The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 9, 1905, Page 1

THE AL west wind A i Forecast made at Sex Francisco for thirty hours ending midnight, June 9: Sen Franclseo ang vicinity—Cloudy, unsetiled weather Fridey; fresh eouth- District PRINTS G. McADIB, ! Forecaster. | R — ME XCVIII—NO. 9. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. MYSTERY IN DISAPPEARANCE OF NAVAL OFFICER BY ATTORNEY ROBERT FERRAL. All the testimony is in and the closing arguments have begu Dibble spoke for the defendant. prosecution. | | SaysCommissioner’s Mind Must Have | Been Rotten. 1 CASE NEARS END v Some Time : To-Day. TALK IS TORRID and Byington ve Frequent irmishes, ween ox- ana the de- “ The crime strikes at the foundations the Govermment itself. The man who attempts to outrage the purity of the lot, the mam who engages in e known as wstufing, tries to » te the bailot, is more dangerous thas any foetpad. “This crime resches to courts, Judges snd juries. It paralyzes administra- tions and makes self-government = farce and sometimes a curse. USES STRONG LANGUAGE. t prin e of the = was a and to the . ike Bilberstein n an American el , friendship that crime self-protec more to do than friendship ng by Wyman. jury, a technicality y the defense. Pub- man of influence to t f thing wasn’t done before the preliminary examination, and therefore he must be acquitted.” | 'When they made that defense I saw | that it was & dangerous admission. They could not stand up and meet the 1nuc| without resorting to technicalities.” | At this point Governor Budd jumped up | and interposed a sharp objection. He was rebuked by the court. ' e Maestretti case will go to the jury to-day. Assistant District Attorney Ferral yesterday dencunced Maestretti in strong terms. Budd will speak to-day and District Attorney Byington will close for the Maestretti was on the stand all morning and part of the afternoon. Be Given to the| {rupt election officers to San e Attorney T OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN — P e TothT ¥ '8 COURT YESTERDAY BY E. A. ROGERS OF T B X J TION OF PERJURY WAS ON THE WITNESS STAND © U1 STAFF. WHILE mind the Governor,”said Ferral he is & human talking machine. he continued. kind of man they could wanted “He was the use “If the defemse in the Wyman case had witnesses at the preliminary ex- amination, don’t you suppose they would have put them ont They In- tended to put om witnesses, but found Fairfax Wheelan’s testimony too strong for any Judge to whistle down the wind. “Gentlemen, the time has gome by when Tom, Dick and Harry ringsters, gangsters and bosses cam defeat the ends of Justice. DENOUNCES MAESTRETTL “What do you think of this defend- ant? Wasn't his mind rotten—rotten? Either Merrill lied or this man is unfit to hold any office or to enjoy the rights of an American citizen. stead of being in an important office, ought to be far removed from this city 2nd-county in another capacity. “If the president of the Board of Public Works be so low and fallen as to go to Merrill and try to get him to perjure bis soul, is he mot uniit for the office? “It is mo lomger a farce to send cor- Quentin. It is mo longer a farce to punish those who are instruments in getting others to commit perjury. Here is where the sting of the bee is, here is the jigger. Maestretti didn’t know that Merrill had been away from the booth at the time Wymean voted fraudulently. He took it for granted that all in the booth knew. If the de- fendant’s mind had not been in that maggoty condition he would not have been so ready to talk to Podd and Sil- berstein. “In the mame of humanity, in the name of good government, in the name of liberty, this man must be found as charged In the-indictment. ““The work of the prosecution has been hard. We have had to deal with a nest of rotten vipers sitting as election offi- cers, creatures of a boss, gangsters vot- ing as they pleased. “In God's name, are we always to wal- jow in the mire of rotten, corrupt, pros- tituted politice, or shall we go upward in the paths of bonest nlt—n:mmt." Maestretti, in- | | During the denunciation, Ferral wheeled | about several times, pointing to Maes- | trettl. The accused Commissioner flushed { and pretended to be writing. ATTORNEY DIBBLE TALKS. Attorney Dibble began with a compli- ment to Ferral on his eloquence. “No more effective edvocate ever ad- | dresed a jury than Judge Ferral,” he be- gan. “I indorse everything he has said about keeping the ballot pure and about the duty of the jury. “But the ballot is not the only one of our institutions that needs protection; it is not the only conservator of the liberties of the people. You have been serving on an institution older than the ballot, and more necessary for the protection of the people—the jury. and the liberties of the people. Prostitu- tion of the jury system is a greater crime than the prostitution of the ballot. “You have heard an appeal to convict a conspiracy and to effect political ends. They can’'t get twelve men to do this. It is the most infamous trick I have ever { met in all my career as an attorney. To further the ends of Fairfax Wheelan and a coterie of politicians, you are asked to send the defendant to State’s prison. You cannot comvict this man to wash the | @irty politics of a district.” | Dibble dwelt for some time on the point | that the consultation in Countryman's | office took place while the case was in the Superior Court and not in the Police Court, as charged in the indictment. After reminding the jury that Maestretti was entitled to the benefit of any reason- able doubt, he suddenly dropped that at- titude. ‘“We have brought this man here for vindication,” he thundered, “and by the eternal God we've done it with the as- sistance of the prosecution. “We have made mno mistakes. Mis- takes don’t happen when two such men | @as Governor Budd and I are on a case. “‘1 call attention to this defendant’s loy- | alty- as a factor in this case. I offer in evidence the fact that he has lived in this city for forty years and that his reputa- tion for truth and integrity has never been questioned. I offer Frank A. Maes- tretti in evidence against this infamous conspiracy.” “Frank A. Maestretti has an old school. They arc wuiting for you. Are “The jury stands between oppression | this man on general principles to further | -t JUDGE LAW- THE MAN CHARGED WITH SUBORNA- | you going to send this mam to jafl? {Are you going to shatter that home, | break tha old mother’s heart, wreck | the lives of those childrem to further | political ends?” After M. D. Meyer had testified as to Maestretti's good character in the morn- {ing, the defendant himself took the stand. He seemed rather subdued, but his appearance showed no traces that would indicate that he had spent the pre- ] vious night in the County Jail. $ % WRANGLING FREQUENT. | During the examination wranglings be- | tween Budd and District Attorney Bying- | ton were frequent. Several times Budd | accused the prosecuting attorney of mis- | conduct and overzealousness. Maestretti denied emphatically the al- | legation in the indictment that a consul- tation had been held in Countryman’s of- | fiee during the preliminary investigation in the Police Court. “I asked no one to swear that Wyman :only voted once,”” he asserted. *I made | no suggestions and gave no orders.” “When did the meeting take place?”’ asked Budd. A ““The meeting was while the case was in this court—three or four days before the defense closed—I think.” “Who were present?” “Wyman, Countryman, Podd, Foster and myself.” “What was said there?” “The different election officers told their stories. All agreed that Wyman had not done anyuung wrong, and I believed them.” “Was there any meeting at Country- man’s office during the preliminary ex- amination?” , “There was not.” “Did Podd ever tell you that Wyman voted more than once?” “He never did.” Maestretti retold the story that Podd had told him about the conversation With ~Detective Miles Bolger. Rolger warned Podd that “he would go to the rock pile if he did not tell the truth.” “I told him to have no fear,” said Maestretti, “and to tell the truth.” In regard to the trip to Merrill's house the witness on cross-exami- nation: “I would never have gone there only that Wyman asked me. I was sure of Wyman's innocence and I knew that Silberstein, {asing NORSEMEN IN SEARCH - OF A KING Prince Charles of Denmark May Be Chosen. Indications, However, Are That Republic Will Be Formed. Kaiser Seems Disposed to In- terfere in Behalf of De- posed Monarch. COPENHAGEN, June 8—1It is reported that the Norwegian Government, in view of King Oscar’s apparently definite re- fusal to consider the offer of the Storth- ing to place a Prince of the bhouse of Bernadotte on the throne. has privately approached the Danfsh royal family, to ascertain if an offer of the throne would be received by a member of it, preferably Prince Charles, son of Crown Prince Frederick. The general opinion expressed here is that guch an offer would be re- fused. Acco; to reparis from Stockholm, : be induced to reverse his decision and to favorably regard the offer of the throne for a member of his house. Leading Swedish politicians are much divided over the question, which, it is understood will not be definitely declded prior to the extraordinary session of the ksdag. Authoritative information received from Norwegian circles represents the wajority of Norwegians as opposed to giving the throne to a Prince of the house of Ber- nadotte. It is stated that if King Oscar should definitely refuse the throne for a mem- ber of his family and the Danish royal family should likewise refuse to place one of its Princes on the throne, Nor- way will become a republic. This is f: wvored by the mass of the population. The Storthing, however, 'believes. that the offer of the throne to a Prince of the house of Bernadotte would facllitate future negotiations with Sweden over the common interests of both countries. It is understood that the negotiations will be begun as soon as possible after special envoys have been sent to the powers, requesting the recognition of the inde- pendence of Norway. Dr. Hagerup, for- mer Premier and now Minister at Stock- holm; Sigurd Isben and Fridjof Nansen, | the Arctic explorer, are now mentioned as envoys to thé powes All those in the civil service of Norway have announced their adhesion to the new Government and all the generals have taken the oath of allegiance. No excitement is reported in either Norway or Sweden. Ovations in honor of King Oscar continue at Stockholm, where there is a firm determination not t» recognize the action of the Storthing as definitely achieving the dissolution of the union. Crown Prince Gustave passed through Copenhagen to-night on his journey from Berlin. He was received by Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark and appeared to be much concerned over the situation The Crown Princes conversed at length at the station before the train left for Stock- holm. Crown Prince Gustave had 2 long In- terview om the crisis with Emperor Wil- IHam before he left Berlin, and it is un- derstood that the Emperor is not un- willing to interfere im favor of the Swedish dynasty. An authority intimately connected with the Emperor confirms a rumor that he abandoned his trip to Norway at the re- quest of Crown Prince Gustave. The general opinion is that the Crown Prince +is more reconciled to Norway’'s dissolution than was hsi father, and there is no doubt that he induced King Oscar to veto the consular bill. English and American tourists who arrived here on their way to Norway have abandoned the trip, owing to the revglution. e WILL HOIST NEW FLAG TO-DAY. Norway Breaks the Last Tie Uniting Her With Sweden. CHRISTIANIA, Norway, June 8—The Council of State, following the action of the Storthing in. dissolving the union of | Norway and Sweden, proclaiming that King Oscar Is no longer King of Norway and placing the reins of government in the hands of the Council of State, is pro- ceeding with the reorganization of the governnmient in the manner indicated in the programme, which had been more or less prepared before the final step was taken by which yesterday’'s peaceful rev- olution was accomplished. The Department of National Defense has issued a decree to the army acquaigt- ing it with the resolution of the Storthing and the assumption of the governement by the Council of State and intimating that the army must comply with the ne conditions, rendering all allegiance Inquiry into the disappearance of Lieutenant Willlam G. Blasdel of the revenue cutter Rush began yesterday. death theory, but enlisted men are skeptical. The night on which the ‘]f_IEUTEI\'ANT WILLIAM G. BLASDEL OF REVENUE CUTTER RUSH MAY HAVE REACHED SHORE ALIVE MAESTRETTI BITTERLY DENOUNCED Officers believe the accidental leutenant disappeared was quiet and the watch heard no sound of a splash, Lieutenant Blasdel, after completing the ship’s log, could have (No Splash Is Heard by Watch During ! Quiet Night. {MAKES EARLY 1 ENTRY IN LOG]| | Completes the Ship’s | Record Before | Departure. S A series of pecullar circumstances at- | tend the supposed drowning of Lieuten- | ant William G. Blasdel, navigating officer {of the United States revenue -cutter | Rush. Almost immediately upon receipt | of news of the occurrence the Navy De- | partment directed an inquiry and a board | was appointed, which hefa a preliminary | examination yesterday. This morning at 9 o'clock the board will again convene | on the Rush and the fact that it finds it necessary to hold a second sitting on a | case of presumable decidental death is one | ot the peculiar circumstance | While Blasdel’s brother wardroum are unanimous in the opinion | that the lleutenant came to his death accidentally, there are many In the erew | who, while reticent, stoutly maintain | that the circumstaunces surrounding the | | officer’s death are mystifying. Whether | Blasdel had beem struck om the head by | an ememy and lowered overboard, or | whether he deeided to leave the service and swam ashore, or whether he fell overboard, inquiry must determine. | According to the statements of some Blasdel, while populer among his fellow- | officers, was uripopular with the men. He ciplinarian and as such incurred the il will. of mmembers of the crew.- ‘While not willing to say that Lieu- tenant Blasdel was knocked overboard, the other officers cannot account for the faet that his plunge from the ship’s side should be unnoticed by the men on wateh. WAS EXCELLENT SWIMMER. The first the watch was aware of any- | thing wrong was when other officers called Lieutenant Blasdel. They would have heard and noticed any splasb caused by a falling body. The lieutenant might have lowered himself into the bay. This he could not have dome unnoticed by the watch, except from the stern, abaft the | wardroom. Lieutenant Blasdel was an | excellent swimmer and with the aid of a { belt could have reached the land. Blasdel, with a brother officer, sat up | into the early hours of Tuesday morning. preparing certain ship’s reports. The ne- cessities of the work precluded the pos- sibiiity of the officers being Intoxicated. In fact his shipmates say that he was but |a moderate drinker. At the conclusion { of the work he said that he was going on deck before turning in. The time was 1 o'clock in the mo#ning. | The night was clear and the surface of Sausalito Bay lay like oil. On the hur- ricane deck over the engine-room two sea- men were on watch and In the quiet of | the gentle night the lapping of the waves at the prow was the only sound heard. | The waich s deck saw Lieutenant Blas- del, in his shirtsleeves, pass from a com- | partment on the starboard side aft, to the { after port gangway. As tne man on the | port side made the turn he caught a last | glimpse of the officer. Lieutenant Blasdel ..ad little to do with the ship's money and no financial short- age can account for the disappearance. One thing, however, that causes sus- picion is the fact that the lieutenant com- pleted the record of the “log™ up to the time of his disappearance. This work he { usually did every Saturday night, writ- ing up the log for the week. Contrary to his usual custom, he completed It just before he disappeared. WIFE ON WAY HERE. Blasdel's brother officers, who were awaiting him below, remarked his abd- sence. A hasty search was made, his name was called frequently, and then all | hands were piped on deck and the boats lowered. Two powerful searchlights on the Rush were operated,” wuile officers and men in the boats patrolled the water | about the ship. The white flashes of the lights and the cries of the men in the boats calling the missing officer’s name In the hope that they might guide him to | the boats, aroused many dawellers in Sau- salito. The searchlights swept the bay and the streets and residences of the town. In vain the boats patrolled and finally iat 4 o'clock were ordered in. During the, | morning the men were set to work ar- | ranging a large troll with hooks and line to drag for the body of the Heutenant. No reason can be assigned for the of- ficer’'s wishing to desert. He appeared in the 'best spirits and spoke of obtaining ileave to see his wife and little girl. His | wife is on her way here from New Or- leans. | ‘MINEBS IN ALASKA ARE SHORT OF GRUB | Blasdel { had the reputation of being a stern dis- | slipped over her side and swum ashore. Department to Make Rigid Inquiry Into Case. INVESTIGATION UNDER WAY Board Is to Resume Hearing at Sausa- lito To-Day. CALL BUREAU, POST BUILDING, WASHINGTON, June 2.—Acting Secre- tary of the T ury Keep after a confer- ence with Captain Ross, in charge of the revenue cutter service, to-day ordered a rigid investigation of the facts pertain- ing to the mysterious death of Lieutenant of New Orleans at Sausalito early on the morning of June 5. The rev- enue cutter Rush had returned from Seattle only the day previous and was lying in Richardsons Cove, when at 1:30 o’clock in the morning Lieutemant Blas- del was reported missing. It was sup- posed that he fell from the port gangway of the vessel a was drowned, his body being carried away in the swift current. Because no one saw the oulcer leave the deck and because that he the vessel, as well as to soothe an anxious mother and brother, who are in Washington to learn the particulars of the tragedy and who - suspect foul play, Secretary Keep decided to appoint a board of officers not on duty on the Ru to ascertain the facts. The board consists of Captain F. M. Munger of the life-saving station, Captain H. B. Rogers-and Surgeon Cum- mings of the marine hospital service. 1f Captain Minger is not in San Francisco Lieutenant Carmine will act in his placa. These officers have been | instructed to make a thorough investigation and wire & summary, and later send a full report by mail. REPORT FROM CAPTAIN. ‘When Mrs. Blasdel, the mother of de- ceased, accompanied by a younger son, visited the Treasury Department to-day Assistant Secretary Keep showed her the following report from Captain Tuttle of the Rush, which was received yesterday: “SAUSALITO, Cal. June 7, 1905.—Sec- retary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C.: At 1:3 a. m. June § Blasdel said to Ridgely, the first lieutenant, ‘I am going on deck for a moment and shall then turn In." After some minutes, as he did not return, Ridgely went up to see where he was. He was not found. Inquiry from the quartermaster on watch showed that Blasdel had not been seen on deck. The only theory we have is that he went to the port gangway and on the slippery brass lining lost his foothold and on fall- ing struck his head, making him uneon- scioas and unable to call for help. When missed every effort for several hours was made to find if he was floating in the harbor. The search was unsuccessful. Report has beent mailed to department. TUTTLE, Captain." Officials of the revenue cutter service are convinced that the drowning of Lieu- tenant Blasdel was purely accidental, and they scout the idea that the officer had a single enemy aboard the vessel. Not long since a saflor fell overboard near the same spot In daylight and was drowned " in the swift undertow before help could be rendered. There is much doubt that Lieutenant Blasdel's body can be recovered. FULL INQUIRY PROMISED. The fact that some of the relatives of the deceased were notified of the accl- dent twenty-four hours ahead of the Treasury Department was explained as follows: u “The officers of the service, in the event of an accident or death, out of sympathy for the family first send notice to the ‘wife, mother or other relative of the de- ceased, and later report to the depart- ment. We received a report on the mora- ing of the Tth, though it was really filed on the evening of the §th. If thers are any suspicious circumstances attending this accident, of which we have been ad- ¥Ised and are unwilling to believe in the absence of information, the board which was designated to-day will iaquire fully into them.” Mrs. Louisa Blasdel and her son will remain in Washington until a report has been received by the Treasury Depart- ment, unless they should receive word in, the meantime that the body has been re- covered. “Lieutenant Blasdel certainly had no enemies the Rush,” said another official, “and his @utles must have been very pleasant, for only recently a desire ‘was expressed that he should continue on that vessel instead of being given an- other assignment.” PROPOSES TO HARNESS TIDES OF FALSE BAY Engineer Given Franchise to Build Power Plant Near Speclal Dispatch to The Call TACOMA, Jund 8.—Thomas - Hinton, mining recorder at Duncan, reached Dawson two weeks ago with several Stewart River miners. They brought the news that the miners along Duncan, Mayo and other creeks are entirely out of food supplies. What little fiour and beans remained in camp were being di- vided in small lots by the miners until the first boats should arrive. San Diego. SAN DIEGO, June 8.—The Board of Supervisors to-day granted R. C. Hub- bard a franchise to comstruct a power plant at the entrance to False Bay. The franchise is for a term of twenty-five vears and provides that Hubbard shall develop at least 230 horsepower by Jan- uary, 190S. It is understood that the companies which Engineer Hubbard represents will spend in the neighbor- -During the winter the miners kept in | hood of 350,000 in iastalling a power communication with each other’s camps with the understanding that if one plant. This will be the first time that an effort has been made to harmess tide waters, and the experiment is being watched with much interest by engi- neers and scientists.