The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-14
Bold Mariner Who Has Lived
by His Wits
FOOLED SEVERAL WOMEN
Acquired Money by the Death OF His
Brother
Broman, Who Is to Brave the Ocean
In q Small Boat

San Francisco, March 13.-Gustof Bro
man, the Russian Finn, who proposes to
make trip from Marshtield, Ore. to San
Francisco, in twelve-foot boat, Is well
known to the police authorities in many
California cities. Detective Anthony of
this city says that about two years ago
Brennan made his appearance in San
Pedro, Los Angeles county. He had a
hotel keeper there arrested for robbing
him of $780, but at the trial it was proven
that it was nothing but blackmailing
scheme on Broman's part to extort money
from the hotel keeper and the case was
dismissed. He associated with several
women in the place and the citizens UP.
rose in their anger, tarred and feathered
him and drove him out of the town. He
was next heard of in Santa Cruz, where
he and an imbecilc brother lived in a
shanty. Broman obtained two assurances
on his brothers. life, one for $4,000 and
the other for $4,000. Thirty days later
the shanty was burned to the ground and
the brother was cremated. The insur-
ance companies resisted payment and
Broman was arrested and charged with
murder and arson.
AT the first trial woman testified
strongly against him, but when he had a
new trial her testimony was the other
way and Broman was discharged He got
the insurance money and it was after
ward learned that he had promised to
give the woman large sum of money if
she would not testify against him, on
the second trial Broman then came to
San Francisco and proposed marriage to
Mrs. Leroy, wealthy Vallejo.street
mond ring. The police here mad mean.
time been notified of his doings in San
Pedro and Santa Cruz and he was quietly
but firmly advised to leave the state He
also had heard that the Santa Cruz
woman was here threatening to kill him,
because he had not paid her the prom
advice and went to Mexico.
Broman remained in Mexico for year
and returned to the state. He was next
heard of in Sacramento. He had been
stopping in the house of woman named
Brown, and went to the chief of police
$4,000 in the house. He obtained a search
warrant and an officer accompanied him
to the dwelling. In one of the rooms he
told the officer to search under the carpet.
and there $50 gold pieces which were
marked were found. Broman explained
since then he always took the precaution
of marking his coin. He then told the
officer to look behind a mirror and dia-
mOnd ring was found.
1t was suspected that Broman was play
ing another Matchmaking scheme, and
an officer came from Sacramento to OBJ
tam his record. Mrs. Leroy, the widow
of Vallejo street. was subpenaed as a
witness and when Broman learned that
she came here before the trial of the Sac
ramento case had the widow arrested for
stealing the diamond ring which he gave
her. She was acquitted. The judge adj
vised her to have Brennan arrested for
perjury and she swore out warrant, but
it was not served upon him.
The case in Sacramento was dismissed
and the Judge scored Broman for his at,
tempt to blackmail the woman Brown.
He left Sacramento and now he comes to
the front at Marshfield. Oregon, with his
foolhardy scheme to make a long voyage
n 12-foot boat
MY opinion is. said Detective An
thon. that Broman has well-laid
scheme in making this trip, and If he
should start on it the boat will be found
bottom up on some beach. Broman will
probably have insured his life for big
sum and after the boat is found confed-
crate will apply for the insurance money
and he and Broman will share it. That
is my. belief from my knowledge of the