Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 17

Lxtttwiv JUsoctatcd Pwsf The Tribune Is delivered Srrvtt Exclusively to your home ever; forSu CAILYXSUNC United. Pre rrvn rvrrv IlOO a MnUTH vTi VOL. CIX OAKLAND. CALIFORNIA, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 17, 1928 17 NO. 79 mmxwm Seventeen-Year-Old Baby Slayer on Trial S.

P. Abandons Plea toVurtail 'Creek Route' 500 LABOR LEADERS III ERNA JANOSCHEK. Oakland hlsk KU student, who tele WORD BATTLE MARKS YOUNG RECALL SUIT sanity questioned. Her defense is similar to that offered by William Edward Hickman, slayer of Marian Parker in Los Angeles. From left to right, photos show MRS.

MARIE JANOSCHEK, the mother; MISS GRACE JANOSCHEK. sister, and ERNA. the slayer. TRIBUNE photo. phoned police the night she killed her year-old charge, Thais Lilien-crantz, daughter of Dr.

and Mrs. Eric Liliencrantz, went trial today before Superior Judge Fred V. Wood. She is pleading "not guilty by reason of insanity," despite her earlier refusal to have her y. T.

IIIIJ) i iii .1 IIIU mi A State Caoital Scene of Annual Federation Meet; Legislation Program is Feature of Gathering SACRAMENTO. Sept. IT. OP) Enactment of labor legislation and extension of theflve-day working week were among more Important matters brought before the twenty-ninth annual California State Federation of Labor ouening here today. More than 500 labor delegates from all parts of California were in Sacramento for the opening of the six-day convention at 10 o'clock this morning.

Business sessions are to be held daily with entertainment features provided for some of the afternoons and evenings. The convention was called to order by John F. Daltfln, Los Angeles, president of the state body, assisted by PauJ.Scharrenberg, San Francisco, secretary, of the federation. Addresses welcoming the delegates here were delivered by George W. Peltier, president of the Sacramento Chamber of Com-rnerce; R.

E. Conley, mayor of Sacramento; Charles Alvord, member fthe county board of supervisors, and other civic and labor officials. Governor C. C. Young was to address the convention late this after, noon.

Senator J. M. Inman and Congressman Charles F. Curry are to be among the speakers heard tomorrow morning. Woman, Three Men Are Held in Death SAN FRANCISCO, Serit.

IT. A woman- and three men today face murder charges as the result of the killing of Frank Harrigan, 238 Kutledge street, who was beaten to death In a fight at 6 Sumner treet. The woman la Ruth Hegerty, who lives at the Sumner street address. The men are John Dowl-ing, who lives at'the same address; Austin Fleming, 377 Sixth street, and Edward Mullen, 161 Valencia atreet. Mrs.

Mullen and White, the latter said to be the wife of the dead man, are being held for questioning. None of the accused would admit the killing, but they admitted, according to the police, that there had been a fight and Harrigan was struck over the head a number ot times. The fight ended a long drinking bTiut. Accused Girl Smiles and Shrugs as Mother Testifies WARRANT FOR LAWYER SERVED ELECTORS TO BE SELECTED 'ormal Campaign Launching in California Is Set for Tomorrow When Two Parties Hold Conventions By ANTHONY F. MOITORET.

Formal launching of the presi dential campaign in California is scheduled for tomorrow the Republicans and Democrats hold their state conventions in the state capltol at Sacramento. While the Republicans plan to give the official flourish to the start of the Hoover campaign, at simultaneous dinners next Saturday night at the Palace hotel In San Francisco and the Alexandria hotel In Los Angeles, with radio broadcasting of thd speeches, the machinery whereby the voters of California have a voice In the Selection of a President and vice-president of the United Statea will be set In motion at tomorrow's sessions. Each convention will select a slate of IS candidates for presidential electors, whose names will appear on the November ballot, and In voting for these the voters will indicate their preference for Iloover and Curtis or Smith and Robinson. The eve of the convention finds the general situation politically much more settled than two years ago. Harmony will be the key note In each gathering, with the drive for votes for the presidential tickets eclipsing alt other business.

The Republicans are solidly united, and If the Democrats are less so. It will not be apparent at their state convention, for the antl Smith members of the party were elimi nated from the picture, as far as any chance to control the conven tion Is concerned, when the Smith delegation won out at the presi dential primary on May 1. Two years ago the Democrats opened their state convention widely split, the state primary re turns having placed in nomination the wet wlng'a candidate for gov ernor and the dry wlng'a candidate for United States senator. And although the wet grasped titular control of the convention, they were caught napping toward mid night, and the drys mustered enough strength to Jam through a bone-dry plank. Charles L.

Neumlller of Stockton and Henry II. McPike of Oakland are generally conceded to be certain of re-election as chairmen of the Republican and Democratic slate central committee. Neumlller ha already laid th foundation. In co-operation with Mark Requa, of the Republican campaign for and although there ha been a murmur from Los Angeles that southern California would like to have the state chairmanship, a chance is eon. sldered unlikely.

The conventions will open at 2 P. m. tomorrow, the Republicans meeting in the aseer-bly chamber and the Democrat In the senate cnamber. McPlk will be temporary chairman of the Democratic gathering, with David S. Ewlng of Fresno slated for permanent chairman.

Robert M. Fitzgerald of Oakland will be chairman of the platform committee. Alameda county delegates were headed for Sacramento this afternoon. Many of th southern Call-fornla delegates paused through the bay cities yesterday and last night. Caucuses of party leaders tonight will perfect the convention programs.

Two Airmen Crash Near City of Tulare TULARE, Sept. 17. OP After rcllng desperately about over the oity of Tulare in the dark In search of a landing field, and with their gasoline- getting dangerously law. two army aviator crashed In an alfalfa field along the Santa Fe right of way, north of Tulare last night, seriously, though not critically injuring Lieutenant Gilbert and bruising Lieutenant Frank Flynn, co-pilot. The airplane bounced terrifically when it struck th ground and plunged through the telephone wires along the railroad right of way.

entirely destroying service between Tular and point north. Th plane caught 'fire immediately but the aviator Gilbert sustaining mlnorVurns for which he la being treated at a hospital here. Lieutenant Flynn was taken to Viaalia. The flier wer en route from Mines field at Loa Angeles, to Crtosy field. San Franolsco.

Police Seek Missing Girls, One a Mother Oakland police today were continuing the search for Ethel Jack-son, 20, mother of a lt-month-old baby left behind when she and her sister. Myrtle Jsckson. IS. left their home at 2221 Twenty-third street early the morning of September 12. Th disappearance of th two girls was reported to police yesterday by their G.

-A. Jack-son, who was unable to give any motive for th act. He said th elder daughter had recently been divorced. Two Men, Wives Battle in Street PITTSBURG, Sept. 17.

Tst men In Jail are badly beaten and their wives are recovering from Injuries received yesterday In a street fight over th behavior of neighbor' children. The argument started between Manuel Romano, II. laborer, and Frank Angalone, 40, in front of the letter's West street harber shop. The men were aided by the.r Ives. Three shot wer Lri.

'Nickel Pushers' Defeat Plan to Cut Round Trip to Three Daily. The lowly nickel today again demonstrated Its right to a place In the economic sun when the Southern Pacific abandoned proceedings before the railroad commission to cut down the number of dally round trips of the "Creek ferry from Oakland harbor to San Francisco. It was the tide of "nickel pushers" pedestrians that turned the day against the proposal to cut down the round trips from seven to three. The "nickel pushers" organized a club aa soon as the first movement appeared to cut down on their "rights," and started a fight to maintain the seven round trips. They won.

At the railroad's appearance to day before the commission, E. J. Folk surprised the "nickel pushers" by moving to dismiss the proceedings. He explained -that the Broadway terrv la involved with the Alameda-Saii Francisco ferry project, which la now before the commission on a protest from the Golden Gate company, seeking to establish a similar service. MURDER TALES While T.

E. Mayer and his mother, Mrs. Mary Smith, began to tell different stories of their re cent activities, search for the body of James E. Baasett, whom Mayer Is believed to have slain, turned from Seattle to Tacoma. according to word received today from the north.

Mayer and Mrs. Smith are ex pected to be returned to Seattle In the next day or two in custody of police from the Washington city. They are held in the Oakland city prison. Mayer, according to Tacoma po lice, occupied a shack on the Ta tide flats less thai, a fort night, ago. a feminine com' panlon he visited the place in a blue roadster on September 1, neighbors said.

The blue roadster belonged to Bossett, member ot a prominent Maryland family, who was trying to sell it aa he expected to leave In a few days for the Philippines, Police believe Mayer killed Bassett and then burled his body In some out-of-the-way place. Police Inspector Jack Thorn bury said today that Mrs. Smith told him Mayer paid two months' rent In advance on a house In the Seattle suburban area, where bloodstains havs been found. This MAyer denied. He said he only paltVa deposit of 110 on the place.

The country around this house has been carefully searched for traces of the grave whera it Is believed Bassett' body may be found. Tacoma police have begun a search of the tldeland shack on the theory that Baasett was slain In Seattle and then taken to -Tacoma for burial. Bursting Main Nearly Drowns S. Worker SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. IT.

One man waa nearly drowned and trafflo on Market street was held up for an hour when a high pressure main of the Spring Valley Water company broke in front of the Granada theater. Jerry Nagle street, one of the crew employed In repairing the main, was trapped In the man-hole when the 14-inch high-pressure pipe broke yesterday and was nearly drowned before fellow workers rescued him. 1 Chain Store Held Up, Robbed of $20 Forcing Mrs. A. Hitchcock, clerk, 250C Eighty-third avenue, to hold up her hand and walk to the rear of the store, a bandit robbed a chain store at 8216 Foothill boulevard of 20 today.

P. A. Dunford, 1111 Outlook avenue, who entered the store Just a the bandit was rifling the cash register, was forced to Join Mrs. Hitchcock and. both wer warned against making an outcry.

The bandit escaped in an automobile. Two Arrested for Alleged Sugar Theft BAN FRANCISCO. Bept. IT. John Gilbert, 4Jrov street, and Charlea 120 Buchanan street, are held In the city prison on a theft charge, following their arrest early yesterday by Policeman Tom Lynch and Motorcycle Officer Tony Del Monte, In the act of stealing sugar from the Phillips Baking company.

Ninth and Harrison 'street. Allen was an employe of th plant, Body of Fourth Pier Fire Victim Found BAN FRANCISCO, Sept. IT. The body of Charles Johnson, 41, th fourth victim of th fir at pier 46 ten day ago, was-found floating at th toot of Taylor street yesterday by John W. Peterson and Ernest Woodcock.

Johnson' addres la cot known. Th recovery ot hi body accounts for all th workmen reported missing as a result of th fire. St. Mary's College Opens for Semester The new campus of Saint Mary' college waa occupied today for the first tfme when the school opened for the fall semester. Nine buildings, a a part of a $2,000,000 expansion rrngram, have been completed and are ready lor occupancy.

-s I.t sTvke rs held NJ OVER Davie First Witness in Attempt to Force City? Election, but Not Permit-, ted to Answer Any Query, A wordy wrangle over the ad- mlsslblllty of certain evidence tea- 1 tured the opening today of the le i gal attempt to force the city to call a recall election agr ins; City yom' i missioner t. young. i Mayor John L. Davie, was. in first witness before Superior Judge 1 J.

T. B. Warne of Tuolume.eounty, appointed referee in the suit by the Appellate Court, but he was permitted to answer a question. Attorney Frederick of the leader of the recall move, tried to show that there was an agreement between Davie and Commissioner ung and William H. Parker railing for them to vot together.

DAVIE NOT HEARD Davie waa prevented from an--. swerlng the dlreot question by an objection by City Attorney Preston- Hlgglna and -ie sat in the witness i chair for several moments while the argument raged. Finally Davie was excused when the court sustained the objection1 on the ground that the question was Irrelevant, A. R. Hartsock, another leader of the recall move, was the next witness andie-laovtwas-unabl answer many questions because of the bickering between the lawyer.

Dubovsky tried to Introduce a large number of the 1400 signa tures rejected on the ground th signers were not legal voters and Hlgglns Immediately objected. Judge, Warne finally permitted them to be marked for identifica tion, deferring his ruling until he had heard arguments. It is the contention ot th recall leaders that City Clerk Frank. C. Merrltt improperly rejected a sufficient number of legal signature to have assured th recall election.

The hearing was conducted In the grand jury room at the court?" house. Indications are It will continue the greater pait ot the week. Dispute On Phone StUn in Rnhherv SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. IT: If John McAvoV, 1S04 Franklin atreet, had not had trouble, in get- ting a telephone number ha might I be out $60 today Instead of a nlckle. McAvoy was engaged In a wordy argument with central In the telephone booth at Shumate's Pharmacy, 8utter and Powell street, last night when a lone baa- dit robbed the establishment pt $230 and -'Vi i I It was only when a squad ef police, relnforcced by a score or more of entered th place that McAvoy, sensing some- i ihlndi U'd wrnn cr aa vsa nit la claim on the nlckle, and left the telephone booth.

Hundreds of pedestrian wer marching by the store as the robber drew a pistol, forced James Heflln, 1235 Pine street, the clerk, to lie on. the floor and then rifled the cash register, wr -e i of i. ureu iv 4-c Honored at 5. F. Fete BERKELEY, Sept.

IT. As a climax to the series of banquets and reception which- followed their Olympic victory, members of l. T1 I 1.1IAM.U A KJ I11VVI QiLjr UL WOW will be feted, again tomorrow In San Francisco. San Francisco' municipal band i and a corps of police will escort' the atniete up Mamei street in a. parade at 10:15 o'clock to th rotunda of the city hall where Mayor Jame Rolph, will greet then In th nam ot the city.

Th official welcome will followed by a luncheon at 'the Pal-ac Hotel In which th San Francisco Junior Chamber of Com- meroe, th' Stanford ClutvwT San Francisco, and th University of California Alumni Association will take part. Finnish Convention Opens in Berkeley BERKELEY. Bept. IT, Delegates from British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California gathered this morning at Finnish Comrade Hall, Ninth and Bristol street for the opening of the annual grand lodge of the United Finnish Kaleva Brother and Slater. The convention will continue -throughout the week Members of th local Finnish colony, headed by Councilman Calter Mork ot are being aided by the -Chamber of Commerce In entertaining th delegate.

Emll Palander of Seattle, grand president, called th convention to order this morning. On Thursday the-delegates will be taken on a sight-seeing tour of the city. Two Men Sought in Thefts; Girls Held Two Oakland glrla. lone Lr-. son, 21, and Fhj-lia Morrison.

21, dance hall girls, ar In tbe county Jail at Martinez today facing charge of receiving stolen property. Deputy Sheriff R. L. McNaina. and Constable Harry Stow arrest the glrla at their apartment at Hi Tenth street.

P. manager cf the Diablo Country club, signed coi-i-plalnta agalost. the glrla and -i against Jame Baldwin. 2J. anj Leonard Wetzel, 37, both of city, charging the two yourtr with looting room at th ctu; club and at St.

Mary cones e. ARRFSTED OVLR LIQt ALA.VEDA. Sept. with violation of the dry --man A. ot 1 1 fiak street, and 2104 Ame-? red In I i Own Rifle Kills Hunter Taking Photo I The desire to photograph his trophy of the chase, -a large buck deer, cost John Victor Davis, 25, 1083 Forty-third street, his life yesterday afternoon at Grass Valley.

Davis and two companions had been deer hunting and on returning to Grass Valley Davis began arranging his paraphernalia in order that a picture might be made. He Was occupiedHfn "pulling some coats and the deer gun from the automobile when the gun was discharged. The heavy slug passed through Davis' body a few inches below the heart. He was taken to the Jones' Memorial hospital at Grass Valley, where he died a few hours later. His wife, a one-tlnif resident of Grass Valley, was In a house near the scene of the tragedy and heard Ihe report of the shot.

No funeral arrangements have as yet been announced. Alameda Orders New City (jail Lights ALAMEDA, 8ept. IS. With a view to making the crtd city hall here as modern as possible, city authorities have- awarded a contract for the installation of new lectrlcal fixtures In halls and orrldors to the Municipal Light plant. Cost of the new fixtures will be 3175.

Installation of a new elevator to cost $4881, is expected to be finished within the next month. Booze Trucker Held as Key to -Alcohol Flow BABY SLAYER FAG ESG 0 II RT (Continued From Page than the other children," she told police when pressed for a motive for killing the baby. The girl has bitterly opposed suggestions that she Is Insane until very recently, and declares that ehe would rather be sent to Sun Quentln than declared Insane. 'Mrs. Janoschek disclosed on the stand that a cousin of her husband was an inmate of a Germari asylum, and that her brother is an Inmate of an Insane asylum in En gland.

She said that as a child. Erna was normal, but that she suffered at times from periods of Mepresslon and melancholia. She waa bright in sehool and did well In her studies. That condition existed until in 1926 when the girl had a breakdown. After that she seemed to have changed mentally, and displayed an indifference to friends and thdse she had loved before her illness.

She waa not the same affectionate girl she had been, the mother testified. Mrn. Janoaoliek said In August of last year, Krnu disappeared from homo and was later found working In' a San Franclwco home. The mother went to bring her back, and found the girl sick. When Mrs.

Janoschek entered "the room, she testified today, Krna broke into tears and exclaimed "Now I won't be able to go to college." Mrs. Janoschek took the girl back home, but Erna did not appear "Just right," said the mother. Erna went to work in the Lilien- crantx home on June or t. The mother saw her daughter last before the crime on Thursday preceding that District Attorney Warren questioned the mother about a conversation ahe had with Police Inspectors Jack Thornbury and James Goodnight on the morning of, the inquest over the Liliencrantz baby. He asked her if at that time she did not tell the.

Inspector there was no Insanity in her family. Mr. Janoschek could not remember, she Said today. Warren In his cross examination disclosed that the mother came to his office to talk to him about the case, but aald nothing" then regarding the Insane cousin and brother of whom she testified today. Teacher of Blind To Visit Oakland Plana for the entertainment of Miss Adella M.

Hoyt, acting director of Braille for the national organization, who Is due Jn Oakland from Washington, the latter part of this week, were being made today by Oakland and Berkeley Red Cross chapters. Miss Hoyt, assistant director of the room for the blind In the Library ot Congress, is making a tour of the country in the interest ot the Red Cross campaign to teach the blind by means of the Braille system. Condition of Crash Victim Is Critical The condition ofH. N. Hawkins, believed to be the brother of E.

D. Hawkins, 11 Monte avenue. Piedmont, who waa seriously Injured In an auto crash Saturday, four miles north of Weed, la said to be critical, according to word received here. One man waa killed and two were injured. Vandals Kill Canary While Family Gone Vandals who spurned stealing, entered the home of Antone Co-troneo.

S(ll Gaskill street, during the absence of the family yesterday, and killed a pet canary, smashed a clock and ripped a telephone from the wall, according to a report made to police today. Check failed to reveal any property taesw By NANCY vYlth a smile curvinsr her lln a new blue hat matching the blue of her eyea, and her bobbed hair curled about her face, Erna Janoschek, 17-year-old school girl slayer of twelve months old Thais Liliencrantz, came Into court this morning for the first day "of her trial for murder. Her appearance was In marked contrast to the sodden faced, bedraggled girl who was taken to Jail three months a no when confessed to strangling the baby mil. jii ner Ana yet, more than ever, she remains the girl whom nobody understands. "Do you like my new hat 7" she said as she waited for Deputy Sheriff Pauline Walker to accompany her from the county Jail to the courtroom of Judge Fred V.

Wood. It is indeed a pretty hat and so are the new blond shoes and the shining new silk stockings. "I'm glnd the trial Is beginning. I can hardly wait to know wliat they are going to do with me. My hands feel funny cold." Nho looks, down at her hand, rubs them, and smiles the IiiiihIh Unit strangled the life from a baby girl.

It Is. tliat smile ttweet, wiiiNoine, sometimes faintly eonlemptuoug, always spontaneous mid unconstrained which Is Hie hardest of all things about Krna 1'ano-achek to understand. DOK.S.VT REALIZE She waited as serenely as one waits through the overture of an opera while a Jury was being chosen in record time to determine her sanity in accordance with her plea of "not guilty by reason of to the crime of which she is charged. But If she knew enough about court procedure to realize that it was a record-time Jury for a murder trial which was chosen at half past ten this morning, she would smile her appreciation of the distinction. Tou might shout it Into her eyes: "This to not a story, not a play or a movie, this Is yonr trial for murder the final cataclysm of your and she would emlle at you.

Mrs. Marie Janoschek, the mother of the girl, who sits so quietly at the table facing the Judge, bowed her head and closed her eyes be- FOUR SAN RAFAEL. Bept. IT, The state board of prison director ended a two-day meeting yesler-dayW) after paroling four prison-era, two for deportation. A total of 41 cases were considered, Indefinite sentences of It prisoners were flxedjjd 22 applications for parole were denied.

Action was postponed on two applications. 'The prisoners paroled were Agnes Keller, sentenced from San Diego county for grand larceny, and Rose Hall, sentenced for grand larceny In Alameda county. Mrs. Hall and her husband were convicted of a series of apartment house burglaries in the San Francisco bay district. The board decided to parole Hall In one year and four months from now.

Mrs. Hall, known as the "housemaid burglar," was sentenced from Alameda county In 12(, and was accused of robbing several prominent families In the bay region. Her husband, George Hall, sentenced at the same time, confessed to Jewel robberies totaling thousands of dollars. Robert O. Dean, sentenced from Alameda county for robbery, parole applicant, had his case postponed until Novsmber.

Murphy, Alameda county forgery convict, must serve six months more and Is then to be paroled. Paul E. Townsend, sentenced from Alameda county for rape, will be paroled after II months' more aenrice. The application of J. L.

Farrar, sentenced to a life term for murder Id Sacramento county, was postponed to the October meet-ing. The aeatence ef Theodore SDN BOARD BARIt MAVITT fore she took the witness stand as the first witness todaytJ.Her lips were tightly closed In the -restraint of pain and her hands were clasped before her. She was praying. Then she began her story. As she took the witness stand, she and not the girl on trial for murder waa the woman at bay.

The lines In her face, were the lines of bewildered grief, but there was a quiet stubbornness in her low, precise voice. She was defending her child against the world asking the world to understand what, so patiently, was beyond her own comprehension. It waa a horrible, bewildering world that she faced and as she faced it for her child's sake, Erna Janoschek, sitting be low her at the table, shrugged her shoulders in annoyance when there were things that her mother could not remember, breathed a sigh of Irritated boredom and smiled, EKNA ONLY Slllll GS. Mrs. Janoschek told of Erna'a melancholy and reticence.

She told, in her low voice that forced itself to firmness, of the telephone conversation in which she said to her daughter last June, "Well, I will see you Thursday." Before that Thursday the abyss of murder had opened between them. She (poke as you of your last unprophetievtalk with someone who hus since died. She told how Erna ran away from home and left a note in which she said: "I do not understand myself and you don't understand me. I am going to get a Job but I promise you faithfully that I will do nothing dishonorable." With a wan Indignation she countered District Attorney Earl Warren suggestion that the girl had left home In August, 1S27, In search of "adventure." In every answer there was a painful exact itude. She was on the witness stand to try to save her child from prison, to make them all see these strangers, these doctors and Jurors that "Erna was in some sort of mental trouble." Yet she waa feeling In each answer for the exact truth, praying for it, with her hands clasped.

And when the mother faltered In her answers, the girl in the blue hat shrugged her shoulders with, a gesture of bored Impatience and smiled. STATION WINS PERMIT A writ of mandate directing City Building Inspector R. H. Barrett of Piedmont to Issue to the Shell Oil Company permit to erect a gas station at the corner of Grand and Wildwood avenues was granted today by Superior Judge Jamea G. Qulnn.

-Power of the building Inspector to refuse the permit on the grounds that it would violate the city of Piedmont zoning ordinance, was denied by the court. The land on which the oil company plans to erect a service station is situated partly In Oakland and partly In Piedmont. A permit was obtained from the city of Oakland for the building, but was denied In Piedmont. Rarrett claiming that the section of the land en the Piedmont side of the line waa restricted for residential purposes under a zoning ordinance. Through its attorney.

Bestor Robinson, the oil company showed by testimony that 12.7 automobiles pasa the corner every 24 hours, and that there Is now only one gas station In the clt. of Piedmont. They also cited figures to show that Oakland baa one gas stv tion for every (OS inhabitants, while Piedmont has but one for Its entire population of 100. Johns, Ban Francisco murderer, waa fixed at years, ten of which be bas served. Application of Antone Leu a.

Solano county murderer, for a parole, waa denied. BAN FRANCISCO. Sept. IT. Attorney John H.

Crabbe, with of fices in the Pacific building, was booked at the city prison shortly before noon today because he refused to return a "lost" watch valued at $350, police say. Crabbe demanded 50 for return of the watch, it Is alleged. A grand theft, warrant wns warrant waa Isworn to by Mrs. Edith Green, 1201 Octavla mot ner of a uirce-momns-oia child, who telld police she lost the watch Inst 8he advertised for the watch and received a phone call from Crabbe who told her to come to his office and bring 250 if she wanted her watch, according to Mrs. Oreen's story to police.

When Crabbe persisted In keeping the watch Mrs. Green told her story to Police Sergeant Thomas Hoertkorn and with him went to Crabbe's office today. Hortkorn summoned Captain of Detectives Duncan Mathieson and Deputy District Attorney Paul Maddes. Crabbe Is said to have defied the trio, declaring "that the watch was In his safe and would stay there until he got $50." Then Mrs. Oreen charged him with gran dtheft.

He appeared before judge Lazarus and Immediately put up ball. Maddes was instructed to Inform the state bar association of Crabbe's alleged actions. Two Men Held for Automobile Theft Two men, one of whom Is a pal of a man now awaiting trial for stealing an automobile, are being held In the city prison today on a charge of theft, following their arrest late yesterday by Patrolman L. H. Tlce and E.

H. Woodman, as they were In the act qf driving away an automobile from Twentieth street and Broadway. Albert Richards, and Jefferson street, and Anthony Lee, 641 Eighth street are the men being held. When caught. Lee was In the automobile which belongs to Alex Aosensen, 1066 Broadway, and had started the motor, while Richards waa standing on the curb.

According to police, Lee admitted that the car was not his. Investigation disclosed that Richards roomed with John Coze, arrested a week ago for alleged stealing of an automobile that, belonged to Mrs. Emma Norman, 2511 Sixty-sixth avenue. Closing of State Forests Foreseen BAN FRANCISCO, Bept. 17.

Closing of the national forest of California may be effected until the fall rains set in as a precautionary measure Jn an effort to cut down the damage being caused by brush and forest fires. The State Forest service has stated that this step may be made as a result of the great damage done during the last few weeks. The forest of the state are In a tinder-like condition due to the lack of rainfall. Crow Canyon Fire Burns 200 Acres A grass fire that swept over 200 acres In Crow canyon near Hayward was brought under control early yesterday morning without damage to property, although for a time It was feared that the home of John Stever. John Barron and B.

J. Bohnltx were doomed. The fir la believed to have started from a rubbish fire started by an unidentified' farmer. Women of Church To Hold Whist Party A whist party will be given In the 'Rockrldge Women'a clubhouse in Keith avenue tomorrow nigh! by the women of the Church of the Little Flower. Rev.

D. i. Kelly, th pastor, la being assisted In the maaage-njent bi group headed by Mrs. P. J.

ScalrfwjuAsslstiTig her are Mesdames T. KoVv W. D. Reynold and Georg SuThvan. OIL False Bottom of Machine Yields 500 Gallons of Contraband.

County authorities are grilling Mike Ross, who gave hi address 441 Clav street. San Francisco, in the belief that they raptured today the long sought "missing link" tetween apparently limit-less source of alcohol In the East-bay and the "higher ups" of a huge bootlegging ring of the San Francisco bay district. Ross was persistently dewying knowledge of the ring leaders of the alcohol running ring of which, he. according to the sheriff's office, is only a cog in the wheel. Ross's arrest came after a watch had been kept for weeks on county highways for the one man, who Is supposed to know aboat the higher ups" of the ring.

He vu captured on the TJver-Wore-Pleaeanton road by Deputy Sheriffs L. E. Van Patton and Hugo Radbruch. Ha waa driving bur "empty" truck. But the "empty" truck waa disclosed on Investigation by the officers to possess a deep false bottom.

In that recess were cached It cans ot alcohol, containing (Ions each. The truck waa specially built for the purpose, and according the herlfTs office Is believed to be only one of a number of such trucks operated by the moonahina alcohol ring. Rosa waa formally charged with possession and transportation o( liquor..