If you're worried about the current state of crime in San Francisco, take a peek back in time. We've rounded up some Hayes Valley crimes from 1896, all collected from the San Francisco Call newspaper.
With His Little Hatchet
Thomas Aucott, a laborer, with a hatchet in his hand, was terrorizing people on Van Ness avenue, near Hayes street, yesterday afternoon when Policeman Benjamin arrested him. He was crazy with drink and declared that he was George Washington and never told a lie. A charge of ''drunk" was booked against him.
Burglary On Hayes Street
F. Barring was arrested by Detective Edward yesterday morning on a charge of burglary for having broken into Jeffery's machine-shop at 1019 Hayes street and helped himself to a lot of tools. The identity of the thief was discovered by Detective Harper from a description furnished by the pawnbroker to whom Barring went to dispose of the tools.
and then a follow up, and name correction:
Bailing Not Guilty
Frederick Boiling, alias Frederick Bailing, charged with burglarizing the store of Jeffery Bros., at 1019 Hayes street, was yesterday acquitted in Judge Wallace's court.
Saved By The Alarm
Attempt to Break Into the House of John W. Reid, Hayes Street, Frustrated.
John W. Reid, ex-superintendent of the Fourth-street bridge, who lives at 809a Hayes street, was congratulating himself yesterday that he has a burglar-alarm in his house.
Between 11 and 12 o'clock Sunday night he was awakened from his slumbers by the ringing of the burglar-alarm. He jumped out of bed and hurriedly dressed himself. On going outside he noticed that the door in the basement was open, and he saw a man walking across a vacant lot near his house.
The man walked west on Hayes street followed by Reid till Policeman Anderson was met. Then Reid asked the officer to place the man under arrest, explaining that he had attempted to break into his house. Anderson took the man to the City Prison, where he was recognized as George Faulkner, a blacksmith, who several years ago was a source of trouble to the police. On being searched a key, resembling a skeleton key, was found in Faulkner's pockets, but he said it was the key of his room, which yesterday was found to be correct. Faulkner said he was on his way to his home, on Hayes street, near Devisadero, and knew nothing about the attempted burglary. He is in the M tanks, and will be held pending developments.
Entered By Burglars
The barber shop of F. Maurer, 114 Hayes street, was entered by burglars on Sunday night, who selected several articles and took their departure. Entrance was effected by forcing open the door with a "jimmy." This is the third time within a few months that the shop has been visited by burglars. The police have been notified.
Wanted for Forgery
Philip Posner, a grocer at 337 Hayes street, swore out a warrant in Judge Conlan's court yesterday for the arrest of Morris Cohen on the charge of forgery. A few days ago Posuer cached a check for $25 for Cohen which purported to be signed by Charles L. Miller and was drawn on the Wells-Fargo Company.
