHANICS PAVILJON—Norris & Rowe's circus. ORPHBUM—Vaudeville. TIVOLI—Comic Opera. 5 Matinees at all theaters to-day. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. STRYCHNINE 1S FOUND IN RS, STANFORD'S STOMACH AND A BOTTLE OF THE DEADLY POISON IS LOCATED BY POLICE IN NOB HILL MANSION PRISON DOORS YAWN FOR THE MURDERER OF THE AGED PHILANTHROPIST ‘ HE analysis of the stomach of Mrs. Jane L. Stanford, at Honolulu, it is learned at a late hour this morning on positive authority, reveals the presence of strychnine. Yesterday a bottle containing the poison was found hid- den away at Mrs. Stanford’s residence in this city. These two points are an important stride toward clearing up. the mystery, and arrests are likely to follow. It is now established that the aged philanthropist was murdered and the discovery of the bottle of poison is regarded as clinching evidence against members of the household retinue. STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS PROMISED W1 FOUR PERSONS REST UNDER SU SPICION OF GIVING THE POISON SECRETARY ONE OF THEM Clews Are Regarded as Good and Arrests May Be Made ~at Any Moment. > THBER " HOTO! Four members of the houschold service of Mrs. Stanford are under the eye of detectives and the law’s strong arm can be laid on them at a mo- ment’s notice. One of them, Ah Wing, is held a prisoner at the Nob Hill man- sion while developments at Honolulu The suspects upon whom the police rc trying to fasten tangible evidence ! guilt, and who -may be placed un- cer formal charge. of murder at any uy, are the following: MISS BERTHA BERNER, private in Honolulu, AH WING. Chinese cook employed by Mrs retary: now Stanford for over twenty years, MISS ELIZABETH RICHMOND, forgnerly maid. ALBERT BEVERLY, formerly but- Jer Miss Nora Hopkins, employed as maid by Mrs. Stanford until a short tme before her departure for Hawaii, bas figured prominently in the inves. 3 | tipations of the police, but they are convinced that she is not implicated. The horror of the crime, the promi- nence of its victim and the many mys- terious features have stirred the world 2nd police are working on the case in | many cities, At a late hour this morning comes the startling information that during a search of Mrs. Stanford’s residence on Nob Hill by detectives yesterday a bottle containing strychnine was found. This brings the perpetration of the murder close home, 80 to speak. |1t is hardly to be believed that Mrs. | Stanford kept such a supply of poison on hand and only the link remains, it would appear, Who purchased the strychnine? Abh Wing is still under guard at Mrs, Stanford’s home in this city, with the accusing finger of Miss Berner pointed at him. On the other hand, detectives are stationed in the Berner home at Palo Alto. Miss Richmond and Bever- ly are under constant surveillance at San Mateo. - £ DETECTIVES | | | | | i | | | KEEP THREE UNDER WATCH Still Imprisoned in Stanford Mansion. ‘With the seeming certainty of the shadow on a dial circumstances are slowly rounding to a point where the police believe they will soon be able to reveal to the world the identity of the person or persons gulity of the coward- ly murder of Mrs. Jane Stanford. Although it is known that Acting Chief of Police Spillane, Captain of Detectives Burnett and Captain Cal- lundan of Morse's Detective Agency, who are harmoniously directing the in- vestigation of the mysterious case, are united in their suspicions and would not_hesitate long in making arrests, it was learned yesterdey that they agreed at a conference to defer action in that direction until the return of detectives from Honolulu, whither they go to-day on the steamship Alameda. It is possible that ap arrest may be made a few days in advance of the re- turn of the officers, provided that in the meantime wunexpected develop- ments in Honolulu warrant the arrest of any of the persons suspected. Ag said in yesterday’s Call, the in- vestigation by the police has finally singled out three persons, closely con- nected with the household of the late Mrs. Stanford, as the most likely cul- prits, and to these three the police have added anothér name, that of a man who may be d an accom- plice in the- diabolical 3 There is no longer any reason to-con- AND HER FORMER MAID, WHO ARE UNDER SURVEILLANCE. Trusted Employe Suspected of the Crime. MRS. STANFORD'S SECRETARY | ceal the names of those involved In the theory of the police, for even the suspected persons know that suspicion is upon them. They are under strict guard and keenly appreciate that if they should show any disposition to leave their places of abode they would be restrained by the officers of the law. It will later devolve upon these per- sons to explain many matters connect- ed with the last days of Mrs. Stanford in this city. Through.their statements the detectives hope to weave a thor- ough net of circumstantial evidence around whatever one of them is guilty of the crime and bring the latter be- fore the bar of justice, where he or she will be called upon to plead “to a charge of murder. All the suspected persons have already been subjected to a questioning by the detectives work- ing on the case and much conflicting testimony has been gathered. JEALOUSIES EXIST. > The investigation has revealed the fact that much {1l feeling exists be- tween the former . members of the household. of the late Mrs. Stanford. Jealousy of an extreme form, that has undoubtedly been responsible for many | M: cruel insinuations against others, has been exhibited by at least two of the persons now under police surveillance and this fact has placed them in an unenviable light. In fact, it has the detectives in finding a possible mo- tive for the crime. i L ‘What the police are now most eager- ly seeking is a clew as to the time an place of purchase of the strychnine that was found in the bicarbo: EERa s i 3 Old Feuds Exist Among Her Servants. who placed the poison in the Poland water in Mrs. Stanford’s California- street home also mixed the deadly drug with the contents of the small bottles of soda she carried in her trunk to Honolulu. As has already been pub- lished, two packagés of bicarbonate of soda have been found by the detect- ives—one at her home in Palo Alto, the oth®r in her house on California-street hill. The package at Palo Alto was in {ts original form when discovered and when analyzed showed that it had in no way been tampered with. The package of soda found in the medicine closet in Mrs. Stanford's room at the : California-street mansion had been opened and a portion of the contents (a proportion sufficient to fill the bottle she took to Hawali) removed. As in the first case of analysis, the soda taken from the California-street house proved to be pure. Naturaily the inference drawn by the police is that Mrs. Stanford, foresee- ing. the probability of a need of bi- carbonate of soda during her ocean trip to Honolulu, caused a small bottle to be filled with a portion of the con- tents of the package of powder found later in the closet; and then immedi- ately arises the theory that some one very close to the much-loved woman stealthily mixed the powder with poison and placed the bottle where it would be noticed and packed away in her trunk. POLICE MOTIVES. Who were the persons so close to rs. S ? is the police query, and ‘the answer is forthcoming. They were Miss Berner, Mrs. Stanford's pri- ‘vate sacretary, who had been intrust- Richmond, a maid; Miss Nora Hop- kins, also a maid, and Ah Wing, the $ old Chinese, who was down in Mrs. Sta. 's household ledger as cook, bni ‘who wag more of a body ser- > sway in affairs of the “city and Palo All doubts that may have existed here during the last three days as to whether Mrs. Stanford’s death was due to strychnine poisoning were dis- | pelled yesterday when a brief message was received by the police to the ef-| fect that the Honolulu chemists had discovered traces of the drug in a por- tion of the woman's stomach that is undar examination. THe fact that only a portion of the stomach had been analyzed suggest- ed to Attorney Wilson, whose wisdom | is Peing accepted by Acting Chief of Police Spillane and Captain of De- tectives Burnett, inasmuch’ as he is | well acquainted with the legal phases of the case, the advisability of having | a more thorough analysis made. Ac- cordingly a cablegram was sent to Honolulu directing the chemists to make an analysis of the entire stom- ach and also the other organs of the dead woman. It was these instruc- tions that were responsible for the de- lay of the arrival of the eagerly look- ed for report from the islands. Later in the afternoon the authori- ties of Honolulu sent word that the chemists had commenced their work and expected to complete it some time this afternoon. The brief announce- ment of the discovery of poison in Mrs. Stanford’s stomach was most timely, for to-day the local detectives leave on the steamship Alameda for the scene of the recent tragedy and eagP!‘]}'{ awaited this information as a guide for their work in Honolulu, which they | will map out on their voyage. | Ever since the first news of Mrs. | Stanford’s death was received here her brother, Charles Lathrop, and a num- ber of friends, among them Dr. Davld. Alto. As to Any possible guilt being attached to Miss Berner, the police ap- pear and in fact pretend to take lit- tle stock in the suggestion that she might have had any motive in ridding the world of a mistress who had seemingly loved her, reposed in her ev- ery confldence, bullt her a handsome home for her parents in Palo Alto, paid her the magnificent salary of §200 a month, taken her abroad with her and finally made her a beneficiary in her will. Here is the argument set up by the head of the detective force in rebuttal of the frequent Insinuations against Miss Berner: i “If,” says he, “the theory that 3 same person was guilty of the two crimes of poisoning is entertained, does it not appear unreasonable to suspect that Miss Berner, a smart and clever ‘woman, after failing in one attempt to poison her mistress, when it would have been possible to shift the sus- picion to others by whom Mrs. Stan- ford was surrounded, would be insane enough to repeat the crime In far away Honolulu, where she would have po chance to place the blame on others, who were not with her there, and when she knew that several detectives here | Mrs. Stanford. Every THIN NEXT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS —_— CHEMISTS DEVELOP TRACES OF POISON - DURING ANALYSES MAKE REPORT TO POLICE Local Authorities Receive Bot- tle That Contained Fa- tal Grains. Starr Jordan, have been a bit skepti- cal about the report and were not in- clined to accept the murder theory until more deflnite information was recelved. Now that all doubts age cleared away it is expected that the relatives of the dead woman will exert every possible energy to assist the authorities In gaining the neces- sary clews that will bring to earth the person guilty of the terrible crime. Although the police deny the fact, it was learn last evening that the detectives have iIn their pessession a bottle 6f strychnine that found yesterday in the Stanford home in this city by one of the Morse agency men, who had been working on the first case * of attempted poisoning. Whether this bottle is the one from., ° which the murderer took the poison that was placed in the Poland water that Mrs. Stanford drank and later in the bicarbonate of soda which caused her death is a secret that the police will not divalge. When seen last night regarding the reported discovery of the strychnine Captain Callundan immedi- ately turnmed inquisitor, but when he found that his interviewer possessed only the meager facts he refused to talk further, shielding himself bghind the well worn excuse that whatever in- formation he had in-the case of Mrs. Stanford belonged to Attorney Wilson and Charles Lathrop and it femained for them to first divulge it. Both Attorney Wilson and Charles Lathrop were as silent as Callundan on the subject, the former explai that there are many matters in con- nection with the mysterious case that have to be kept secret in the interest of justice. -—_— - - r———— ditions of life and would never have thought of jeopardizing them. Further it is said by those who are in sym- pathy with the Mongolian servant, that he had had many and better oppor- tunities to murder his mistress and at times when he could have gained pos— session of large sums of money which he, and he alone, knew were secreted in the house. All this sounds good to the ears of everybody but the police. In their years of experience with crime in the Chinese quarter they have not strengthened their sentiment In favor" of the Mongolian and while willing to concede that Ah Wing may be an ex- emplary Chinese servant and worthy of all the confidence that was repossd in him by Mrs. Stanford and her rel- atives, they have their own views and are acting in Wing's case as they deem proper under the mysterious circum-~ stances in which the supposed murder is enveloped. Wing had been in the employ of the Stanfords for over twenty-one years—a circumstance, so the police contend, that might be used against him in advancing a theory that would seriously involve him in the killing of Chinese, as near- o vestigating the | ly every one in San Francisco knows, :‘:g“m;;gg :fi‘lgzu::flnsx‘ s?he ‘flm looks forward to the time when he case? And then arises the question as | may return to the flowery kingdom to what motive Miss Berner could have | and live out his remaining years In had other than a very poor one of |the comforts that his accumulated hastening the transter to her of a lump | Wealth may afford him. Wing is ad- sum of money that Mrs. Stanford's|vanced in age and probably, had Mrs. will provided should go to her after [Stanford lived a few more years, her the death of her mistress.” servant would have resigned his job and returned to China. It is not beyond TRYING THEORIES. a possibility, the police argue, that Eliminating Miss Berner from the | Wing had already made up his mind circle of suspicion the police have |to return to the Orient and longed to found themselves vigorously scenting | get the money which he had been in- the trail of -+ . 'mstances that involve | formed Mrs. Stanford’s will provided | the names of Muss Richmond, Miss | he should somé day receive. Of course, Hopkins and the factotum of the Stan- | all of this is only theory and the po- ford household, Ah Wing. The latter’s | lice candidly say that they have not case is quite a serious one to the head | yet got any damaging evidence against ‘of the city's detective force. It has | Wing, but are holding him as a matter been claimed by many of Mrs. Stan- of precaution, if not as a suspect, cer- ford’s old friends, and even a few of | tainly as a valuable witness, who will her relatives, that Ah Wing was the | be needed whenever the trial of the most devoted being that ever crossed her threshhold and served in her em- ploy. It is set forth that Wing, be- lieving that he was to be remembered in the will of his mistress and know- accused murderer is begum. QUESTIONING WING. On two occasions e the news of Mrs. Stanford's death reached this that his tion, with a salary and | city Wing has been closely questioned x':fny pnnm to which.few Chi- | by the detectives and has made dam- nese in this are accustomed, was contented with his con- Continued on Page 3, Column 2, _ : ”