Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 2

If W' mi FUGITIVE BELIEVED SUICIDE. I'M WEN PLANNING UNIQUE SALE-AND CHURCH MUSICALE LOCAL ATTORHEY ACCUSED OF GREAT IMP FRAUDS Fred L7. Lake Faces Accusation of Land-Grabbing That Involves School and Federal Fon accuses Dentist C. Howard Herritt Charged Wth Conducting Fraudulent Oil Com-pany Enterprise Continued from Page 1) entertained him, but gave him all Infor acres of -land within' the United States forest reserve In Siskiyou county, willfully and corruptly persuaded Mrs. -Jennie Williams to an application In her name to purchase the land from the State of California, secured her affidavit showing her qualifications to make tho purchase for her-own.

use and benefit, when in tnth she was not an occupant of the land, and never had been. SWEARS TO PAPERS. Lake and his associates. It Is alleged, had Williams swear to the papers nad then caused them to be filed as regular with the Surveyor-General at Sacramento. It is further alleged by vUdeil that 1 htu since added to Its holdings until at the present time It has about 6080 acres, located about ten miles south of Owens lake.

The property, It is alleged, is now easy acless, as the new cutoff of the Southern Pacific passes the property. The reader is further informed that oil experts and geologists are of the opinion that the holdings of the company are in the center of what is destined to become one of the greatest oil regions In America. There is a picture of the section of the State in which the property is located and this is by a map which, shows that there are two ill weils located In Sections 23 and 26. STATEMENT BY MERRITT. Dr.

Merritt was seen this morning by a representative of THE TRIBUNE and In reply to questions regarding his arrest, laid "With res-pect to the charge brought by State Mineralogist Auburys office against the Halwee Taclflc Oil Company, and the Treat of myself, the secretary, tinder the new statute making a fraudulent stock representation a felony, I desire to rtate that not only Is the company sound solvent, but the arrest of myself is en unwarranted bit of offlctousness. "A number of actions are now pending against us In Inyo county. Instituted ft the Instance of the Los Angeles author! ties, who have disoosd of their water bonds on the representation that they can construct a reservoir at- Halwee. We control 6080 ground at Halwee Meadows, the water rights of Halwee and Hog-back creeks, and have, within the past five years, drilled two wells and produced the oil at an expense to the company of $150,000. "Our rights In this "natter have brought us in sharp contact with Ixs 'Angeles against which we have actions pending at-Jndependence.

JVe have made absolutely no misrepresentations, have never used the United States mails to Our business methods" have been inspected by the federal authorities and approved by them, and our stockholders and the officers and board of irectors are absolutely satisfied with our jrogress. The president of the company, C. F. Hummel is now on the ground and has sent a letter to the stockholders itating- that after a -thorough inspection he has fcund everything as represented. "Mr, Aubury's office is lending itself to the Los Angeles situation and per rr.itting the southern municipality to em barrass our work and bar the capital of Oakland men from Owens river valley.

"Well No. 2 is In We re- escorted H. W. Gray, Aubury's agent, 'over the property and not only Lake and his alleged confederates caused Mrs. Dora Van Valkenburg to make an application in her' name to another tract of the same land, consisting of 640.

acres, under the same alleged false representations, subscribed and sworn to. which application and affidavit were flled ln the cfflce of the Surveyor-General on "the 9th day of January. 1909. and that on the 21st day of January, 1909, they filed with the Surveyor-General another fraudulent application and affidavit covering another 6-10-acre tract of the forest reserve in Siskiyou county, obtained by them from Augusta Everson. On fhe 14th day of January, 1909, Udell continues to recite, the fraudulent appli cation and affidavit covering 640 acres of State school lands In Shasta cofinty.

signed by Mary P. Lyon, were filed by Lake and his associates. FILE APPLICATION. Two days prior thereto the alleged land grabbers filed the illegal application and affidavit of Lulu E. Larsen covering another tract of 640 acres of State school lands in Trinity county, and the same day that the Lyon claim waa.

filed, it is alleged. Lake and his associates filed the claim of Kate M. Rutland to a 6-SO-acre tract of State school lands in Trinity county; together with the alleged perjured application and affidavit of Anita O'Brien covering another 640-acre tpact of school lands in Trinity county, and other alleged fraudulent 'claims, as follows: February 9 1909, that of Elizabeth J. Walker, covering 640 acres of: State school lands in Trinity county. January 14, 1909, that of Elizabeth S.

Turner, covering 640 acres 9X State school lands in Plumas county. March 13, 1909, that -of Louise covering 640 acres of State school lands in Lake county. March 12, 1909, that of Alferati Bas-sett, 'covering 480 acres of State-' school lands in Lake county. January 19. 1909.

that of Annie L. PARKS NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL TO WELFARE OF EVERY PROGRESSIVE CITY General Strike Order Is Issued on Bridge Company This City Owes Its Ah mm HUICK Victim of Treacherous Bc2 Buried to the Chin Men Rescued WHITE rLAINS. N. Nov. 28.

Gilbert Stephens is under the care of physicians in his home 'In Silver Lake Tark and may be weeks in recovering from the shock of a long battle with death in quicksand laitt right. Stephens h.id taken a short cut homeward am stumMcd Into a depression which was formerly the bed of a sini11 lake. The place is. widely knovfn for Its dangerous quicksands, and Stephens found himself An the grip of th treacherous For two hours lie, hovitrd for help, until finally his voice was lenced by theNriud which rose bo.it Ms shouluers nnd presfed on his lungs to he could barely breathe. BURIED TO CHIN.

The quirks-ind hsd reached Ms chin end was 'pulling slowly V.it surely to death when William Piscule, a town constable who was out duck sbooth'g. ratr him and came rnnnlnrr to his rescue. Piscule hurriedly picked bp an ormful of brush and sticks, whl'h'iie threw out on top of the jnlcksand. This pave Mm a fair foothold tind he reae'11 1 down to Stephens, tying the straps of his (tun bag: beneath the shouMers. Thf.n, after a lonjr he drnp.ee the prisoner out and li'd him downJtf'xhaustiid on tho t'le lake.

Teachers Will Flock To San Francisco National Educational Association Selects Meeting Place for 1911 Session. CHICAGO, Nov. 26. Fan Francisco was chosen for the next meeting place' for the National Educational Association, July, 1911. Regulate! the bowels when they fall to move pronerlv.

HF.RBINE in an admirable boweli regulator. It helps the liver and stomach and restores a fine feelln of strcr.ttb and buoyancy. Price 50c. Sold hv (shaft's Drug Store. Tenth an.

Washington! streets. For a short time the price of rooms, corner Fourteenth and Alice, will be reduced. Spaces' and Recrea- will be still more difficult to make a piirchasfl. All available land will be taken up and we will have nothing to beautify our section. COST ALMOST XOTIIIVG i COMPARED-WITH RESULT.

Mr. A. J. Han ford, grocer I 105 Hannah street: cost for that piece property bounded by Thirtieth, Thirty-second, Peralta and Union streets, the most available ploco for a park site in the North Oakland district. Is very reasonable at the present time and I trust no delay or postponement will result in the immediate securing of an option on it.

A llttl boom out this way when the Santa F.t enters the heart of Oalfland, the Key Koute commence their waterfront improvements will double the value of property In this locality, which Is now held at an unusually low figure. Several ladies in 'my store yesterday were enthusiastic at th thought of a park near them, as their children have no place but the streets to play In." TIlEATF.rt MAX THINKS THERE IS, A OF Mr. Hector McKlnnon, proprietor ot 5-cent theater. Thirty-fourth street, between llollt.s and Haven: "A misunderstanding of where Wafts Tract Is situated has misled many Jn the belief that we have parks out here. Some describe it as part of West Oakland and others North Oakland.

In it can be assumed as In a little of both, but too far from the Wet Oakland l'arl, or Idora Park of North Oakland to be of any benefit to us. This district around Thirty-fourth street Is inhabited by quite a. large population and contalnssome of Oakland's p'oneef residents, who have re-, sldeii ln're for over thirty years, it can readily be seen that we shonlft be given, consideration, which I believe will not be denied us." LADIES VTORKIX? FOR THE PARK. Miss A. Peterson, Mrs.

David Mc-Carty and Mrs. J. Oakts of Helm street and of Thirty-second street are out for the park improvement. When Jadlcs get behind ft movement of this character it Is bound to succeed. They have long cherished the hope of a suitable and convenient park f.or tho children to play in.

one to keep them off the streets, -which are, of course, not to be used amusement or recreation. are in hopes the purchase will soon be maiip, as property will Increase rapidly in that vicinity. If a park were established in Watts Tract at Thlrty-fconl and TVrmta street, Oakland could lay claim thcr to being one of the bent cities in the Union for Its improvements in tat direction. OAKLAND'S FAME WILL-BE WORLD-WIDE. Mayor Mott, in a speech some tlie ago, said that he expected to eeyi the very near future the m'wt bea tlful city in tho world in Oakland.

One thai tourists from all ov-r the world would cone to see and one they would talk about for years after. Jt would bo the greateht advertisement Oakland could receive and such cities es Washington, Los AniyrP" and a few other would second place, with Oakland In the runt rank. We have the advantage over I.o.j A n-geles in many respects nowtand with a small outlay will far outstrip her la the race. GPJP Of tion Grounds at Frequent Intervals General Demand From Watts District That City Establish Park in That Vicinity Howard Page's Body Thought -to Have Been Fished From in Richmond. SAN- BERNARDINO, Nov.

28. Howard Page, whom the police of Wch-mond, are said1 to have sought to have answer to a charge of forgery, until a' body found filiating' in the San Francisco bay was Identified as his, was turned over to" the authorities of the northern city at the expiration of a term of thirty days In the city Jail hero-for obtaining money under false pretenses. His description and a specimen of Ms handwriting were forwarded to the r.L-h-mond'police and, notice was at once returned toehold the prisoner. Ho was arrested here about a week ago. CONCERT BY BOYS' BAND.

The Boys Retreat will tivn a concert Sunday afternoon at Clinton Park, between Sixth and SevenMi avenues, and Fast Twelfth: and Fourteent'k streets. Th hand will be in charge of a boy director. EDUCATOR DIES. QBNEVA, Switzerland. Nov.

2ft. Professor Oscar Sillig, the noted educator, died today. Buckley, covering 640 acres of. State school lands In Plumas county. January 26, 1909, that of Kva Reavis Hunt, covering" 640 acres of State school lands in Del Norte county.

January 9. 1909, of Marlon W. Hawkins, covering 640 acres of State school lands In Trinity county. December 26, 190S, that of Mary C. Church, covering 640.

acres of State land in Lassen county. I May that of Anna.M. Jackson, covering 400 acres of State land, in Lassen county ASKS. JURY TO ACT. "Wherefore, the petition concludes, "your petitioner prays the Superior Court to order and direct the Grand Jury of said--County of Alameda to inquire Into all public offenses committed by Fred W.

Lake and his said confederates' in procuring certain persons to cim-mlt the crime of perjury in the manner hereinbefore set and that the said Superior, Court order and direct that the application and affidavits of Mrs. Jennie Williams, Mrs. Dora Van Valkenburg, Augusta Kverson, Mary P. Lulu E. Larsen, Kate M.

Rutland, Anita O'Brien, Elizabeth J. Walker, Elizabeth S. Turner, Louise B. Milwain, Alferati Bassett, Annie L. Buckley, Eva Reavis Hunt and Mary Hawkins be, by the clerk of said court, deposited in a.

vault, or suitable safe, and there safely kept until further order of the court." Citizens Breathing This plot could easily be converted into a beautiful park and give the hundreds of jhildren of that nelxh-borhood who'now have no place but the streets a chance to frolic and en-Joy themselves as they should. How long would a city like T-os Angeles let such an opportunity pass? As a unit the residents of Watts Tract are asking for this Improvement and urge the City Council to submit to the people the opporturtity of voting on this much Veeded advancement of her Interests In that direction. Such a movement for the public good is voiced in the sentiments and expressions of those who are taxpayers or interested in the caring for the young boys and girls and proper environments of the present and future generations- Here are the opinions of a few: CIOAR MAX ENTHUSIASTIC. Joseph F. Silva.

cigar dealer at Thirty-second and Louisa, soys: "About time some thought of our welfare was considered. We have nlmot been forgotten in the shuftle. Vhile other sections have been receiving practically everything thpy wanted or needed, we been overlooked. Probably it is our own fault for not making such a request, but now that so many of The Tribune's subscribers demand recognition in the West End around Thirty-second street in the way of Improvements, such as a fine park will mean, I des're to voice my sentiments along with the others." OUR HOPES ABOUT REALIZED. Mr.

M. Lewis. 117 Louisa street, proprietor of the California Milk Company: "I glad to think our hopes for a more attractive community in this part of town are about to be realized. When I survey the acres and acres, of land. Improved or otherwise, in this vicinity and the thousands who pass by daily on the Key Route trains, I wonder why we have had.

nothing inviting 4iero before. Hundreds of my customers are delighted In the prospects of having a park to visit, where their children may play and where our part 'of town will be as good in appearance as other parts." PRAYS FOR FAVORABLE ACTIOX, Mr. R- S. Merchant, grocer, 1527 Thirty-fourth street: "Some of us have been talking Improvements for our neighborhood for so long that we concluded it Tvould never be our good fortune, in fact our due. to have a park similar to the ones in other parts of town.

Almost at the er.st end of the Grand avenue car line is a "fine little park with a conservatory that could be duplicated near the other end of the same car line, which runs near our store. We pray soms action will be taken favorably by the' City Council at an early date," A FIXE qPFORTUXITY TO BUY. Mr. P. Cavanaugh.

wTno and liquor dealer, 1547 Thirty-fourth street: "Unlike Piedmont. Claremont, Upper Fruitvale and Fourth Avenue Terrace, Watts Tract has no mountain scenery and, what attractiveness for our district etisues will naturally have to be the work of man. The city could easily bur a strip of land out here at a minimum of cost and improve it so as to give us the park so long needed. A few years from now, aftr the water front improvement contemplated by the Key -Route are completed, property will have doubled apd possibly tripled In value and it G-igantlc land-grabbing operations, entering a period beginning In December, 19 OS, and Involving -both state school lands and federal forest reserves within the boundaries of California, are alleged, against Attorney Fref W. Lake of this city and others-in a petition filed this morning In the Superior Court by Attorney Alva Udell of Ban Francisco, asking for an order directing the Grand Jury to probe the alleged jcrlmes with a view to indicting the alleged conspirators.

A unique feature of Udell's peUtion is the appearance therein of the names of women, exclusively, j- whom he charges Lake and his associates used as "dummies" to accomplish their alleged ap propriation of large tracts of the. public domain although it is given out that if the Grand Jury sinks Its probe Into the case It will drag into the mesa a large number of local attorneys and other men who loaned their name to Lake and his associates to further their alleged fraudulent operations. V. HEARING i 4 Immediately after Attorney Udell filed his petition with jthe Judgment clerk In the; office of the County-clerk, he took It across the street to the bouse and applied to Judge Frame B. Osdjn, presiding over department No.

9, for the ordr directing' the grand Jury to iaK8 me matter up uguen state a max in view of the fact) that the gTand Jury properly came under the Jurisdiction of Judge Everett J. Brown of the criminal department the petition ought to heard in that court, Acting upon this; suggestion Attorney Udell asked that the hearing be continued until Monday morning in order that ho might have timie to take the neces sary steps to have the matter, trans ferred. His program Is to have. Judge Brown direct the district attorney present his complaint to the inquisito rial body. Tn this connection District Attorney Donahue Igave out the follrywr ing statement shortly before neon to day: WANTED IaFFIDAVITS.

i Attorney Udell been' to sea me on several occasions with letters and other data concerning the lake matter and I have repeatedly asked hiin to bring roe affidavits substantiating rne allegations he "makes. It was the crime I wanted to tret at. I also told him to swear to complaints and that I would then take the matter up with Captain of Detectives Petersen, but thus far lie has done neither. Now, he has Slea this paper in the superior court. "I don't know just what his petition contains, but it is 'unnecessary to try to force the grand Jury or this office act in the matter.

I am ready to go ahead the moment there is anything to go upon. I do not know this man Lake end have no objection to having "the case investigated to the fullest extent." CHARGES i CONSPIRACY. The speciflo charge that Attorney Udell makes against Attorney Lake and alleged associate land-grabbers is fraud and conspiracy against the stata of California and the government of the United States, and the procuring Of perjured affidavits and other documents in furtherance, of their alleged crooked operations. Udell 1 charged in land recently insUtuted in the superior, court at Susanville, Lessen county, by alleged dummies of Lake, with the forgery of affidavits in support of land contents, and his present move in the superior here is in the nature "of retaliation against those who have accused hlri. The substance of Ills petition is as follows: GOES BACK TO 1908.

Udell's petition sets forth that slr.ce January 2, 1908. Attorney Fred W. Lake and divers other; persons, whoso tre r.ames are unknown to the affiant, have engaged in the coiunty of Alameda, "for their own nrofit. 'use and benel't. respectively, in the business of ap propriating and obtaining the possession, use of and title o-f the state of California, in and to public lands of said state" by fraudulent means, and of public lands of the United States, outside of forest reserves, established under the laws of the United Ststesj "in exchange nrd in lieu of lands otherwise designated as thej lCth and 26t li sections in place." Declaring that Lake and nis confederates unlawfully I conspired and combined together, knowingly, willfully and corruptly to defraud both the state and United States out of divers tracts cf school and public I lands, respectively.

In the former instance school lands to sale under the laws of. the state and in the case of the federal government open and to be open for homestead, tdll says that included in the conspiracy are a number of alien residents of the state. LIKE HOMESTEADINQ. The process, of obtaining the Isnis, It is set forth, vas the same as that em -ployed in honresteadtng, but In these instances Lake andj his alleged confederates resorted to 'fraudulent applications for purchase, assignments anddcods, made4 out in the names of fictitious persons, and in. the; names of persons net really desirifis the land for their own use sr.d benefit.

These instruments, it is alleged, 7ake ana his associates would procure by to such persons, respectively, small sums of money, and. in a large numter of cases, by falsely representing th.it the annltoanta wprc riOUired bv to iim their applications (merely as a mi'tr of form, and that it was not necessary that the applicants should make a personal examination of the land dessrihed In their affidavit and applications. NO OCCUPANCY. Udell also say in this regard that Lake" and his associates represented to the parties that although they had never made a personal examination of the. land djescribed in their respective affidavits and applications.

Or been upon, the same, they could safely land lawfully make oath to an unqualified! "Statement "that there was no occupation of the land adverse to sny that they when in truth and In fact they were not occupants of the land and had never been upon it, or within great distance therefrom. In this manner, the petition alleges, Lake and his confederates "did knowingly, wilfully, corruptly and feloniously procure each and every of the said last mentioneL.per-socs to commit perjury In making' oath to an unqualified statement that there was no, occupation of -the land adverse to any that he has." These affidavits, the petition alleges, were filed, registered or -recorded In the office of the SuKveyor-General of' the State of California by Lake and his associates, who knew them to be false and fraudulent. By this means; affirms Udell. Lake and his associates on the 20th day of Janu ary. 1909, to obtain possession of 640 I mation he desired.

i "The Haiwee-Pactflc Oil Company Is doing business. -I return to the workings Monday and have no misgivings about the. charges of the mining bureau." NOT VICE-PRESIDENT. It has been stated that' Colonel J. E.

Fox of the Girard Piano Company of this city is the vice-president of the Halwee-Paciflc Company, but such is not the case. The Colonel several years ago was induced to take $10 worth of stock in what was known as the Roosevelt OH Company; but he retained the stock but a short time, for the reason that he had made up' his mind to devote his whole time to his own business, without paying attention to any side issue. SECRET SERVICE AGENT. About the time that he came to that conclusion a secret service agent of the government called upon him and stated that ex-President Roosevelt was opposed to having the company" named after him, for the reason he knew nothing about the workings of the concern and besides had no money in, the enterprise. Later, the name of the company 'was changed to that of the Haiwee-Pacific Oil Company: Fox, has had nothing to do with-the concern and got rid of his small holding stock as soon as possible, not because he thought there was anything Irregular In it, but be- cause ha intended to pay attention, only to his regular line of business.

The Colonel, however, stated to the representatives of THE TRIBUNE this moming: that the secret service agent, a man named Mederos, who brought the information that Roosevelt was opposed to having the company bear his name, said that. he had looked Into the matter and so far as he could see the company was all right. REGARDING THE TITLE. Dr. Merritt, In reply to a question by a TRIBUNE reporter today, admitted that there were several thousand acres which were not filed of record anywhere.

He was also asked as to what kind of title he had to the same and stated that he did not wish to go into details In the matter at this time, until he found what was to be the course of the prosecution. He declared, positively, that the company had deeds to all of the property and further that he thought the people from whom the deeds had been secured had a right to, make the same. Southern Pacific bridge at city and Just commencing to install the piers of the Northern Electric Railway bridge, the council i took steps to make the strike order general. 'The strike order is based tipon "the claim that the contracting firm is discriminating In the matter of wages against the men employed on the Northern Electric bridge piers. It is claimed by labor authorities in Sacramento-that while the gmpany pays union wages at every other place In the country it Is paying less than the scale in Sacramento.

Word was received in Sacramento today by the' council that the general strike order had been sent out. Wrecked Steamer Rapidly BreakingUp i 25,000 Bags of 'Coffee Untouched by Salt Water Are Taken I from the Hold. NEW ORI-EANS, Nov. 26. A special from Havana says: The steamer Crown' Prince, hourd from Brazil to New Orleans, which was wrecked oft Cape San Antonio October 16, is rapidly breaking up.

From her forward hold have been taken bags of coffee, untouched by the salt water. The remaining 5C00 bags are a total loss. Seismograph Records Distant Earthquake A St. Louis Machine's Needle Traces Disturbance Thought to Be 6250 Miles Away. ST.

LOTJIS, Nov. 26. The Sefsmo-graph of the St. Louis TJniversity recorded earthquake shocks last nlGfht from 11:09:30 o'clock to 11:16. The center of the disturbance was calculated to be 6250 miles east.

1 DRESSED IN "BLACK AND YELLOW" Not "Football Colors" but the color of -the carton containing Foley's Honey and Tar the best and safest cough remedy for all coughs and colds. Do not accept a Substitute but see that you get the genuine Foley's Honey and Tar in a yellow carton with black letters. Wishart's Drug Store, cor. 10th and Washington sts. Climb Fifteen Flights Of Stairs to Fight Fire NEW YORK, Nov.

26. The faihire cf the elevator machinery In a 16 loft building in West Twenty-fifth street early i today forced a squad of firemen? to climb 15 long flights of winding- staiis to reach a fire which had started in a store room full of spooled embroidery silks, The delay incident to the watchman's attempt to carry the firemen aloft in the elevator gave the fire a good start. 1 AUTOMOBILE STARTS ON TRIP ACROSS CONTINENT WASHINGTON. Nov. 26.

Driven under the auspices of the American Automobile Association to further the pood roads movement and collect data for an automobile route across the continent, the automobile "Mudhen," en route from New York to San Francisco, yesterday left with 1 letters from Postmaster-General Hitchcock and Commissioner Rudolph of tne or Columbia to Ban Francisco I officers. Ernest L. Ferguson is observer MISS FREDA BUTTON, who will be in charge of the child's bootlj at the Young Ladies' Guild sale of the First Congregational Church. i Young Ladies Guild to Present Seven Ages of Femininity The Toung Ladles' Guild of the First 2ongrtegatlonal Church Is planning a unique sale and musicale for next Tuesday afternoon and evening in the parlors of the church. The booths will be ar- ranged to represent the 6even ages of woman and there will be about one hundred young women in costume.

Mrs. A. Leet will have charge of the baby booth. Miss Freda Button the child booth. Miss Maud Collier the girls booth, Mrs.

J. R. Tallman the debutante booth. Mrs. Writ.

T. Satterwhite the brides' booth, Miss Raymond 1 Leveij saier me nouseseepers- Doom, Miss Helen Powell the grandmothers booth. Miss Caroline Maclise and Mrs. Arlett the ice cream oooth, Mrs. George KlrCg, Italian novelties; photographs.

Miss Wetherbee. Following the musical nroicram for 1. Aur Meer Frau Schubert Atlas Frau Schubert Howard E. Pratt. 1.

Way Day Walthew Mrs. Alma Berelund Winchester. 8. Gifts Lament-Smith Howard R. Pratt.

4. "Where Be Goin'?" From "Old Cornish" The Girl With the Delicate Arne Mrs. Alma B. Winchester. An orchestra will play throughout the evening.

The afternoon program has been specially arranged for the children. Santa Claus will be tlere to hear what you want ror (jnristmas. May Keep Her Heart; Must Return Jewels Rabbi, Jeweler and Lawyer Un tangle Engagement Mix-Up of Maid and Man. ST. LOTTS, Nov.

26 A hoard of srbl tratfon composed of a rabbi, a Jeweler and a lawyer, three persons who were presumed by their connection with the cafe, were more capable than others to Judge of the eccentricities of Cupid decided the ergag-elnent controversy of Fred Skral and Miss Esther Rothrj.an He proposed to her nine days aftfr ha met her, and. he testified, bought her worth of jewelry and clothing The board met at the home of Ra'obl Ambrowitz of the Fifteenth -street yesterday. After Skral had testiSed that he still loved the cirl anil wanted to marry her, and Miss Rothman testified that she no longer loved Skral, the board decided that Miss Rothman might keep her heart, but that she should return to Skral the Jewelry and clothes. WELFARE LEAGUE HOLDS MEETING IN ALLENDALE "The three most democratic signs of a time when we are curing the ills of democracy by more democracy are the playgrounds, the mothers' clubs of our schools and the neighborhood improvement clubs." said Miss Ethel Moore, Oakland playgsounds commissioner, last night at tho Child's Welfare League mass meeitng at Allendale, in Allendale hall. "On the playgrounds the boys and girls of public, parochial "and private schools all meet and play together.

Girls play together whose mothers do not speak to each other on the street. Rich and poor play together. Foreign-born and American-born play together today, as they will govern America together tomorrow." Other speakers were Assistant Superintendent of Oakland Schools Cox on "Taxpaving as a Test of Good Probation Officer Ruess on "Fighting Evil With God the Juvenile Court President W. E. Sansome of the Allendale Improvement Club, President Mrs.

L. C. Grasser of the Mothers' Club of Fruitvale Sohool No. ,3, Mrs. A.

Gun-ter Mrs. A. Griffin and Wallace H. Icke. The meeting was held under the joint auspices of the improvement club and the Mothers' who are working together for a larger school playground for Allendale and for the new municipal Oakland bond issue.

LABORER SHOOTS SELF AT STRAWBERRY HILL SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26. An unidentified man, apparently a laborer, 50 years old, committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth at the foot of Strawberry hiil near the main drive this morning. There was nothinr on the body by which it could be identified and a deputy coroner reaiove4the body to the niotgue. t- Mr.

Otto Paul. Milwaukee. says Folev's Honev and Tar is still more than the best. He writes us: "All those that bought it think It is thr best for coughs and cold they ever had and I think It is still more than the best. Our baby had a bad cold and It cured him in one day.

Please accept thanks." Wishart's Drug etore. cor. 10th and Washington sts. The price of rooms, Fourteenth and Alice are reduced. Mention this paper.

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 28. A general strike order has been issued by the Building Trades Council against the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Construction Company and it applies to every union man employed by that concern in the United States. Ten thousand men. Including carpenters, structural steel and iron workers, engineers, cement womcers, pile drivers, laborers, firemen and others are' affected by the order.

Following the order Issued last Wednesday by the Building Trades Council calling a strike against the company which is erecting the piers for the ELLERY ID WIFE Judge Graham Seeks to Untangle Domestic Web of Clubman. (Continued 'from Pa ere 1Y her telephone service until I guaranteed payment so that it should not be shut off. An effort was also made to turn the lights off. If your honor please, she is absolutely without funds." Attorney Franklin Bui! was present, representing George Ellery's brother, William, who is claimed to own the Jiejwas interested only Jn that nbase of hi situation and would be glad to cot-sent to a continuance If It would about a resumption of the happy rela tions between the couple. SUGGESTION.

Attorney Knight, for Ellery, said Tas'the first suggestion regarding a reconciliation. "Heretofore it has been case of fight," he said. "I am hoartTy in accord with the continuance If there is a chance of adjusting the domestic dlTiculties." Accordingly the matter was put over ai'd an efTort will be made to untangle the domestic web which resulted in the" placing of a charge of extreme cruelty e.alnst the husband. GOOD RESULTS ALWAYS FOLLOW The use of Foley Kidney Pills. They ore up-building, strengthening and eooth-lrg.

Tonic In action, quick in results. Wisfcart's Drug "Store, cor. 10th and Washington sts, Queen Elizabeth Is Victim of Typhoid BRUSSELS. Nov. 28.

Bulletins Issued by the attencnng physicians today ndi-tfe that the condition of Queen Fliza-betff is Improved. It is reported she is MiiTerinar from typhoid. -Sarsaparilla Cures all humors, 1 catarrh and rheumatism, relieves that tired feeling, restores the appetite, cures paleness, nervousness, builds up the whole systeto. Get It today in usual liqtrid form ehoeeffated tablet csflled BarnataJw. NDULD RECONC in The first place sought the visitor to a city is its parks, and therefore the city with the greatest number makes a lasting impression on that person.

In our exultant spirit of enterprise and progression we are apt to forget the call of nature for more of thi outdoor life, with the establishing of parks, and make improvements in other -directions. Schools. public buildings, harbor facilities, are all much desired In a city like Oakland, but iarks are the most essential of all. Besides a means of enjoyment, it purchased at the proper time, are a o-ooii investment. Parks bought in voa- York Citv fiftv years ago for a third of a million dollars are now worth over twenty million dollars.

Many of the cities of Europe are noted for their beautiful playgrounds, which add more to the attractiveness of the town than anything else. London has 271 public parks, covering a larger area than the entire city of Oakland. In no country if outdoor life more attractive, more healthful and Invigorating or freer from small vexations and discomforts than in California. Insect psts do not annoy here as elsewhere and nature seems to have provided a climate especially adapted to life in the open air under the skies and the trees. TRAXSFOIIMATIOX OF ADAMS POINT t'KOPEHTY.

At the head of Lak Merritt, near Adams Point, on the Orand jvenue car line, is a park made beautiful and attractive by the hand of man. Some years ago this was a cheap piece of unsightly land, in striking contrast to its' present appearance, where daily may be seen hundreds of children playing on the lawn and inhaling the pure ozone, the sweet smelling flow-cra and verdure laden plants. A num- ber of nooks bowered by shade trees and garnished ty nowers extena in vitations to come ana rest. a conservatory adorns the park, and taken all in all it shows what can be done in a small space and some of ttve delights of outdoor life In Oakland. OXF; SFCTTOX XEERS A PARK BADLi.

No portion of the original city of Oakland, not even Piedmont. Berkeley and Alameda are without their parks, except that part of Oakland more famili3rly known by the oldest residents as Watts Tract. Here, coming: to Oakland on the Key Route via the Twenty-second street trains, the first stop, is made and here, too. with the development of Oakland's water front and the subsequent following of many industrial enterprises, a large center of population will be. In all this large section with fast growing population no park adorns the landscape and no place for children to play and rest Is to be had.

SUITABLE LOT FOR A PARK. This condition, if there were no property to be had or if prices 'were exhorbitant. might be excusable, 'but as it la several pieces can be purchased at low figrures. The principal one among these and that most suitable for a park. owing to its convenience to the Key Route and other car lines.

Its satisfactory size and other advantage, is the block bounded by Peralta. Union, Thirtieth and Thirty-ecohd streets ami surrounded by many homes and stores either Immediately corOisuous thereto or la short walking distance..