Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 1

Excturtvf AttecUtrd Pros i ft Oakland and vtctalty ToidKbt and Thursday fair moderate northwesterly winds. A RAINFAXXk (TRIBUNK GMe) Vp to a as. EDITION Pa.t 24 Seasonal to Normal to date 21.03 VOLUME LXXXXI THREE CENTS SUNDAY FIVE CENTS NO. 33. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1919.

20 PAGES HOME ntmtatteml tlrws StrAct SOGETY FOfflUE liflliK QJffiK MRS. CEORCE D. GREENWOOD. Oakland tociety leader, vho was murdered by a bomb explosion in the yard of her home, 1899 Jackson street, after threatening letters had been received by her. 91st Division of Westerners Will Start Home Soon SPEED-UP IS 11H HI GUN FOR OAKLAND CIVIL LEGION Slayers of Jankers Wife Trailed as C.

oft' Band; Mystery lail Carrier Sough'; Victim Is Believed to Have Met Death as She Steppd to Garden Gate Where Fuse Might Have Been Afcctd; Deadly Blast Hurls Body and Wrecks Nearby DEADLY T.N.T. WAS USEf), SAY EXPLOSION EXPERTS mm Disclosure of a reign terror in Oakland society throng blackmailing threatening death, received by several, of the most prominent old "families in the city, was made today iu thef result of the dynamitine of the home of George D. banker, at 1889 Jackson street, in which Mrs. Greenwood wa 1 At 1, ISA "'x '111 it t'il Il -Mi Vri It II killed, the explosion of a bomb of powerful explosive following threatening letter demanding $5000. 3 -H' Detective William Kyle of the local police force is todayworli ing; on several other Jetters, received by other wealthy families, thft names of which he will not disclose.

These had been kept -secret by the families receiving them they were turned over to the police. While residents of the lake district today are planning the organization of a Vigilance Committee to defend their homes the pen; lice are busy investigating the various threatening letters that have made their appearance, the efforts of the local police being supple? mented by Captain of Detectives Duncan MathesoU of San Francisco, who came to Oakland, today wtih Police Commissioner eaw Cook, -friend of the. Greenwood family. Work It Declared Thatdf Blackmailers Captain Matheson says that the letters and the bombing of the house is almost without a doubt the work of a gang of blackmailers, the methods not noly being almost identical with the of gang and the Italian black hand gang he rounded up across the bay, but being systematically similar to the Charles T. Hutchinson dynamiting here in 1916, when the second attempt, following a number of threatening letters, resulted in damage to the Hutchinson home.

That Mrs. Greenwood happened to be killed was a coincidence. the police believe. She happened den adjoining tbe Greenwood ballroom at the moment the fatal bomb, fastened in the hedge of the back yard and exploded by a time device, went off. The bomb contained TNT or some other powerful explosive, according to powder experts who investigated it.

The other letters, received by neighbors of the Greenwoods and by several Piedmont families, had never been turned over-to the police, the terrified recipients not daring to complain, according to the detectives. These, it is believed, establish the fact thai a- systematic gang of blackmailers has been at work in Oakland. (By Astociated Pretr) WASHINGTON, March 19. Assignment of practically all units of the 91st division and several organizations of the fifth army corps for early convoy was announced today by the war department. The-lst division is composed-'of men from Waingtonwegon, California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, NeVaaa, Wyoming and Many Oakland and Eastbay residents will be gladdened by word that the 363d infantry is its way home from France, having sailed today, for when the regiment, which is part of the famous 91st division was organized, a vast number of Californians who were at Camp Lewis entered its personnel.

Corporal Arthur J. Slaght, former assistant circulation manager of The TRIBUNE, who is with the regiment, sent a cable today to friends on The TRIBUNE that the 363d is on its way home. LOS ANGELES, March 19. American troops now in Siberia will be withdrawn In the spring, Secretary of War Baker declared following his arrival' here today. Tbe ex act date Is dependent upon weather Conditions, he said.

Raker WOuM nnt av whAtViA, tViA administration was withdrawing the iroops uecause meir worn had been accomplished or because nothing could be gained by keeping the troops there. becretary Baker and Chief of Staff March nrrivpri tnnrnlnir r-, 13 ,1 uui 8an Francisco and were in the city only fifteen minutes before departing via the Santa Fe for San Diego. "Intoxicating' Beer Is Revenue Puzzle WASHINGTON. March 19 Rv. enue officers were frankly at a loss toaay as to now to combat the move of New York brewers to resume manufacture of beer containing 2.75 per cent alcohol.

If Bach beer is IntnrfrnHnv It la Illegal to make It. under the rovern- mental order against using food-. stuffs in the manufacture of Intoxicants. Brewers sav 2.75 cer cent beer is not intoxicating. Overlapping of authority of vari ous government war agencies prom ises serious a mcu um for th inter nal revenue bureau in determining wna; constitutes intoxicating beverages.

Koreans Proclaim Their Independence WASHINGTON, March 1. Korea has proclaimed her national Independence, according state department advices from Vladivostok this afternoon. The action taken by the Korean national council at Nikolskee on the Ussurl river, Siberia, which transmittal in all non suits copies of the declaration of the independence. Later, the advices add, there was a parade in honor of the event, and copies of the declaration, translated Into the Russian language, were distributed. There was no disorder, it was stated.

International Labor Accord Is Reached PARIS, March 19. The commission In International labor legislation held probably its last meeting today when' It reached an agreement on all points at Issue. The American contention that each country should settle its internal labor problems without invoking the power oi the league of nations prevailed. Strikers Driven from Factory by Artillery ROME, March Infantry, sup. ported by artillery, attacked factories at Bergamo, expelling striking employees, according to reports from that city today.

Afterward the men went back te work and an investigation la being made Into their Will FROM HA FOR 01 FORCE BULLETIN. LONDON, March 19. There la a strong focUng In political and diplomatic circles In Paris in favor of Inviting Herbert H. Awjultb, former British pre. nucr, 10 become the first president of the -league of nation-v-" according to the Dally Mirro By FRED S.

FSatfrftlSON, United Proa iUafi Correspondent. PARisv March 9. The speed-tip prograpr'of the peace conference was-in full swing today, sessions and the meeting of the supreme war council this afternoon were expected to accomplish appreciable progress in winding up the terms of the preliminary treaty with Germany. The delegates continued in their belief that the treaty will be fully completed by March 29 and probably will be submitted to the Germans three days later. It was announced today that Versailles has been definitely selected as the site for signing the treaty.

ine supreme war council was expected to ratify formally today the tentative agreement understood to have been reached yesterday on territorial and financial questions-- of the preliminary peace treaty. The conference yesterday was at tended by President Wilson, Premier Lloyd George and Premier Clemen-ceau. Italy and Japan were not represented because the matters discussed did not affect The sescion which lasted from 3 to 5: SO P. m. Was ascribed as "satisfactory." GERMAN FRONTIER QUESTION DISCUSSED The plan of alternating formal meetings" betweert leaders and sessions of the supreme war council was adopted Sunday as part of the speeding up process.

When the council adjourned Monday until today, it was understood that several matters affecting principally the United States, Great Britain and France would be taken up. The question of both the western and eastern frontiers of Germany was said to have been thoroughly, discussed. John W. Davis, representing the United States on the reparation committee; L. H.

Locheur, France, and Lord Sumter, Great Britain, were celled in for discussion of financial conditions of the treaty. The big powers, it was learned today, are now In practical agreement regarding the principle of working out financial affairs, namely: that the-final bill for reparation must be based on what experts find Germany will be able to pay over a comparatively short period of years. With, the government heads already agreed on this basis, fixing of the definite amount of indemnity appeared to be a matter of only a few days. WORK IS RUSHED ON LEAGUE COVENANT Meanwhile work is also being pushed on the league of nations covenant, which will be incorporated in -the preliminary pact. A call was sent to all neutrals yesterday to baVe their recommendation for 'changes and amendments ready for presentation at the special session of tbe league sub-committee tomorrow.

Japan intends to press Its position that the covenant, which is designed to establish the equality of peoples, should establish the principle ot racial equality. This was indicated when Baron Maklno and Viscount Chlnda called on Colonel House yesterday to -in quire when there would be another meeting or the league committee. They intimated after their call there had been so much talk recently about the league they merely desired to learn when the question in which they are interested would be opened, as they desire again to ad vance arguments in support of the reservation they made at the last plenary session. as they appear nightly in The TRIBUNE keep you informed of the and nature of the various lodges of your order. Do you avail yourself of this, service? Unless you do your part by watching the Lodge Notices they cannot fulfill their mission.

CAPT. PETERSEN That the world Is face to face with the most gigantic problem in its his tory a problem the solution of which will require profound thought, wide humanitarian sympathy, greatest energy and the highest type of patriotism, was the assertion of Captain Walter J. Petersen, former chief of police of this city, in a talk at the twenty-fourth annual banquet of the Merchants' Exchange in the Hotel Oakland last evening. Captain Petersen, who returned last night from overseas, was a guest of honor at the banquet and was given a rousing He told of America's part In the struggle and said that troops from this country arrived none too soon, as the allied troops had become discouraged, tired and demoralized and were fighting with their backs to the wall. "This country has world leadership In Its hands, and we cannot afford to turn back.

When the first gun was fired in the Spanish-American war we became a world a position, from which we cannot honorably recede. To say that wV have no further interest in European affairs is an attempt to back away from a solemn duty. Unless we do all In our power to help solve the problems of peace, which are international in their scope, and more complex than those of war, we will bring shame upon ourselves. APPRECIATES BUS HOMK CITY. "I wafit say that you have no idea bow glad I am to be home agaijf.

When you have been away from home for any considerable length Of time among different surroundings, different conditions, have seen the devastation, the discontent and the distress on every hand, you are In a position to appreciate more than ever your home city. "I want to take my place again in the affairs of this city do all In my power to aid In its upbuilding. I left here July 28, 1917. we went Into training camps oversons ana worked as men who were willing to do their part in the great war. We were a part of the first army and were ready to go into, the trenches when the great, armistice was signed.

I was glad when I learned tnat ine war had ended. I had seen the sac rifice of lives, the great suffering In many ways, and I fell that it were better for mankind that the end had come. "Aft of the young men who went with our regiment are coming back to their loved ones wltheut having fired a shot They are in good health and have seen much that will make them bettor men. "The American soldier Is ora. distinctive type.

A finer body of men were never seen. Those of the United States trooDS that reached Europe endured hardships and were always willing to do any task that was assigned them without a murmur. They were willing to work, willing to play and ready at any ume 10 ugui for the cause of democracy. FACE TO FACE WITH GREAT PROBLEMS. "This- world Is today face to face with the greatest problems that It has ever faced.

We of the United States can no longer say that we are not concerned In the affairs or Europe. We should be ashamed of ourselves as a nation If we turned aside now and say that we have no further work to do. 'England, with all her greatness, is on the verge of a revolution; In fact, she Is hovering over a seething volcano of discontent that may break forth afany time. The seeds of discontent have been sown -throughout the world, and we must face the new problems with the same energy, same Intelligence and same patriotism which made the war for democracy a success. We must turn the energies of war undiminished into the channels of peace.

"We must make the men who willingly went to the battle fronts to fight for Justice and right know that they ar.e welcome home. Suitable-vocations must be provided for them that they may not become discouraged and discontented. "If; we fail to meet our responsibility going to have trouble right here in the unitea states. "We were well received abroad. Our men and those of the allies fought side by side as comrades and friends.

The American fighting man astounded all who saw him. European women' and our own Artie ri can women deserve unstinted praise for the great work of mercy they performed under shot and shell on'. the great battle fields. They performed a service that only -women can- perform that of tenderly nursing and caring for men torn by shot and shell or suffering on beds of Captain William O. Moyle, whor wenU overseas with" puin Petersen as a first lieutenant, paid a tribute to his former chief.

I. HT Spiro was Several theatrical' entertainers, both men and women, had been provided for the occasion and rendered songs, dances and comedy, li- J. Brouwer, representing the War Camp Com unity Service, ed the. banqueters! Oakland may be under a Vigilance Committee, in which society men and returned soldiers, banded Into a fighting force, will set to work to drfve OUt of the city every vestige of Bolshevism, maintain and pa trol the city independently of the police, as the result of last night's dynamiting of the George V. Green wood home.

Tentative plans for the organization were discussed today by A. Leslie Oliver, Edwin K. Jackson, Harry East Miller, and other capitalists of Oakland, who, believing that the police force has not sufficient men to handle the present emergency, propose a systematic patrol by a Vigilance Committee, to be financed by Oakland business interests, and to assume the task of guarding the homes of the city at once. MACHINE GTJV TO BE MOUNTED FOR EMERGENCY. Jackson 4 looking for a machine gun, which it is proposed to mount on an automobile and have hand) for an emergency.

"There are many returned soldiers here who know how to handle it," al Jackspn. "It will be a better safeguard perhaps than a whole police force." Plans for the committee started today, following a discussion bv the powder experts and residents about ine iae district, where the Charles Hutchinson and the Greenwood Homes have been bombed. 8AY PROTECTION BY POLICE IS JNAD EQUATE. The householders say "iat protection by the police has not been adequate, and that a private patrol had been employed to supplement the police force there. At the me of the Hutchinson explosion prl.ate detectives were put on trail to supplement the police, but without results.

The proposed Vigilance Committee will be organized partly to patrol the city In an effort to curb the recent epidemic of burglaries, and to guard against more dynamtters, and partly to hunt out and destroy nests of Bolshevism in the city. A meeting will probably be called in the next few days to decide definitely on the organization of the volunteer force. Government agents have been informed of the plan. Soldiers at the Defenders' Club, who have been entertained In the homes of the lake district; clamored for an opportunity to aid In the committee and repay past courtesies. Telegraphs He Will Face Murder Charge MINEOLA, N.

March l.hr. Walker K. Wllklns, wanted for the murder of his wife, telegraphed Dis trict Attorney Weeks from Baltimore today saying he would sobn arrive here to testify before the grand Jury, Wllklns said in his telegram that he did not know th-ire was a murder charge against him until he read It in the morning papers. He added that he was starting Immediately for Mineola, to tell all he knew about the case. Influenza Death Average Decreases WASHINGTON, Marcti 19.

There were -905 -deaths from Influenza In the fifty largest cities of the country dur Ing the week ending March IS, accord lng to reports to the bureau of the census today. -During the week ending March 9 there were942 deaths, March 1, 9S3, and February 22, 913. The weekly average in March of last year was 8L Socialists Elect 81 to Hamburg Assembly LONDON. March 19 The election for the Constituent Assembly In Hamburg, Germany, resulted In the Majority Socialists seating SI representatives, the Democrat 93, the Peoples Parf 14, the Independent Socialists 13, the Economto League 13, the National Peoples Party 4, and the Centrists 2, says a Berlin despatch. Swiss Are Accorded Rhine Navigation PARIS.

Tuesday, March It (By The Associated Press). Tbe commission on International waterways, ports and railroads of the peace conference decided today to recommend to the conference that Switzerland should be given the navigating facilities on the Bhine for which she has made demands. Railroads to Pay Only Current Bills WASHINGTON, March 19. The $50,000,000 advanced b) the 'war finance commission- to the' railroad administration will be used only to pay current bills and to meet obll- ttlrafltf lniriOTAf WfttH road companies, Director General lllnes announced today. Gladys Partridge Photo.

Council Offers Rewar for Capture. Captain Matheson and Chief of Police Henry Nedderman held a long conference today at the Greenwood home, where they also interviewed the banker, who is seriously ill and confined to his bed, the result of a former illness and the shock of last night's The city council today offered a reward of $250. for the apprehension of the dynamiters, this being the largest amount possible to offer under the provisions of the city charter. Two private de tective agencies entered the case today, according to the Search is being made for a mysterious visitor, said to have been disguised as a mail carrier, who, it is rumored about police head quarters, wa seen carrying a package about an hour before the ex plosion in the neighbohood of the Greenwood home. No definite description of the man is in the hands of the police, this angle being followed down as a rumor.

Handwriting experts are comparing samples of handwriting on the envelopes of the letters, most of which were roughly printed. RAID GRIDE THEORY MAY BE BOMB 1011 until las nitght's explosion, when to come to the door of a small the ground In the vicinity like an earthquake. The house swayed and there was a crash of breaking glass. Many of the windows on the side of the house facing the street were broken." ITALIAN'S MAY filVE CLEW TO MCRDER. Mrs.

Knowies yesterday sftsmoon saw two Italians gathering large snails of the slug variety In her yard. When she saw them In the yard she asked them what they were doing. They replied that they were looking for snails, and asked her If It waa all right Mrs. Knowies replied they might look for snails as much-as they liked. They left about 4 o'clock, she says.

Neighbors say It has beea enstom-ary for Italians to frequent- the vicinity after heavy rains and gather the slugs. The police will make sn effort to find the Italians and question them. James Miyamoto, the Japanese cook in the household of Miss Brown and Mrs. Lilian Browne Everts, 1589 Harrison street, which is Just next door to Greenwood' home, saw the black smoke after toe exploson. OOOK SEES NO ONE AIloyT YAKD YESTERDAY.

"I had Just finished cleaning the front steps and went into the kitchen to cook supper," said Miyamoto. "I heard the explosion and thotifht was probably a gasoline tank. I looked out of the window and eaw black smoke. -1 did not notice atnv-one around the- yard, either after thi explosion or at any time during the. afternoon." The police were notified by Hhds (Continued on Page 3, Col 1, i The Greenwood family, victims of yesterday's outrage, was not the only Eastbay family to have' received letters threatening death unless certain amounts of money were handed over.

Kenneth E. Lowden, who, with his wife and family, live in the old Cutting homo at 274 Nineteenth street, formerly occupied by the Hutchinson family, who more than a year ago received threatening letters and on whose lawn bombs were found, has received letters as late as October threatening death it a certain amount of money was not handed over, according to friends of the family. Mrs. Lowden did not deny this when asked about the matter this morning, but refused to state the contents of the letter or to make any further statement on the subject. Mrs.

E. A. Julian of Piedmont recently received a copy of one of the San Francisco dallies in which there was a picture of a group of Piedmont nvatrvrns taken on the steps at Deh Monte hotel. The paper was accompanied by a threatening, letter. Mrs.

Julian's picture wag in the middle of the group. It was marked with a circle In red. The letter said: "You are within the red circleyour, turn will come next." The letter, however, was sent to a former 'address of the Julians, from, which they had moved ''time previous, and was forwarded to Mrs. Julian By the postofflce. The letter and, accompanying clipping: is In the of the police who, In co-operation with tbe pout-office Inspectors, are endeavoring to trace the sender of the missive.

THREATS SENT Tn riiinirn in III LA Mil LV IN IU liillliULO 111 EASTBAY REM That the bomb that caused the death of Mrs. Gorge D. Greenwood may have been a hand grenade man ufactured for use by the soldiers of the United States army. Is a theory advanced late today when there was discovered In the Greenwood yard small pieces of metal, pronounced identical to fragments of the army hand grenades'. One line of the Investigation has been directed toward trying to ascertain If It Is poHslble to procure an army grenade from the Presidio.

Also there Is being taken into consideration the fact that It might have been possible for some returning soldier to have brought one of the grenades rrom overseas although It. would have been a dangerous undertaking. The theory that nltro-glycerln was used In the bomb was given weight today when It was reported that 100 sticks of dynamite were stqlen from the Oakland Paving Company re-cenlly. That the nltro-glycerln could have been separated from the dynamite by any one familiar with powder In only an elementary way is conceded by explosive1 experts, and 100 sticks of dynamite would have been more than sufficient to have provided the highly concentrated bomb that Is believed to have been used In the slay, lng of Mrs. Greenwood.

A. Islle Oliver jof the Pacific Cartridge Company, (ine of the most noted explosive experts on the Pacific coast, has been working with the police on the in addition to Harry East Miller, well known local powder expert. "That the bomb which killed Mrs. Greenwood was a small affair iof very highly concentrated explo sive there is no doubt." said District Attorney Ezra Decoto, who was pres- (Continued oo Page 3, CoL 4) The explosion, shortly before dark last night, took place tn the back yard of the Greenwood home at 1899 Jackson street. The bomb was, according to the powder experts who examined it, fastened In the hedge along the fence before the rear door, and near the gate by which Mrs.

Greenwood happened to be standing at the time of the explosion. She was hurled backward and Instantly killed. f'HKMICAIi DEVICE tKI) TO MOT IT HJT Immediately after the explosion District Attorney Ezra Decoto and the police Inspected the premises, picking up pieces of the bomb. There were no signs of clockwork, the powder Experts believing that the detonation was through means of some chemical combustion device. That It could not have been thrown is testified to by Mias Huth Kales, who, from across the street, saw the explosion, but saw no one In the vicinity.

FLASH OP EXPLOSION IS SKEN BY WOMAN. One person who saw the flash ot the explosion was found by The TRIE UN today, and the police yesterday found a man who says he saw the black smoke following the explosion. Mrs. Thomas KnoKflea, who was visiting with her parents at the M. W.

Kales residence. 176 Lake street, across the street from -the Greenwood home. Is the only person, so far as known, who saw tbe flash. had Just gone into the kitchen to attend to my baby who was there," said Mrs. Knowies today.

"I chanced to look out of the window when I saw a flash of flame, followed Immediately by a gust of black smoke. At the same time I heard the explosion, which seemed to shake in a number of songs..