The San Francisco call., 1906-11-21
Fears Exposure in
the BelVedere
Scandal

With heavy swing of the AK Fran
els j. Heney split the case of the
noon for the benefit of the Grand Jury.
The witnesses called to testify In re-
gard to the music hall were astound-
ed at the intimate knowledge of the
inner affairs of the concern displayed
by the prosecutor. The minutest de-
tails growing out of various CONVEX
sations among the stockholders were
cited to refresh their memories.
All of the witnesses, when questioned
as to the mysterious rs per cent Of the
stock, which it is asserted went to
Ruef, claimed that If any such pay
ment WAS made 1T was done by Eddie
Graney. This attempt to place the
entire responsibility upon the should
ers of Graney has warmed his wrath
to white heat. Graney was ON the
stand for only a minute yesterday aft
ernoon. He Will be the first witness
called today, and the most important
revelations of the entire session are
promised.
1t will be shown that the Belvedere
was run in violation of the city ordi-
nances designed to safeguard public
morality, and that in order to conduct
such a resort 1t was necessary for the
management to pay Ruef. Payment,
1t is claimed, was made in the shape
company. Whether the charge in this
case will be bribery or eNtortion will
be determined by the testimony yet to
be submitted. 1t will be claimed that
Graney, in the presence of several wit
nesses, asked Herbert Choynski, for
merly attorney for the Belvedere, for
an extra 25 per cent of the stock In
order to Elk Ruef."
Graney lis in a most perilous posi-
ton. Should be allow the testimony
already given to go unrefuted he will
face an indictment for bribery Should
he deny that he had dealings with Ruef
or with MYRTLE Cert, Ruef's repre-
sentative among the Belvedere stock
holders, he will be threatened with an
indictment for perjury. On the other
hand, should he testify that the 25 per
cent of stock was extorted from him
he will place Ruef within the pale of
a new indictment and bring down upon
his own head the wrath of the boss.
Ruef has resorted to extreme meas
ures to keep Graney from testifying
against him The boss detailed Henry
Ach, his chief counsel, and detective
to hold close to Graney until the
hors eshoer enters the jury room again
today With Ach on one arm and a.
detective on the~other, Graney was
prisoner in his own saloon last night.
When a reporter appeared to speak to
Graney, Ach insisted upon being
party to the interview, and interrupted
Graney whenever he attempted to make
a statement Ruef evidently believes
that his fate rests with Graney. and
he is using tremendous pressure to
save himself.
All in all, Graney is in grave pre-
dicament. He is obviously nervous.
His first impulse was to tell everything.
even though it clear the path between
Ruef and the penitentiary, but he fears
the vengeance of the boss
TO CALL CERT AGAIN
Besides Graney, James Schwartz,
Captain T. D. e. Wilson, Frank J.
Burke, Harry Cohen and James Cof-
froth gave testimony in regard to the
affairs of the Belvedere. Before the
Grand Jury will be ready to return an
Indictment it will hear further testi-
mony from Graney and MYRTLE Cert.
and will summon Matthew OBrien, the
architect who designed the Belvedere,
and Martin Brady, who sold wine to
the music hall management. After
these witnesses have been heard 1t is
understood that indictments against
Ruef and Schmitz, and possibly
against others, for bribery or perjury
will follow.
James Schwartz was the first witness
examined yesterday. Schwartz was one
of the incorporators of the Belvedere.
He has moved to Los Angeles andsmade
the trip from the south specially to
appear before the Grand Jury.
Schwartz said that when the Belve-
dere was organized 75 per cent of the
stod< was taken. The remaining %
per cent of the stock was called pro
moter's stock" 1t is this stock which
it is claimed subsequently passed to
Graney and thence to Ruef. Schwartz
also stated that the Belvedere was
opened on July 2, 1904. He remained
with the concern but three months,
selling out to Coffroth.
Captain Wilson stated that he owned
20 per cent of the stock. He said that
he had received his dividends and knew
nothing of the mysterious 25 per cent
of the stock He added that he paid
small attention to the affairs of the
concern, trusting to Eddie Graney,
whom he designated the managing
director" Besides his 20 per cent in
terest he said that Coffroth held 27k
per cent of the stock. In regard to the
remaining 5215 per cent he professed
ignorance, stating that as far as he
knew it belonged to Graney. AS Gra-
ney has claimed ownership to only 27h
per cent of the stock the mysterious 25
per cent remains unaccounted for
Captain Wilson further testified that
after the fire insurance to the amount
of $13,700 was collected for the Belve-
dere Company. Wilson was asked to
relate the substance of conversations
held with MYRTLE Cert in regard to
this insurance money. He stated that
at the first meeting of the directors
of the Belvedere after the insurance
had been collected Cert appeared and
demanded 25 per cent of the money.
This was the first time, Captain Wilson
stated, that he had heard that Cert had
an interest in the music hall. Wilson
ridiculed Cerf's demand and as Cert
became insistent heated words were ex-
changed. Wilson testified that he did
not know how Cert came by the stock,
intimating that Graney alone could
explain this feature of the case.
BURKE Is SILENT
Attorney Frank J. Burke, who be-
came counsel for the Beivedere after
the fire, took the stand. He gave his
name and occupation, stating that he
had been employed by the Belvedere
Music Hall.
How much insurance did you collect
for the Belvedere?" Heney asked.
Il refuse to answer said Burke, ''on
the ground that 1t is confidential matter
] hQfv CLIENT