The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10
BEARDSLEY READY
FOR TROUBLE
Alleged Author of Keefe
Jury Bribe Story Secures
Attorney and Bondsmen
PRIEST IS ACCUSER

Anticipa ting the issuance of an in
dictment against MIN when the Marin
County Grand Jury meets tomorrow in
San Rafael, C. H. Beardsley of the
Hibernia Bank, who was alleged to
have been the person who passed $4,000
to p. II. Cochrane to be used for jury
bribing in the Keefe case several years
ago, has secured the services OF Attor-
noy Peter A. Breen and bondsmen.
The dilemma in which Beardsley
f1nds himself is the mysterious result of
testimony given recently before Father
Egan of the Catholic church in that
city, and grew out of the suit which
p. H. Cochrane County Assessor,
brought against Sheriff Taylor. The
latter in the war that followed between
the officials wrote a public letter to the
Cochranes in which he alleged that
Beardsley, while acting as administra-
tor of the Keefe estate, handed Pat"
Cochrane $4,000, which was used by At
torney Cochrane to FIX" the jury sit
ting in the criminal case against young
Keefe
Sheriff Taylor had received this in
formation indirectly from Father Egan,
who said that Beardsley had informed
him of the transaction at the time that
1t occurred. Father Egan so testified
before the Grand Jury a few days ago.
Beardsley stoutly denied ever having
made any such statement to the priest.
Processing the highest regard for
each other, the two witnesses, priest
and communicate, found themselves in
the embarrassing position of tacitly
giving each other the lie. Neither
would. concede point in his fatty con-
Trajectory statements. Father Egan
maintained that Beardsley had told
him of the transaction, and Beardsley
tod an y1riAc III 1-r
of the sort.
Attorney Peter A. Breen of this city
was approached yesterday for an ex-
planation of the peculiar situation, but
declined to talk. He said that his lips
were sealed and that he would say
nothing. 1T is grave misunder-
standing" he said, and 1 am persuaded
of the absolute sincerity of Father
Egan in the matter He believes that
my client told him of the passing of
bribe money to the Cochranes, which
accusation was a part of Sheriff Tay-
lor's numerous accusations against the
Cochrane brothers.
''Beardsley did not so tell Father
Egan. however. We can easily and
amply prove that. In case an indict-
ment issues out of this investigation
the misunderstanding will be explained.
Otherwise it will not. No ones repu-
forthcoming, and what appears to be
an irreconcilable difference between
the statements of two absolutely hon
est men will be readily reconciled.' y
Further than this Attorney Breen
would have nothing to say and regret
ted that he had been approached for an
interview.
Beardsley admits having had a con
versation with Father Egan just prior
to the trial of John Keefe. AS admin
istrator of the Keefe estate Beardsley
was vitality interested in the outcome
of the criminal charge against the
youth, who married pretty vaude-
vile actress and obtained his license
by falsely representing himself to be
of age, But Beardsley claims that the
conversation was with reference to the
Keefe estate in general, and it is prob
able that he mentioned to Father Egan
something of the cost of the litigation
then under way. He might have said
something about the large fee which
Attorney Cochrane was to receive. AT
any rate, the rumors of the bribery
commenced to circulate at once, and
Sheriff Taylor involved the story in his
| recent scathing letter, which in being
published gave the Cochranes chance
to see the writer.