The San Francisco call., 1898-02-12
BELEW HELD
 FOR SHAVING
 HIS SISTER Denied Bail and Given Into the Sheriff's
 Custody. Trial of the POisOner Will Be Set for an Early He Has Regained Confidence and Composedly Faces
 the Court. QUEER RULING Orders the Prisoners Brother-in-Law to Confer With Counsel for
 the Defense.
He Has Regained Confidence and Conposedly Faces
 the Court.
JUDGES QUEER RULING
Orders the Prisoners Brother-in- Law to Confer With Counsel for
 the Defense.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

FAIRFIELD, Feb. 11.-Frank Be- lew, who confessed that he poisoned his brother and sister, was examined before Justice Maynard to-day and held for trial on the charge of murder. The specific charge against him was the murder of his sister, Susie B. Belew, who died few hours after par taking of food prepared with water into which he had thrown a rat-ex- terminating poison containing arsenic in large quantities. If the authorities fail to obtain a conviction on that charge, the Grand Jury will be asked to indict Belew for the murder of his brother.
 The excitement consequent upon the arrest and subsequent confession of Belew has nearly died out. and but little interest was taken in the exami- nation. It was expected that people from all parts of SolanO County would attend the preliminary hearing and the Superior Court room was engaged to accommodate them. When Justice Maynard took his seat on the bench at 10 o'clock the room was not half filled, and many of the spectators left before the proceedings were over.
 Reese Clark of Woodland and G. A. Lamont of Suisun appeared for BeleW, while the prosecution was conducted by District Attorney Devlin. Belew nodded carelessly to his acQuaintanceS when he was brought into the court room by Sheriff Rush and Under Sher- If Robinson. He appeared to have re- gained complete control of his nerves. It was predicted that he would break down when the witnesses commenced giving the testimony that will un- doubtedly bring him to the Scaffold. Belew remained perfectly composed, however, and to all appearances was the most disinterested person in the room He leaned back easily in chair at the side of his counsel and never for an instant did he betray any emotion. He listened to the witnesses with as much indifference as if they were telling something in which he did not have the least concern.
 B. F. Newby, a constable at Dixon, briefly testified to having had the wa ter in the tea kettle analysed, after the prisoner had suggested to him the advisability of having the kettle re- tained to be used as evidence in the event of the prisoner being found.
 Attorney Clark devoted his cross-ex- animation principally to questions rela- tive to the size of the kettle and the number of holes on the stove in the Belew kitchen. All of these were very amusing, for the spectators chuckled.
 Bruno Klein, who partook of the poi soned food and came near losing his life, told of how he became sick about ten minutes after eating the poisoned food Susie Belew, he said, was sick when he went to the house for break fast.
 District Attorney Devlin introduced In evidence the testimony from Belew at the Coroner'S inquest, and the proS- ecutiOn rested it's case.
 Attorney Lamont asked that recess of ten minutes be taken, in order that he might consult with his associate. When court reconvened Lamont moved for a dismissal of the case. He said that there was not sufficient testimony to warrant the court in holding Belew for trial He argued at length that there was no evidence to corroDorate the confession of BeleW, and said that the Supreme Court had held that the simple confession of a prisoner in cap ital crimes was not alone sufncient to uphold a verdict of conviction.
 Attorney Clark followed in the same strain and said:
 "Outside of the ultra-judicial confes- sion of Frank Belew there is not single guilty circumstance around him, and there never will be-"
 T think that there is sufficient evil dence to warrant me holding the prisoner" replied Justice Maynard, land the order of the court is that he he hold to answer a charge of murder | without bail"
 .'Is John W. Bird in the courtroom?" asked Attorney Lamont
 Bird is a brother-in-law of Belew | and to him the former first admitted | his guilt. Bird arose in his seat and | a few feet.
 '.We are surprised" said Lamont. | fn place Bird on the witness stand. We have learned, through the papers, that | he is in possession of important evil | dence and we wish to consult with | him. I would ask that he meet MT. | Clark and myself at my office after ad- journment of court.
 Attorney Clark seconded the request. | whereupon Bird declared that he would not go to the office.
 .I have nothing to do there and I'm not going I don't want to see you, MT. Clark" he said.
 Justice Maynard drowned and direct ed Bird to step forward. Tt is your duty to go to the office as requested said he, "and it Is the order of court that you do so.
 The order of Justice Maynard was a surprise, for he had no legal right to make it. Bird scowled, and when the Sheriff removed the prisoner, he left Inc courtroom with the other specta- tors. He obeyed the order to the extent of going to the office. but he would not consult with Belew's counsel.
 Belew will be arraigned as soon as he necessary information is filed against him by District Attorney Dew lin. and the case set for trial at an early date The authorities expect to nave a hard time in getting a jury as nearly every one in SOlano County has ! very fixed opinion as to the guilt of he defendant.
 
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