The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-02
HE WAS A POWER IN SPOKANE.
Bits From the Life of "Bunch
Grass Bettis."
Macarthur is Hot on His Trail and
Will Have Him Punished.
Spokane People Believe the Charge of
Embezzlomant Pretext to Get
Bettis in the Clutches of
tho Law.

The HERALD mentioned on Tuesday
last the arrest OF Judge Frank A. Bet
tie, in San Francisco, on complaint OF
Mr.. Macarthur, who alleges that the
judge ran away with Mrs. Macarthur
and embezzled a large amount Of his
money.
The San Francisco Examiner gives
the following version of the affair."
Though be continued to be an agrees
sive champion of honesty and reform in
municipal affairs, the charges of his
wife were drag upon his ambitions.
He had numerous and enthusiastic
following, but they we're never able to
push him into q higher place than
mayor. Spokane people say he obtained
divorce from his wife on account of
continual chickering's and her open
charges, and then came the elopement
with Mrs. Macarthur.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE.
Mrs. Macarthur was a prominent
worker in the church and leader in
the charitable work of the organiza-
tions. Though past the fret flush of
her youth, she is still pretty, and is
small and vivacous. The defenders of
Belts cay that she left Macarthur when
he lost his money and went with Belts
because he wac a divorced man with
plenty of money to lavish upon her.
She had known him for years, but up
to the time of the elopement there had
been no suspicion that she had any
other feeling than that of respect and
| I'd for ho ~ Of
husband.
"All this talk of embezzlement is nom
sense" said one OF the admirers of sold
Bunch Grass" yesterday. "Bettis never
stole & cent from any body. He wae ae
honest as any man who ever made for
tune. OF course he did not extend his
ideas OF reform beyond business and
| politics into social matters, but | am
sure he didn't steal. You'll find that
Macarthur merely wanted to get him
back to Los Angeles 30 he could bring
suit Tor damages against him, or else
the charge was made out OF O spirit of
revenge.
Macarthur is bad man to have for
an enemy. He's implacable and relent-
less. When he WAS in San Francisco
not long ago he said he intended to re-
sort to every legal means to get even
with Belts. He didn't then say any
thing about an embezzlement, but
talked of squaring accounts, as if he had
the stealing of his wife in view. He is
active, energetic and aggressive, but l
don't think he had much of his fortune
left. But he'll make it just as hot for
Belts as he knows how.
Belts, however, ie a very good fight
er himself, and before this thing is over
l expect Washington politics and society
will have an overturning and exposure
which will make merry gossip for those
who like to see the lofty dragged from
their positions. This arrest ia nothing
more than another chapter in a sensa-
tional love arory, and the next develop
ment may be still more sensational"
The story of the arrestsof Judge Frank
A. Belts, who eloped from Spokane with
the wife of his partner. Macarthur, has
caused @ sensation among all those ia.
miliar with the people and the affairs OF
Washington and the northwest. Belts
was one of the beat-known men in all
the region, and since taking up his resi-
dence in Los Angeles has been a promi-
nent figure there. Mrs. Macarthur, too,
was leader OF Spokane society, and Bet
tbs left behind him a wife from whom he
may OF may not have been divorced.
McArthur's charge Of embezzlement
is Hcouted by many who know both
men. They think it was merely q pre-
text to get Belts arrested and taken
back to Los Angeles, where McArthnr,
who is relentless enemy, may push
cult against him for big damages for
alternating the affections of Mrs. Near
thur. 1t is supposed that Macarthur
dropped most of his money in Puget
! sound real estate. and that he would be
willing to let his wife go could he be re-
venged on his former partner.
THE BOSS OF SPOKANE.
Something like a decade ago Belts
was the counsel for the Northern Pacific
railroad in Eastern Washington, and
established fine reputation at the bar.
But when the values in Washington
real estate began to boom he lett his
practice to engage in speculation. He
made fortune in Spokane real estate,
and incidentally became a political
power in the land. In addition to being
elected mayor, he established himself
in such an influential position that
people laughingly referred to him as
"the boss"
Unlike most bosses, however, he exer-
cised his influence on behalf of pure
politics, and became leading municipal
reformer. He was known far and wide
as Bunch Grass Bettis." Serving two
terms in tho Spokane council. when that
body was VIGOROUSLY corrupt, he fought
all sorts of jobs, and was looked upon as
man who could command almost any
position in the gift OF the people.
But domestic scandal caused him to
lose much OF his power. He had ten
dency to live high and skim along the
edge of propriety on the night side of
life. His wife was not a woman to be
neglected with impunity. IL was not
her disposition to eat her heart in ST.
lence. She openly charged him with
being frequenter of certain variety
entertainment, and there lavishing
his money on the ireakish women of the
stage.
Americas Defenders, weekly here.
tofore published in New York in the
interests of the national department of
Soldiers and Sailors of the w. G. &. W.,
is to be published in this city hence