The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-10
FRENCH COLONY EXCITED
Stormy Scene at the Mutual
Benevolent Society
Meeting.
r. Chartrey Explains Why He Did
Not Resent Being Called
Liar.

The trouble that originated in the meet
ing of the French Mutual Benevolent So
ciety in Union-square Hall last Sunday,
during which J. A. Bergerot questioned
r. Chartrey's veracity, has found its way
into the French newspaper of this City,
and it has been the talk of the French col
onv since the occurrence. Mr.. Chartrey is
vice president OF the Joshua Hendy Foun-
dry and Mr.. Bergerot, the father of Attor-
ney P A. Bergerot, is an old-time resident
of this City.
At the time the offensive word was used
Mr.. Chartrey did not resent it, but on the
following day he wrote letter to the
Franco Californian, of which the following
is translation:
Last Sunday at the meeting of the French
Mutual Benevolent Society, as was expressing
my opinion in regard to the distribution be-
| fore an election Of sample ballots-When, with
out any reason for the act, as l was not ad-
| dressing myself TO any one in particular and
| only citing facts and saying that there had
| been certain list that had seven names on IT,
but that the name of our president was not
! upon it. and that l had seen several such
| lists-a member arose, just as If had thrown
bomb, and pretended that was not speaking
! the truth
Why the earnestness of the member? Did he
| feel guilty?
1 viii say simply that it is not enough to
call person a liar; the accusation must be
backed by proof. The means are simple; the
lists allude to are still in the office of the So
| ciety, sealed in the election urn.
I With the permission OF the president we
| could count them and see who is right.
| II did not reply during the meeting it was
! that wished to maintain the dignity OF the
assemblage. 1t is, however, to be regretted
! that a member cannot speak to q question
| without the risk of being insulted.
r. CHARTREY.
In answer to the above the following
appeared yesterday:
note @ communication signed R. Chartrey
| which appeared this morning in LIE Franco
and which is directed against me. Being very
busy to-day, will send my reply later.
| J. A. BERGERoT.
Mr.. Bergerot said yesterday that he in.
tended to reply to Mr.. Chartrey's letter
and would show that the position he as.
sumed in the meeting in the heat of pas
sion, while not dignifed, was correct.
81 expected" said he, "that the presi-
dent would ask me to leave the room fol
the language 1 had used, and if he had
done so | would have retired, but l never
would have retracted the words / uttered
Mr.. Chartrey in his letter does not sci
forth what he did say. He said that he
had seen a hundred lists with seven
names on each, and the name of the presi-
dent was not on them; that these lists
were the work of coterie. Now.
am willing to bet $1,000, providing the
| election urn and lists have not been tam.
pered with since the election, that he can.
not find hundred such lists, and if he
covers my bet will turn the money over
to the society for its benefit, as / know that
| / would win"
Mr.. Bergerot intimated that the attack is
the outgrowth of personal feeling arising
out of the fact that Mr.. Chartrey was one oil
a committee of fifteen to superintend the
building of the hospital. The speaker said
that he had been instrumental in having
experts appointed to examine the founda-
| ton which Mr.. Chartrey and his COCOON