The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 28, 1906, Page 6

6 L] j FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1906. NEWS OF THE COU STRANCE MAN N BOWEN CASE Tries to Prove Girl Who Is (harged With Robbing the Postoffice Was Demented INTERVIEWS NEIGHBORS nsanity Will Probably Be Plea. Even if Impostor Is Working to Fleece Family — s T 7.—Was M. Loulse X a Rypnotic influence . Baker more than [ e Oakland postoft designing woman ¢ s t gold? OF | B that have been yaise X by a man who pro- fosses coret service agent of the of being by some, mpostor. actions are 80 - been askcd to B taking $7000 harged "k POISON USED. E T MORF TINE THE w eadly drug. at the Berkeley is expected to be an lies still quest jury be HMAN PROFESSOR. NIVERSITY. Feb, — pl, professor of philol- iistics in the Uni- ne of th scholars in of Stanford the Uni- professor of 7 arduou the de- y. .The con- on her vitality nervous system. S & worn- r appetite, robs her at intervals causes ring and stre: When these conc the weakened nerv: strengthened. Dr. ervine do this. It stimulates the tion of all the organs, brings freshing sleep, and drives ay that look of care. “T have taken Dr. Miles' Restorative Nervine for years, as did my mother before me. Whenever I feel tired, worn-out, or ve headache, I always as take the Nervine and it strengthens me. 1 consider it a great remedy for mpervousness or debility.” M C. L. FREDERICK, Canten, Ohlo. Dr. Miles’ Nervine is sold by your druggist, who will guarantee that the first bottie will benefit. If it faHs, he will refund your money. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind L. | R. 1 Amer- | 1 RELATES STORY T0 CRAND JAY Clergyman States What He Considers Forms the Ba- for Charge of Graft LITTLE LIGHT SHEDS | Inquisitors Spend a Short | Time in Hearing Broad and Sweeping Accusations OAKLAND, Feb. 27. — Before the | Grand Jury today the Rev. Robert | Whitaker related what he terms are {charges of grafting in the municipal | government. The clergyman, after | spending more tham an hour in the| -room, announced when he retired he had lald before that body speei- But Jury that fications as to his accusations. he refused positively to say directed his charges. In the course of his ¢ nister Jaid much stress upon what he s eviderce against saloons ants selling llquors to girls men minors. He also said he had mentioned one or two instanc in the city and county gove ent, where, as reported to him, graft exist- ed. But on the whole tne inquiry r sulted in little more th the City Council succeeded in getting from tb Rev. Mr. Whitaker—that is, general {and sweeping charges without a sein- | tilla of proof Mayor Frank K. Mott furnishe Grand Jury with a copy of the c the pastor had read before the Po! E Commissioners and spent ten | € with the jury explal the Commissioners had bee { persuade the clergyman to make a gle specific accusation. His Hono clared that the entire city gover vited but urgently sali at y to dig as deeply the subject as possible, to u fraud if it existed and to fix the bla Mayor Mott also told the Grand Jury how the Commissioners had invited Mrs. L. Harrison to testify to her charges that she had paid $1000 to former ef of Police Hodgkins fo from prosecution, but tha ion After the Mayor concluded used City Attorn er, the othe testifying, the satisficd with w t ad sald. Mrs. Harr was also a witnes but she refu » tell what she said before the G Jury. Former Chief Hodgkins spent inutes before rted with such the bod broad smile the infe: revamped accusat 1d on tion in remov- on of the bod A ws, who had died as the result of a criminal operation | _ | performed, it was charged, by a San | Franciseo surgeor 4 'WOLLE HOLDS REHEARSAL OF MOZART MUSIC — BERKELEY, Feb. 27.—The last rehearsal to Waolle in preparation for Uniyersity be | be eonducted by Dr &reat Mozart concert by the Orchestra next Thursday afternoo Iy , which will be hel Harmon Gymnasium, are arsal tomorrow will pro- s tc musicians who have | an Faneisco orches of the orchestra has nists o twenty-four, e basses Lo A eplendid ¢ orchesira at u tras. This Increase in & raised the number of ¥ . and now which umber v ever efore been enrolied for & serics o v phony coneerts in San Francisco, it fs felt that Conductor Wolle has a magnificent in- | strument through which to execute the master- | pleces of classical and modern music. ,Ihe Sporis and Pastimes Club, composed of ity, is to 'devote a part ks in Hearst Hall t which the Dally ng fer the widow of “‘Jim- $200 has already been sub- d it is expected that the fund will mount 16 $1000. —_— WILL IMPROVE THE TRAIN FACILITIES Southern Pacifie l’]am's: a Nchedule From Alameda to Oakland Mole, MEDA, | scribed eventua AL ¥eb. 27.—Writterr assur- ance been given the Alameda Ad- vancement Association by the South- ern Pacific Company's management that the service on the north side line is to be improved by April 1, when it is planned to begin the running of local trains from the Alameda mole to the Oakland mole and vice versa by way of the “horseshoe” route. According to 2 letter received by Director William E. Pettes of the Advancement Assocla- tion from the Southern Pacific Com- pany, the time tables and other details in conmection with the proposed new train service are being worked out and | the railroad management expects to make the change by April 1. When the new schedule goes into ef- fect the running of Alameda local trains across the Harrison-street draw- bridge will be discontinued. Loecal trains from the Alemeda mole on the north side line will connect with the present local line by a cut-off line on the Webster-street marsh, near the,plant of the United Engineering Works. After running through this city the trains will continue on to Fruitvale and from the latter place into Oakland and to the Oakland mole by way of the First-street route. —_—— MRS. STANFORD DEAD A YEAR. STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Feb, 27.— All university exercises will be sus- pended tomorrow in respect to the memory of” the late Jane L. Stanford, who died in Honalulu a year ago. Bpe- clal memorial service will be held in the university church and faculty and students will unite in services at the tomb of the dead founder. —————— OPENING OF LENTEN SEASON.—OAK. LAND, Feb. 27.—Special Ash Wednesday services will mark the opening of the Lenten seagon In the Catholic and Episcopal chupches of Oakland tomorrow, and foMowing these will come the long programme of services for Lent, which will condnue untll FEaster. In the Catholic churches the blessing and distribution of the ashes wiil take place immediately before the 9 o'clock mass ! _— BRAVE WOMAN WEDS |DOCTOR TELLS HELPLE 5 INVALID When A. L. Gerdner became a helpless cripple as a result of his fall from a building he offered to release Miss Gertrude Smith from her promise to become his wife. She tpurned his words, and now she is Mrs. Gardner. daily bread as a waitress. She is the caretaker of her husband and eamns their Woman’s Love Does Not 'Desert Ak Gardner When He Is Crippled for Life. - I t Tt NOBLE YO FROM LIFE WOMAN WHO REFUS TO MARRY WH H OUGH AC F TUI H A —% > TO FC ECAME THE MAN SHE HAD LESS CRIPFLE FOR E —True in her love | for the man to whom she had plighted | her troth, Miss Gertrude Smith refused to forsake him when he suddenly became a helpless cripple. Hg offered to release | her from her promise o him, but she spurned his words. Resolutely she said they should be married, and now they are husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Gardner, he an invalid for life, and she his caretaker and the breadwinner for the meagej home: The love of which the poets sing abideth in this blighted home, and a brave little woman, in her work hours & waitress in a restaurant, gives to the worid & beautiful message of seif- sacrifice. Just four months ago A. L. Gardner, | by trade a felt and comvosition roofer, fell from a building on which he was at work, sustainnig injuries which left him a helpless invalid the rest of his life. Only a month before tne aceldent he had won the heart of Miss Gertrude Smith, a friend of his childhood, and she had promised to become his wife. Gardner was removed to Providence Hospital, where for twelve weeks he hovered be- tween life and death, and medical sclence finally triumphed go far that his life was saved, but he will never again recover his once robust health and strength, and must always be cared for like a2 little child. During his long battle with death the woman who had promised to become his wife was constantly by his side, minis- tering to his wants with tender care and to her efforts is aseribed much of the credit for saving his life. As soon as Gardner was told that he would be a bedridden invalid as long as he lived, he begged his promised bride to accept the release from her troth. . But declaring that he npw more than ever needed the love and sympathy of a wife, she refused to listen to his pleadings, and expressed her determination to devete her life to the care of the man who had won her love. On the day that the surgeons told her that Gardner might be removed from the hospital the devoted woman secured a carriage, and in this she drove with her betrothed to the office of the County Clerk, where a marriage license was se- cured, the helpless groom-to-be remaining- in the conveyance while the woman went to the clerk’s office. < . Gardner was working on the residence of the Rev. Adolph T. Jatho, a Lutheran clergyman, at 1322 Adeline street, when he receiyed the terrible injuries, and dur- ing the long weeks he spent in the hos- pital the’ minister was a constant visitor at his bedside. When the marriage II- cenee was secured Gardner expressed a wish that the ceremony be performed by Mr. Jatho. They drove to his house, Miss Smith summened the minister to the car- riage, and the words were pronounced which united them in matrimony. After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Gard- ner went at onee to the roams which the latter, with lo care, had prepared for the reception of invalid husband, at 808 Alice street, and here she has since divided her time between the care of her husband and the employmnt by which she earns a livelihood for bath. Immedia- |- | ately after her marriage Mrs. Gardner secured a Dositicn as a waltress at the OAKLAND, Feb. Merritt Hotel, and each day she has gone k " b to her work early in the morning, after ttending the wants of ber husband. to return to him for a few hours in the afternoon, and tp go to her place of em- plovment again in the evening. = raner and his wife are natives of the same town in Iliinois, and for many years have kept up a desultory correspondence. A month before the accident which laid him low his wife came to California to visit her sister, Mrs. S. L. Smith of Santa Rosa, 'and a few days later she met | B £ g Epanish-American war, 18 promiuen Gardner for the first time since their | wmeatimued as & candidate for the lieutenan childhood. The old friendship quickly | 3AKRIAGE LICENSES.—Oskland, Feb. ripened into love, and their wedding day was set for December 2, 1805. On Novem- ber 25, however, Gardner met with the accident, his b.ck being broken by the fail from the roof. He remained in the 27, end Annie Reudly, 27, buth of Oakjand; | hospital until Fepruary 17, and the mar- | Juck C. Repp, 21, and Qlga peterson, 15 ‘bath | ria o a Bei ; Walter W, oward, a ge took placesn that date. S 8l surrone, 18, bolh o San Jose; Since her marriage this brave little woman has asked no help from any one in her self-imp6sed task of caring for her invalid husband, and earning a living for both, but If ever a woman deserved the ald of those in more fortunate cir- cumstances Mrs. Gertrude S. Gardner is that woman. CETTING READ FOR THE FOURTH Special Dispatch to The Call, REDWOOD CITY, Feb. 2i.—Elaborate preparations are already under way ior the celebration of Independence day in this city. Work has begun so early be- cause the fete will be one in which the people of every town and village and NTIES ABO i |Murdered Man Raised Three ‘ broke, who is on trial for having been: (00K STORY Fingers to Indicate Num- ber That Attacked Him ACCUSED TWO OF THEM Percy Pembroke Admits Be- ing Third of Trio Who Are Charged With the Crime OAKLAND, Feb. 27.—The raising of three fingers by the murdered Thomas Cook just ptior to his death, when, too weak to talk ip answer to the ques- tion of how many assallants had at- tacked him, and twg nods of his head in the afirmative when asked i Georgn Blakér and John Schneider were twa of them, was the most damaging evi- dence given today against Percy Pem- the one indlcated by Cook’'s third finger, This evidence was given by Dr, J. H. Callen, who attended Cook up to the time of his death. What Cook was unable to say,/how- ever, was supplemented by the reading of the testimony of Pembroke. He ! gave this at his former trial. He ad- | mitted being the third of the trio, but claimed that he was an unwilling | party to the crime and had no share-in it. ‘The testimony was rcad at the re quest of District Attorney Allen to forestall a move the defense might make of keeping Pembroke off the stand and also to show a contradiction in the statement he made to Sheriff Frank Earnet when he first accounted for his whereabouts on the night in ques- | tion and his later statement. In the{ first he stated that he was at home and | dld not mention being With Blaker and | Schnelder; while in his testimony on the | stand he admitted having been with | them up to thé time the first blow was struck. ALAMEDA COUNTY NEWS. | TRY TO FREE MeKISICK.-—-Oakland, Feb. 27.—An effort will be made tomorrow morn- ing to secure the release of Donaid McKlsick, | an Alameda saclety youth, on & writ of habea3 | carpus, -~ He is In prison on a charge of burg- lary.’ WIFE COMPRAINS.—Herkeley, Mrs, - Frederick Hadlen swore to against her husband this morn: him with battery. She exh.bi sot of arms and shoulders to Justice proot of her charge. ] BOYS §TEAL BREAD.—Berkeley, Fe The police today caught Herbert Har: Robert Forbes stealing bread frym doorsie in the residence dlstrict near Bancroft w and Telegraph avenue. The boys are membess of respeetable familles, DIES FROM INJURIES.—Oakland, Feb. 27 Michael O'Brien, who was struek last night by an electric car at Tweniy-nipth street and Broadway, dled today from his injuries. O'Brien was employed at St. Mapy's Cullege. The Coroper took charge. RUNAWAYS FOUND.—Oakland, Feb. 27 Mary Pimental, 215 Hollls nircet, 18 vears o and Thercsa Gomez, 13 years oid. Loul street, who ran away to seek stage, have been re who feund the girls in San GOES TO ASYLUM UNK> —Oakiand, Feb. 27.—An unidentified man who refuses to give his name was commitied 10 the State hospital at Stockton today by Judge Ellsworth. He had been out at the County Infirmary but finally ran away from theye and was arrested at Hayward. WILL HONOR VISITO Dr. Samuel A. Eliot of the American Unitarian the guest of honor Frids. which will be given by the Un'tarian So of this city at the parlors of the First Uni- tarian Church. WILL BUILD CLUBHOUSE.—Oakland, Feb. a7.—1ihe Alameda Couniy Automoblie Ciub has Jeclded to erect a ciubdouse oa a site t Seiected hetween Oakiand: and Hayward committee in cl is composed of Chailes J. Heeseman, Qeorge 5. Strong, R. J. Mec- Mullen, Dr. Qilman, W. H. Weilbye and George' Rodojph. THAYER CONTEST PUT OVER.—Oakland, Feb. 27,—1he contest aver the will of the late Edward Thayer was postponed for a month | owing to sther engageinents of (he attorneys. Mrs. Mabe: Angell and Mrs. Morcnce Morils, he step-daughters of Mis. Emma ‘Thayer, are contesting her right to the esate of the de- ceased, valued at $10,000. LIEUPENANT L. W. SCHROEDER JR. RESIGNS.—Alameda, Feb. %i.—First Lieu- tenant L. W. Schroeder Jr. of Company Pitth Regiment, C. N. G., has resighed. and an clection at which his’ successor will _be Chocen has been called for Maren 13. Ser- ant Ralph Fancut, a Philippine veteran of I | 1 \ Feb. 3 a compiaint | %, charging | a_bruised Edgar o | b. 27— dy and s | s on the turned hame by the poiice, eers Prancisco. NOWN. ~-Oakland, Fel he | E s marriage licenses "frl l:-ufld' the County Clerk today: John D. Hamp- by % Cond Marie Ay dund, 22, both of Oas- i Jaulus, 40, wnd Marguerite L. land; Hernat S Jo-x%ing., 40, both of Alameda; Witliam Marra, The foliowing (George L. Dare, 49, and Marguerite k. Means, 4, both of Ouk.and. SAYS HUSBAND IS CRUEL.—Oakiand, rs, Eilzabeth Smith gave up trying port a husband, William J. Smith, Who beat ner, and four small children today and began divorce proceedings agalnsc him on the ground of extreme crueiy. She says he has Glten knogked her dawn and bumed up her Clothes, She also wishes lo take back her name 0f Walsh, which was hers by a tormer marriage. Nathaniel Nee.y has begun di- vorce proceedings against Martha Neeley ior desertion. Fred Day waa granted an inter- locutory decree today from Ethel Day for de- sertion. SISTER CELEBRATES JUBILEE. OAKLAND, Feb. 27.—8ister Mary An- thony, assistant ‘provineial in the can- vent work of the Pacific Coast and one of the six sisters of the order of which she s a member, who founded ‘he Con- vent of the Sacred Heart in 1865, today celebrated the jubilee anniversary of her entrance into the order. ‘Mother” Anthony, as she is known, entered the order, in which she now holds next to the highest position on the Paoific Coast, in 1856. . The jubllee ce! lebration was held at ' hamlet in the county of San Mateo will | the Convent of the Sacred Heart, be- unite. It i fifty years since the county) ginning with a mass at 8 a. m, and| of San Mateo was established and the event is to be henored by a patriotie fes- tival that will draw the residents of the whole county to the county seat for a great gala day. A committee composed of F. H. Thorpe, P. P. Chamberlain and George W. Lovie has been appointed ta learn the sentiment of other communities in referende to the affair. The committee announces that the peo- ple of S8an Mateo, who gave a highly sue- cessful celebration last year, are heartily in accord with the plans of this city and will do everything in their power to con- tribute to the festival. OBJECT TO BOXING.—Qak! The Minigteriat Unio nifttee ra"vmm 'ut?mu'u gl and o) hibit Fire, issioners agal ‘m;n(!nwn-,-, against LATE SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. © * DOMESTIC PORTS. PORT TOWH SR Saeh Rb 27— ship followed at 11 o'cloek by a reception. Immediately after the reception an elaborate luncheon was served and in the afternoon. the exercises of the cele- bration were held. At the close of the exercises Archbishop Riordan’ adminis- tered the benediction of the blessed sac- rament, assisted by many members ol[ the lecal elergy. EVIDENCE OF HOLDUP. OAK. , Feb. 27.—While some of the local police have expressed doubts regarding the veracity of James H. Edelen's statement that he was robbed of $382 in coin and a diamond ring valued at $75 by two masked men, who chloroformed him on Webster street last night, today's Investigations serye to verify the story. The @diamond ring was found in Edelen’s pocketbook in a yacant lot north of the residence of E. R. Folger, 1224 Webster street, about 100 feet from the scene of the holdup, orning, and later Detectives Hol- Scettish Lechs. for Quecnstown. ; }:‘g‘ yte and %l,lilhif found a bottle Fen BIo U § stmr Dix. | that was used _chleroform Edelin. S st ot N LA . bottle cantained some of the poi- | it !fif\- the bellef of Chist of Polics | ant, the plaintiff's sister, Miss Minnie | first | that Wilson thn‘fi;‘::‘. wh& is n' ::on Setn him wiace money In M pockets T Do A NS Sl S RN o o Bt S hama. K AHULUI—Arr i, for Hono Avr’vn Feb n—gm "mt-. ; s LY FINGN 5 FAEE ACKN Wife of San Rafael Capi- talist Wins Divorce and $50 a Month Alimony SUIT TEN YEARS OLD Jealousy Believed to Have Been Cause of Troubles of the Mismated Couple N Special Dispatch to The Call SAN RAFAEL, Feb. 27.—Judge Thomas J. Lennon decided the anclent Finlgan divorce sult today. granting the plaintiff, Emily Finigan, an inter- locutory decree of divorce from her aged husband, Peter A. Finigan, and allowing her 350 a month alimony. Fin- igan is much opposed to the.alimony | laws, When his wife first brought suit he was ordered to pay her tem- porary alimony, but rather than do so he went to jall, spending seven weeks in the county institution. The confine- ment did nat seem to bother him. so Judge Frank M. Angellott] ordered him released. The trouble of the Finigans began at the Hotel Rafael in November, 1396, when Mrs. Finigan, after a gquarrel, left her husband and went to her par- ents in San Francisco. She brought uit for diverce on the ground of re- fined eruelty and asked for handsome allmony. The case was transferred to this county and Mrs. Finlgan was al- lbwed counsel fees and alimony pend- ifg the trial. She was udable to col- lect her alimony, though Finigan was supposed to have a large estate. Mrs. Finigan went to Europe as a chaperon while her attorneys were trying to cel- lect the money. They meét with no success. First one lawyer took her case, then'anather. BEach met with the same success. The main issue in the case was not heard until January 24.of this year The trial lasted until Fébruary 2. The prineipal testimony in the case was furnished by the plaintiff, the defend- Boysen, and Finigan riage—Misses and Lillian Finigan. It was brought out in the testimony | “inigan was jeglous of his wife. Mrs. Finigan accused of insulting her every time she would speak to or loak at a young man. At Del Monte, daughters by his Maude, Marie the Hotel Baltimore, in San Francisce | fand in varieus cities of Europe. she | id, she w subjected to much hu- miliation and public Mrs. Pinigan was Miss Emily Boy- sen, the 19-year-old daughter of a San Francisco chemist, a very Jeautiful and accomplished 1, when In 1884 she inigan, a widower, 52 He has two sgons and | A TSt wife, but second ROAD DEMANDS WHOLE STREET teh to The Call. SAN MATEO, Feb. 27.—The action of | the County Board of Supervisors and of his actions, both In private | was married to F vears of age, three daughters no children | | | | | i h i the City Council of Redwood in denying | the Peninsual Raflroad Company rights of way over the county road and other public theroughfares seems to have stim- ulated the promoters of the proposed elee- tric railroad rather than discouraged them. Having failed to obtain a public| right of way the railread people have bought one on Railroad avenue and ask the Board of Trustees to close that ther- | oughfare to publie use in consideration that another avenue of equal length and width be deeded to the city. The beard is also requested to expunge a part of Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth awv nues and te convey them to Arthur A. Smith as trustee. In consideration of this action Smith agrees to convey to the city a new street of the same width as Rail-! road avenue, twenty feet west of it and | extending from Fifth to Ninth streets. This petition is of deep significance, as | it settles completely the discusson whether the Peninsula Railroad Company | intends to proceed. The rallroad company | will build its road from San Jose to San Mateo, using private rights of way teo tap the big district and to make comnec- | tions with the United Rallroads at San| Mateo for an entrance into San Fran- | ciseo. } —————— | REPUBLICAN BANQUET. — OAKLAND, | Feb. 27.—John G. Herr will give a dinner March 14 at his residence, 1272 Webster street, in honor of Mayor Frank K. Mott and the members of the Republican City Central Com- mittes. Herr represents the Fifth Ward on the committee. l |SOUTH ¢ | be UT THE BAY. JORDAN 1S HOW PRESS CENSOR President of Stanford Does “ Not Like Way Writers Dis- cuss University Affairs “MUZZLE” PUTS ON A Correspondents Denied News Unless They Agree to Make It Read to Suit School Head ~———— Special Dispatch to The Call. STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Feb. Student journalists are at war with the president's office. from wuleh all university news emanates. The {ull.ow ing notlee was this afternoen givem out by President David Starr Jordan: No more news will be given out from the president’s office to elther Daily Pale Alte m or the student ecorre- e dents of n Fraucisco papers un- t1l some agreement Is arrived at he- tween these correspondents and the president’s office by which the mews siven out to them will not be miscon- strued, This decree in substance asserts.an absolute censorship over all student news writers and is manifestly an out- growth of the recent suspension. of Ben Allen, editor of the Daily Palo Alto, from the university. That mat- ter is still hanging fire and every fresh reference to it by the alert student writers aQds fuel to the smoldering wrath of the faculty. This lateat ar- bitrary action by the president is the immediate result of a comparatively In- significant reference by the college dally last night to the Allan affair. which is still unsettled President Jordan demands “some agreement” among the correspordents, But he suggested no plan of action when interviewed this afternocen, amd consequegtly the effeet of the decree remains yet to be seen. AN FRANCISCO FEELS BUILDING BOOM SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27.-- The building beom that is now en In this eity is without parallel in the history of the locality. Lumbermen report that at present more than thirty bulldings are under contract. and as soon as. weather conditions become more settled. work will begin. A new Methodist Episcopal church is being erected. When completed it will one of the most substantial and ar- tistie publie buildings here. Bids have been advertised for the new public sehool building., which will compare, when ished, with any other in the county. g —— BUILDING TRADES TO ORGANIZE. SAN MATEO, Feb. —Serious ef- forts, encouraged by a highly sympa- thetic sentiment here, are being made to organize a loeal Building Trades Counecil. Building operdtions are new going on here upon an extremely ex- tensive scale.. At.a meeting attended by weorkingmen and business men and held under the direction of the Distriet Council of Painters, A. E. Smith, presi- dent of Paimters’ Umion, Local No. 19, presided. Addresses were delivered by well known labor leader: S S s A MANY LAND-OWNERS w v > TO SUE SPRING VALLEY OAKLAND, Feb. 27.—Pressing its eam- paign to protect the lands of Alameda County from the threatened dearth of water by operatiens of the Spring Valley Water Works, the .ferchants’ Exchange tonight received a report which justifles proceedings by the Distriet Attorney and the Board of Supervisers. Theodore Gier, chairman of a special committee, present- ed the following as the legal opinion he had secured: It is perfectly proper and legal for the Distriet Attorney to proceed in suits om behmif of the county against the Spring Valley Wager | Company to prevent the withdrawal by said | company from Alameda County of such waters resuiting in a decrease of the taxable value of the lands from which they are taken, such rds being owned by otheys than the Speing Vailey Company. and their withdrawal being mwade without the consent of the owners of such lands, and, having started the suits, it is legal and prover for the County Board of Su- pervisors as the chlef executive authority’ of the county to appropriate funds of the coubty to defray the expenses of such suits. Chairman Gier stated that regardless of what the County\and Distriet Attorney might do, at least 100 farmers in the Liv- ermore valley would sue the Spring Val- ley Company. —————— WORKING ON HOTEL PROJECT.—ala- meda, Feb. 27.—Those working on the ceeded property between Union and Grand streets from San Jose avenue to the bay. Preliminary drawings of the gar- avansary have been prepared and _arra: ments to raise $300,000 to carry out the p are being made. Among those Interested “are John H. Hartomw. €. 8. Neal, G. . Sestt, W. BE. Pettes Dr. W. R. Cluness @_H. Mastick, W. A. Bissell, G. W. Emmons, Wil- llam Hammond Jr., Cunningham & Politeo. meme R—Allcock’s. have been in use hatever. e . over 58 yeurs. been never opium