The San Francisco call., 1897-01-19
BOTH PARTIES APPEAR
CONFIDENT.
The Grand Jury Not Going to
Interfere in the Con-
tToVerSy.
STEPHEN ROBERTS PUTS ON
WARRANT.
He Scathes the Heirs and Reviews
Their Course in the Famous
Suit.

Both sides in the Fair delegation were
busy yesterday sharpening their weapons.
The Fair people claim that they are pre-
pared to impale ex-Notary ]. J. Cooney
this morning, when the case on the per-
jury charge made by young Falr' lawyers
is to come up.
The Craven people say there is no
danger of serious damage resulting to
the young notary, and thus both sides are
standing grimacing and winking wicKedly
at each other in this game Of millions.
The Fair people are sUill strenuously en-
deavoring to get the Grand Jury into the
fight. They stated yesterday morning
that that body would present batch of
indictments shortly. Then District At
torney Barnes said just to the contrary.
Stephen Roberts took hand in the con-
troversy, and offered to bet a new hat
against penny that the whole affair was
bugaboo built up by the Fair attorneys.
And SO the breezes blew.
The Fair people want Coo1ey's scalp
very badly, if all the efforts they are about
go for anything. They say they have a
printer who will swear that the paper in
the certificates on Craven pencil deeds was
not in existence in 1894.
They declare that they have the plates
and electrotypes, which will be intro
troduced as evidence to establish that the
engraving was not done until 1896, two
years after the date of the COoney indorse-
ments. Then there is the water mark of
the paper and whole batch Of similar
items that will follow in line.
Captain Lees is, of course, going to take
a hand in the affair, and so is the District
Attorney, and so are half dozen of the
big lawyers IN the City. The Craven in
terests will be defended by many able
lawyers, as Cooney is one of the principal
supports to the deeds.
Stephen Roberts donned his war paint
when he heard that the Fair attorneys
were endeavoring to have the Grand Jury
interested on the side of the estate
He hunted up the District Attor-
ney to learn it was decided that
the whole matter will be passed by, and
then he unburdened himself about the
tactics of his opponents in way that was
intended to make their ears tiDgle.
This constant reiteration of forg-
cry, fraud and perjury by the
Fair people," he began, sis simply to
prejudice the public mind. The pres
ent proceedings against Cooney are
taken, not with any hope of success, but
simply to blacken him in the eyes OF the
people. It's an old trick, and was tried in
the Sharon estate when one of the expert
witnesses was arrested on the eve of the
trial of the civil case.
"It's singular that all this nud-slinging
comes from the Fair children. For two
years they have been talking Of what they
are going to prove and thus far have
proved simply nothing. We have kept
quiet under all sorts of attacks. Nearly
two years ago the heirs and all their at
torneys vouched for the integrity of Mrs.
Craven and for the genuineness of
the will left in her keeping. Dur
ing her absence in the East for
the purpose OF bringing that will
out here the three children of their own
accord authorized Richard Y. Dev to pay
Mrs. Craven not exceeding $500 600 for her
claims against the estate. At that time
thev knew of the existence of the deeds
and had reason to know of the contract
marriage.
CATER that will was brought out here
they said in court that it was genuine,
but the moment Mrs. Craven asked them
to live up to their contract they gently in
sinuated fraud. They did, however, agree
10 pay her $500, 600 al that time. The offer
was refused and the deeds put on record.
1t has been said there was something sus-
picious about the way that was done.
We'll, knew that the trust will had
been stolen and [ didn't care to see
our deeds disappear from the Recorders
office in a similar way. We knew that
the three children were seeking to derive
the benefit of the will without paying
the cost of Mrs. Craven's action. 1
knew that they were in pencil
and that no excuse would answer at
a trial for their non-appearance. For
these reasons Mr.. Williams and myself
refused to leave them with the Recorder,
but various abstracters and myself had
examined them and knew that they
existed.
Immediately after this the attorneys for
the children began to cry forgery and con-
spiracy. A number of depositions
were taken, and the testimony of
Mrs. Craven, Miss Craven, Mrs. Co.'S
ack. Mrs Haskins, Mrs. Johnson,
Judge Sullivan, ]. J. Cooney, Lee
D. Craig and myself, which so strongly
showed the genuineness of these deeds
and the truth of all the other portions of
Mrs. CIaven's story. 1t was said that all
the witnesses were periured with the ex-
ception of Judge Sullivan.
Months ago Charles L. Fair swore in