The record-union., 1895-03-14
FHE CAREER OF GUSTAV BRAMAN.
interesting Facts About the Notori-
GUS Adventurer.
He is Again Seeking Public Notoriety
His Recent Blackmai1ing
Scheme Here.

Readers of the RECoRD.UNIoN have
not forgotten the bold attempt made last
August in this city, by an adventurer
named Gustav Braman, to blackmai the
proprietress of shady resort known as
''The Palace'' out of several thousand
dollars by alleging that he had been
robbed of some $4,000 while occupying a
room there.
The fellow failed in his scheme and de-
parted for other scenes. He has now
turned up at Marshtield Or, where he is
said TO be contemplating a sensational
ocean voyage to San Francisco in
twelve-foot dug-out. Speaking of Bra
man, Detective Anthony Of San Fran
cisco gives the following sketch of the
fellows career on this coast:
About four years ago Braman made his
appearance i'll San Pedro, Los Angeles
County. He had hotel-keeper there ar
rested for robbing him Of Sl00, but at the
trial 1T was proved that it was nothing
but blackmailing scheme on Braman's
part to extort money from the hotel k Keeper
and the case was dismissed. He associ-
ated with several women in the place and
the citizens uprose in their anger, tarred
and feathered him and drove him out of
the town.
He was next heard of at Santa Cruz
where he and an lmbecile brother lived
In shanty. Braman obtained two in
surances on his brother's life, one for
$1,000 and the other for $1,000. Thirty
days later the shanty was burned to the
ground and the brother was cremated
The insurance companies resisted pay
ment and Braman was arrested and
charged with murder and arson. At the
first trial woman testified strongly
against him, but when he had new trial
her testimony was the other way and
Braman was discharged. He got the in
surance money, and it was afterward
learned that he had promised to give the
woman a large sum of money if she
would not testify against him on the Sec
ond trial.
Braman then came to San Francisco
and obtained employment as conductor
on the Union-street line. He made him
self very attentive to several ladies and
particularly to Mrs. Leroy, a wealthy
widow, on Vallejo street. Finally he
proposed marriage to her, but his suit
was rejected, as Mrs. Leroy believed all
he wanted was her money. He was not
discouraged, and again pressed his suit,
assuring her that he was only actuated
by love for herself, and in proof of that
he gave her valuable diamond ring.
About this time the woman in Santa
Cruz came to the city and told other con-
ductors on the Union-sIreet line that as
| Braman had failed to keep his promise
to pay her large sum of money she
would kill him.
The police had meantime been notified
Of his doings in San Pedro and Santa
Cruz. and he was quietly but firmly ad-
vlsed TO leave the State. He also had
| heard that the Santa Cruz woman was
here threatening to kill him, so he took
! the advice and went to Mexico.
| 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
with story that he had been robbed of
| IS, 900 in the house. He obtained q search
warrant and an officer accompanied him
to the dwelling. In one of the rooms he
| told the officer to search under the car
pet, aud three $50 gold pieces. which were
marked, were found. Braman explained
that he had been robbed once before, and
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 Braman was play =
ing another blackmailing scheme, and an
officer from Sacramento visited San
Francisco to obtain his record. Mrs
Leroy, the widow on Vallejo street. was
subpenaed as witness, and when Bra
man learned that he returned to San
Francisco before the trial of the AGRA
mento case, and had the widow arrested
for stealing the diamond pin which he
gave her. The case was heard in Judge
COnian's court and Mrs. Leroy was ac-
quilted. The Judge advised her to have
Braman arrested TOR perjury, and she
swore out a warrant, but it was not
served upon him, as it was thought it
might affect the Sacramento case.
The case in Sacramento was dismissed
and the Judge scored Braman for his at