KANE, KITCHAK

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 08:32:28 :

Independent Journal
Thursday, January 17, 1952
Page 1

Sabin D. Kane, Ex-S.R. Police Chief, Is Dead

Funeral services will be held Monday for Sabin David Kane, 62, for eight years police chief of San Rafael, who was found dead last night in his home.

His body was discovered at about 10:10 p.m. by a daughter, Mrs. Helen Kitchak. She entered Kane’s home at 126 Antonette avenue, next door to her house, to pick up dishes from a supper she had taken to him at 8:15.

Kane died of a self-inflicted bullet would, coroner Frank J. Keaton said. The former police chief was despondent over ill health, and about two years ago had his left leg amputated below the knee. Kane had been told further amputation would become necessary, Keaton reported.

Kane had removed the clip from a .45 Colt automatic pistol and placed his wallet on a bed stand in the next room. They were found together with a note which said simply, “Call George.” Reference was to George McLaughlin, a nephew who served under him on the San Rafael police force.

The former chief was the son of a veteran police office[r] and fireman, Captain William R. Kane, who died in 1940. Ex-Chief Kane for many years was a bandmaster at San Rafael Military academy and appeared in that role in silent motion pictures at the old California Motion Picture Studio on West Fifth avenue.

San Rafael police chief’s position is an elective one. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in 1933, was elected to a full four-year term in 1935, and was defeated by John Barney Ruschetti in 1939.

Kane led one of the most spectacular narcotics raids in San Rafael history in 1935. In February of that year, he and his officers, including then Lt. Floyd Middagh, joined state inspectors in raiding three locations in downtown San Rafael and seizing $15,000 worth of opium and morphine, together with preparing apparatus and two revolvers.

The pre-dawn raid netted nine Chinese who operated a den in the rear of the store.

Kane also developed a bullet proof shield for armored patrol cars, and granted the Ford Motor company the right to use the device.

When he left the police department, Kane returned for a time to the military academy. More recently he retired and devoted much of his time to work on a model railway layout in the basement of his home.

A native of San Francisco, Kane is survived by his widow, Ada F. Kane; two daughters, Mrs. Kitchak and Miss Norma F. Kane; a son, Navy Commander William R. Kane, now stationed in Virginia; and a sister, Mrs. Flora McLaughlin of San Rafael.

Kane maintained membership in t he Marin Peace Officers’ association, but had not been active in recent years.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at Keaton’s mortuary, San Rafael. Inurnment will be at Chapel of the chimes in Santa Rosa.