Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-31
THREATEN FIGHT
IN MAYR CASE
ROGERS AND KIEFER AT
SWORDS POINTS
ATTORNEY AND STAR WITNESS
NEAR CLASH
One Time Friend of Musician Now De-
clares Bitter Animosity-Sister
Says Defendant Was Good
Husband

do you know you have somthing
coming to you?"
81 don't know; if 1 have, I will see
you outside. Don't care to meet you
while you are on the stand"
Not at all as a matter for the record
in the Mayr divorce suit now proceed
ing in the superior court, the foregoing
words were exchanged between Charles
H. Kiefer, so far the principal witness
in behalf of Walter A. Mayr, the Chi
cago manufacturer, who is being sued
for divorce by Ann Eta Mayr, and
Mrs. Mayr's principal attorney, Earl
Rogers.
Kiefer had moment before con-
cluded the long and penetrating cross
examination to which he was sub
jected by Attorney Rogers and his
tense features and nervous movements
betrayed the anger which he felt as he
passed the attorney on the way to his
seat.
The two men, however, did not meet
each other outside the court room. A
half hour later, during the temporary
absence of the attorney, Kiefer left the
chamber and was not again seen dur
ing the session.
Kefer and Rogers Clash
The climax came while the witness
was explaining the similarity of writing
introduced in the evidence as that of
Joseph Calm, the Well-known mu-
stefan, and who, according to Mayr,
was unduly intimate with his wife,
and other writing contained in memo
randum book belonging TO Kiefer,
which the witness declared had been
written by Calm and turned over to
him for safe keeping.
do you not see any similarity be-
tween the writing in the memorandum
book and your own and evidence to
show that the first writing was imi-
tated?" demanded the attorney.
Il never tried to initiate any mans
handwriting in my life,' declared
Kiefer holly.
That Mrs. Mayr is, as claimed by
Kiefer, an adept in the science of physi-
ognomy and reached a correct conclu-
sion that her husband is a shreWd man
by the position of his thumbs when
clasping his hands, was exemplified
yesterday when it developed that Mayr
for q long time had secretly taken ad-
vantage of every opportunity to Sc
cure evidence to be used ms the con-
test of his wife's suit. Even at the
time when Calm, under the name of
Paul Menter, is alleged to have been
receiving mail at the Fixa saloon in
Omaha, a deposition by the proprietor
detective employed by Mayr was hot
on the musicians trail. Fixa in his
deposition said mail was handed to any
person calling for it, but whether any
of the letters said to have been written
by Mrs. Mayr were handed to the de-
tective has not, up to the present, been
shown.
Mrs. Mayr's insight into human ma
ture also, 1t would appear, served her
in her dealings with Kiefer, at one
time the bosom friend of Joseph Calm,
but who now acknowledges himself the
musicians bitter enemy In one letter
which Mrs. Mayr is said to have writ
ten to Calm, while the latter was in
Germany, Kiefer said the woman had
written:
7 cannot feel at liberty to say what
I think when 1 know that a third party
reads the letters, even when that party
is such good friend as Kiefer."
Kiefer also said he had repeatedly
written letters to Mrs. Mayr, but no
replies had been received.
Bitter Toward Calm
The witness renewed his declarations
Of animosity toward the CABINS, stat
ing at one time that, while he did not
have in mind the belief that his testi-
mony would bring about a divorce suit
by Mrs. Calm. he was intelligent
effect.
A letter written by Kiefer to Mrs.
Mayr, while the former was in Omaha
and in which he declared there was no
intention on his part to testify against
the woman in her suit was read yes
terday. This letter, according to the
witness, was written merely to mis-
lead Mrs. Mayr and while he was lab
oring under the belief that his refusal
to write it would result in a physical
encounter between himself and Phillip
Calm, a brother of the musician.
That Walter A. Mayr Is a lover of
home life and was a dutiful and con-
siderate husband was the statement
of Miss Marguerite Mayr, his sister,
the last witness of the day. Miss Mayr
Is a high school teacher in Fort Wayne,
Ind, and came to Los Angeles in June
for the purpose of aiding Ler brother
in his marital troubles.
"I had met Mrs. Mayr once or twice
before the marriage" said Miss Mayr,
land later frequently visited his home.
AS usual thing while l was there he
prepared breakfast and together We
washed the dishes. I have seen him
make the beds, prepare the baby's
bottle, sweep the floors and do other
work about the house"
"And what was Mrs. Mayr doing
while her husband was engaged in
these domestic acts?" asked Attorney
Britt.
ting breakfast, Mrs. Mayr was dress
ing, bathing and getting ready to eat
it, was the reply.
The trial will be resumed Monday at
10 o'clock.