The San Francisco call., 1898-05-21
NEVILLS ON
 THE STAND The Millionaire Talks or Mrs. Williams.
CONSPIRACY AND MURDER.
AZHDALRIAN SAID TO BELONG
 TO A SECRET SOCIETY.
Startling Testimony of Plots ana Counterplots in the Fresno
 Extortion Case.

EXLOILlOA So1S'
 captain W. A. Nevills was the central figure in Judge Joachimsens court yee terday afternoon when he appear GU oi the witness stand to testify against My ron H Azhdaerian, Mrs. Elsie WlilaIhs anu Mrs Grace Loose, whom he charges "lon extortinR s20OO from him on February lo' last bv threats to expose him to his wife for having improper relations with MITE. Williams. The crowd that filled the court room expected to hear some 'saiacious disclosures, but nothing of the Kno oc- curred owing to a timely objection by the special counsel for the prosecuuon.
 The first witness called was Charles h. K Smith, agent for an improvement com pany at Jamestown. He had seVerat pus ness dealings with Azhdaerian, and in the early part of February last in conVer- sation with Azhdaerian he showed witness a check signed by Captain Nev1lls TOT s1oo or s3oO Azhdaerian told him that ne expected lot more money ana expecteo to be able to go to Europe. lie spohe us if he would soon own the whole or James town. A motion to strike out this eVl- denCe was overruled.
 Frederick Erickson, 8 railroad contrac- tor at San Luis Obispo, testified to having a conversation with Azhdaerlan last Sat urday night in the Orpheum Annex. Azhdaerian spoke about the case ana o saIo that Billy (meaning the son of the cap, tain) had him arrested for blackmall, ana he was sorry that Billy had gone against him. He added that if the two laoles would do as he said ne Knew that he would win out oil eyes were focused upon him as ne LOOK his seat upon the witness stand. lie dp- peared nervous, and answered the hrst two or three questions in an almost ln- audible voice. Then he was urged to speak louder and obeyed: He never once looked in the direction of the defendants He testified to having been SICK With pneumonia in the Palace Hotel on rep ruary 25 last. Azhdaerian called upon him about o'clock that morning and told him that the women were in the city, and If he did not give Elsie money she would sue him for betraysalo I s5ano bd IT, wouid noM fix the matter Witness asked him to go for Elsie, and in about half an hour she came She said that she wanted money and unless he gave her 1t she would ex- pose him to his wife. He told her to wait. and sent for Mrs. Warren New comb.
 bedroom and after propping him up in his bed with pillows he wrote out ana signed a check for $2000 He was trying to sign it for $200. Then they went away and soon afterward Elsie returned with a young man from the bank who asked him If he had signed the check. ana ne nodded his head and then marked It
 In cross-examination he said that he had known Mrs. Williams for four or f1Ve years. He became acquainted with L ,en nea for two years before she went to his vine yard in Fresno. She went there at her own request, and Mrs. Newcom1b ,lbar acc1rlf- fsas and remained until October, 1897. She had charge of the house and kept the books for which he paid her s2o per month ana mitted that he had controversy with her prior to February 9 and wrote her the following letter:
 JAMESTOWN, November 19. 1897.
 Dear Elsie: I am just in receipt of your short note informing me that upon reflection you had decided that any business that was shonld YOU talk to me if you did not mean It? Your sister, as I expected, is the cause of this that not one dollar will ever pay you through any attorney as blackman. l have already torney and if you wish to follow that you will find your mistake when it Is too late, for will fight any attempt Of that Kind d to tne eha fo me and want to do what Is right that is an- other matter I will be in San Err, Francisco +S on 2Sth. If nothing happens. at the Hughes Hotel over ali right Yours WILL.
 Witness said he wrote that letter be- cause Mrs. Williams was threatening to expose him to his wife for having illicit relations with her.
 'As a matter of fact, you did have H. licit relations with her?" asked Attorney Baker.
 The question was objected to, and a long argument followed, the Judge finally sustaining the objection.
 Witness admitted that Mrs. Williams had threatened to bring suit against him before February 25. After that date she had been in his rooms for two days and nights at time. He was frequent vis- itor at McNutt's Hospital to see her, and sent her flowers, but denied having her occasionally on his lap. He paid S217 for him. He had her in the hospital to get her away from the others, to obtain the truth from her about the conspiracy to get money out of him and murder him.
 Mrs. Warren Newcomb, who lives on Powell street, testified that she first knew Mrs. Williams when she was a stenog rapher at the Palace Hotel about five years ago. She afterward came to wit ness for lessons in French. In September, 1896, witness went with Mrs. Williams to Fresno on a visit to the La Favorita ranch. She spoke of numerous visits and of letters that had since passed between them. She could not remember the con- tents of the letters, as she always burned them, but on being prompted she remem- bered that in one in January last Mrs Williams had written that Azhdaerian was to erect several buildings in James, town, and wanted s10000, which would bring in fine income for them, meaning, as she supposed, AZhdaerian and Mrs Williams.
 While Mrs. Williams was in McNutt's S hospital she sent for witness, and told her that Azhdaerian belonged to a secret so- ciety of Armenians, ana one day Captaln Nevills would be assassnated. She would be glad to hear of the captains death, as she always disliked him very much. Mrs. Williams asked her to go to Fresno to her sister, Mrs. Loose, and get from her $500 and a package of letters She went and got $500, but Mrs. Loose refused to give her the letters, saying that Azhdae- rian had them, and it was very wrong for Elsie to ask for them. Elsie seemed to be going back on AZhdaerian, but after they had so plotted and schemed against Captain Nevills it was now too late to draw back. She referred to the obtain ing of the check for $2000 on February 25, Mrs. Williams having told her that she wanted the money to pay off mortgage. The check was written, Two thousand, ,' but Captain Neviils had omitted to put in one of the ciphers and Mrs. Williams wrote it in.
 The cross-examination of the witness was deferred till next Thursday after noon.
 Many New Lawyers.
 The legal fraternity of the State was