The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-06

| trict Attorney Bert Schlesinger and
have been informed by them that the
offense committed by Bruno is indict-
| able. The prosecution will be conduct
| ed under the sections of the code pro-
| hibiting the use of the United States
mails for illegal purposes. Bruno sent
several letters, copies of which / have
| in my possession and the originals of
which / can easily procure. written for
| the purpose of concentrating the
swindle he perpetrated.
Mr.. Schlesinger informed me that 1t
| is not necessary that a letter to be used
as a basis for such prosecution need
contain discriminating statements, but
| If such letter could, in any way, be
] connected with such a swindle the Of
| Tense of writing 1t and sending it
| through the mails is indictable
Owing to this opinion of Mr..
Schlesinger we have determined to
proceed, and have placed in the hands
OF the authorities statements of the
facts, which we can prove. This state
ment will be reviewed by the Federal
Grand Jury this week, and in the
event an Indictment is found, and it is
safe to say that one will be, Mr.. Bruno
will be extradited from Wash
ington and placed on trial here for his
offense. The statement 1 have compiled
Is, in part, as follows
On August 20, 1896. Edward Byrne of
Salt Lake City, Utah, was the owner of
certain real property, situated in the State
of Durango, in the Republic of Mexico,
comprising some SO 900 acres, and known
as the Ranches La Ciudad, Ell Jarro and
El Borbollon. The value of said property
was about 200 in United States gold
coin.
Being DESTROYS of disposing of this prop
erty, said Edward Byrne appointed d. z.
to sell the same, and on the 10Th day of
August, 1895, said Krigbaum, acting as
such agent, inserted in a daily newspaper
published in the City and County of San
Francisco the following advertisement:
To Exchange-One of the best stock ranches
in the Republic of Mexico, consisting of $1,000
acres. we'll watered and timbered; better
climate in the world; free of membranes and
perfect title; value $4,000. IT. box 1857, Ex-
aminer office.
In answer to this advertisement Clar-
enee, NJ. Bruno sent letter, addressed
IT to box 1857, Examiner office, in
which letter he requested the person in
sorting said advertisement in said paper
to let him know where they. could meet
erty, and giving his address as 1906 Mar
ket street Said Krigbaum thereupon
sent a messenger to the above address.
requesting, Mr.: Bruno to meet him at
room g., Chronicle building. and there dis
euss the matter with him.
On the following day Bruno called at
room 81, Chronicle building, where he met
Tarpey and Krigbaum. He thereupon
proposed to trade some other property
he claimed to own in Santa Rosa for
Byrnes Mexican property. He also
stated that he owned some stock in the
Moscow National Bank, of Moscow, Ida
no, which stock he claimed was worth
$40 per share, and was paying dividends
OF 6 per cent per annum; he claimed that
the stock mentioned was gilt-edged stock,
and that the bank was in a solvent and
prosperous condition. and stated that if
Byrne was not willing to trade his Mexi-
can property for the land in Santa Rosa,
he Brunel was willing to trade some Of
his stock for said property.
Bruno also stated that he was the
cashier and a director of said bank, and
that he would not think of trading any
OF his stock We're it not for the fact
Moscow. He showed Krigbaum and Tar
pey a printed statement Of the condition
of said bank. issued by the bank in July,
f wbc6 bad en ne f bv said Vas the
Krigbaum told him that they would
consider his proposition and look up the
Santa Rosa Tgn,, property Several r. days
icle building, while Krigbaum was not
there and left the following note:
Mr. Krigbaum: Have you looked up. my
ha 1906 Market street yet i0r
Within a week after their first meeting
Bruno again met Krigbaum by appoint
ment at room 81, Chronicle building, Tar
pey also being present for a part of the
time. Krigbaum told Bruno that they did
not desire to trade for the Santa Rosa
property, but that If the bank stock was
as Bruno had represented they were will
ing to trade for that; that the Mexican
property was worth $4,000, at least, and
that they would take $50 900 worth of
good bank stock for 1t. Bruno thereupon
repeated the representations he had for
merly made as to the quality of the stock
and the condition of the bank, claimed
that he owned a couple of hundred shares,
and said that he was willing to give 40
shares for the Mexican property. Krig-
baum told him that they would not take
any less than 200 shares for the prop
erty, but Bruno said that the most he
would give was 145s shares, and he left
before any conclusion was reached.
Tarpey and Krigbaum thereafter decid-
baum sent the latter letter, stating that
they had concluded not to accept the
stock. Nothing further was done until
baum wrote a letter to Bruno at Santa
Rosa, asking him if he still had his bank
stock, and stating that If he had. Krig-
would like to discuss with him when he
Brune) returned to San Francisco.
Bruno then came down to the city and
had a conversation with Krigbaum, in
which he said that the value Of the stock
was much increased since their last in
terview, and that he would not consider
letter of November 80 but that he would
give $50 shares of said stock for Byrnes
Mexican property. Krigbaum told him he
would consider this proposition, and
Upon Brune's return to the city, on De-
cenber 8, the proposition to trade the
Mexican property for $50 shares of the
capital stock of the Moscow National
Bank was agreed to by Krigbaum, Bruno
agreeing to pay the expenses of the trans
fer of the property, not to exceed the
sum of $3.50. Bruno at this meeting stated
that the bank owned the property on
which it stood which property he said
was worth s50000 The parties agreed to
meet on Saturday morning, December II.
1896. to complete the transaction, and
Bruno requested that the papers be got
ten ready by that time.
Bruno called at room CT, Chronicle build
ing, at o'clock, according to agreement,
but as the deed to the property was not
ready it was decided to postpone the
transfer until the following Monday
Bruno requested that a power of attorney
be secured from the Mexican Consul,
which he (Brune) would send to some
person in Mexico for the purpose of per-
fecting of record his title to said property.
He also requested that an abstract of title
be prepared, and said that the title papers
and deed to the property as well
as the certificate of stock might remain
in some bank in San Francisco. until the
abstract should arrive, when the deal
could be completed.
Krigbaum and Tarpey then ordered a
power Of attorney to be prepared by the
Mexican Consul, and Tarpey wrote to J.