The San Francisco call., 1909-04-27
WRITER CONFIDENT
OF BEING FREED
Brandenburg to Base Defense
on Letters Written by CIeye=
lands Executor

A declaration Of independence voiced
by year old James Sheppard Cabanne
III, who was smuggled into this city
from his home in St. Louis by Brough-
ton Brandenburg, the magazine writer
being held in the city prison for the
alleged forgery of an article by the
late Grover Cleveland; the recovery by
Brandenburg of letters sent by C. F.
Hastings TO Brandenburg and to the
New York Times, which paper pub
iished the cleveland letter.: letter
received here by Brandenburg from
his wife in New York, and rallying
Of some unknown friends Of the author
10 his aid. furnished the chief items
of interest in yesterdays record of
events concerning the imprisoned
writer.
Brandenburg was allowed to take the
letter from Hastings, an executor of
Cleveiand's estate, from his baggage
yesterday through the courtesy of Cap
tain of Detectives Anderson. The
author declares that these clear HIM
beyond the shadow of q doubt OF the
forgery charge against him, and show
that Hastings certified repeatedly to
the authenticity Of the article Bran
denburg sold to the Times. In the
letters Hastings assures that news
paper that the article really was con-
ceived by Cleveland and written in full
by the magazine writer
BASES DEFENSE ON LETTERS
1t is upon these letters more than
any other concerto bit Of evidence in
his possession that Brandenburg hopes
to successfully combat the extradition
proceedings soon to be started by Dis
trict Attorney Jerome of New York
BRA nd0nh onD n 4Ix-
nullify the efforts to get him without
the state by showing that the indfct-
ment secured against him in New York
was secured by a political plot The
author says the Bryan forces, which
were roughly handled in the Cleveland
article, conspired TO secure his down.
fall by securing false evidence against
him on a charge that he committed
felony in obtaining $500 for a fake"
article.
After Hastings had certified again
and again to the Cleveland articles"
Brandenburg declared yesterday, 'he
changed his statements at the last
moment. Then, upon the evidence of
couple of stenographers, who were mis-
taken in the testimony they gave the
indictment was returned against me-"
Brandenburgs two suit cases, which
have been held in the property clerks
Office. We're turned over TO the prisoner
Charles Taylor had searched them thor
oughly. The author was allowed to
take out clean linen, paper and what
ever manuscripts and letters he desired
When he returned to the prison he
found new cell, clean and roomy.
awaiting him, in which was installed
a desk and comfortable chair.
LEGAL FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
The exemplified copy of the indict-
ment returned against Brandenburg in
New York should arrive here next
Thursday, and when it puts in an ap-
pearance the writer's fight for freedom
will commence. Extradition proceedings
will begin then also, and the treasured
Hastings letters will make their entry
into court.
Brandenburg amplified yesterday the
statement made by him Sunday to the
effect that members of the democratic
national committee called upon him
with offers of money if he would con
fess to having forged the Cleveland let
ter.
r. c. Lewis, the confidential secre-
tary Of Norman e. Mack, came to me in
Dayton" Brandenburg said yesterday
and told me that he had straightened
things out for me in such a way that
would not be harmed, and would re-
ceive $1,000 in the bargain, If I would
letter. I told Lewis that / did not
write the letter, that Cleveland did. and
that, therefore, l would not make any
confession.
Lewis approached me with his at
torneys, William Young. George r
Young and Daniel Iddings, and repre-
sented himself as the emissary of Her
man Ridder, the New Yorw democrat
He made me two offers while in DAY.
ton, and sent two kilograms and two
letters regarding the affair to Nor
man E. Mack.
"A bellboy at the hotel in which
Lewis was stopping secured a copy
or one of the letters from the waste
basket in Lewis room, and through a
subterfuge we got copies of the teie-
grams Lewis had sent from the teIe-
graph Office
Brandenburg did not dwell upon the
hint given out by him Sunday that
Frank Hitchcock, republican leader
would aid him.
GETS LETTER FROM WIFE
The letter received by, Brandenbure
yesterday from his wife was first de-
livered at the Victoria hotel. at which
the author was stopping when arrested.
In it Mrs Brandenburg. writing from
her residence In West Ninth street.
New York. again expressed her sorrow
at her husbands predicament. and re-
peated that he should light for the