The San Francisco call., 1913-07-21
THEATER SEIZED
AND RECAP TURED
Two Proprietors Battle With
Third Partner for Nov
ing Picture House
Police Called to Quell Riot
After Fight in Which
Clubs Are Used

Turner and Fred Dahnken, since
profits. amounting to $4,000. from a
chain Of six moving picture theaters
operated by the three men In this oity
San Jose. Stockton and Fresno, entered
the Oakland Photo theater and the
Lyric theater the local houses of the
circuit. with force of detectives from
the National Detective agency today.
and foreibly took possession of the two
playhouses. In which he owns third
interest
Eight hours later. a { o'clock this
evening Turner and Dahnken. accom-
panied by 30 of their employes. madeH
rush on the detectives and employees of
Kehrlein, who was guarding the Oak
land photo theater.
Before Kehrlein's men could recover
from the surprise of the attack they
had been elected from the thea ter and
the playhouse was again In the hands
OF Turner and Dahnken.
Clubs were freely used by the at
taclsing force. but no one WAS hurt
The crowds were dispersed by the
police.
At T45 o'clock Turner end Dahnken
led an attack on the Lyric theater In
Broadway near Twelfth street.
Kehrlein and his son. oliver. who had
learned of the reeaptuTe of the other
playhouse, were In charge themselves
and had warned their employees.
RIOT CALL SENT IN
AT the approach of Turner and
Dahnken with their cohorts riot call
was sent into the police. while the
doors of the thester were barred.
Kehriein's men prepared to resist the
attack.
The opposing forces met with q rush
In the lobby of the theater.
Blows were freely struck on beth
sides.
The opportune arrival OF Cerperals
John F'ahey and C. w. Brock with a
posse of patrolmen prevented any se-
rious injuries being Inflicted.
Five men, including Turner. were
arrested as a result of this melee.
Turner was arrested on battery
charge on the complaint Of Iehrlein,
who alleged the former had struck him
when he tried to prevent him getting
into the theater.
Eriek Turner, nephew of J. T. Tur-
ner was arrested on a battery charge
preferred by young kehrlein.
Robert Reel another of the Turner
and Dahnken forces. was charged with
disturbing the peace. Fred L. Lemarr
and Walter L. Kivert, both employees of
Kehrlein. were arrested for battery
and disturbing the peace respectively.
CROWD GIVES TROUBLE
The police had great difficulty In
dispensing the several thousand people
who blocked broadway during the
pro gress of the riot.
To prevent further trouble. Kehrlein
closed the theater shortly after 3
o'clock, placing a heavy guard over
the entrance to prevent its recapture
by his partners.
( Turner when he was seen this even
ing, denied absolutely that Kehrlein
had a third interest in the theater cir
cult.
why, 1t is absurd" he said. "Kehr-
Iein has one share of stock in the
proposition, given him because he is
secretary, He has absolutely no right
to g third of the profits. Furthermore,
he's putting nonunion men in place of
our employees"
Kehrlein hotly denied that he had
any nonunion operators In his employ
He also maintained that he owned one
third of the circuit of theaters.
Charles Book, captain of police,
maintained special detail of police
at both theaters during the rest of the
evening to prevent further trouble.
Harold Schroeder. an employe of one
OF the moving picture houses. was ar
rested last night for disturbing the
peace When he was searched at the
city prison a blackjack was found in
his pocket
When Dahnken arrived at noon to
open the Oakland Photo theater, 1852
Broadway he found Kehrlein's men on
the doors, Kehrleins operators at the
machines and Kehrlein's cashier in the
box office. Also the lock on the box
office had been changed and new one
Installed by the detectives under Kehr-
ieins orders
awaiting him at the Lyric playhouse
1925 Broadway.
Threats and appeals had no effect The
irate theater managers were politely
informed by Kehrlein's representatives
that he was going to manage the
theaters in the future. When they at
tempted to enter their Offices, their way
was barred by husky private detectives.
Securing their attorney, Philip
Walsh, the nonplused men rushed over
to Chief of Police Walter J. Petersen
and demanded that their partner, Kehr-
lein and his staff be at once thrown
out of the theaters. They insisted that
they had been robbed of the houses.
that it was piracy on land.
After listening to a recital of their
alleged wrongs, Petersen informed the
two men that the police could not in
terfere. that il was a matter for a civil
suit to decide Under the law, he re-
minded Turner and Dahnken that
Kehrlein, as equal partner. had as much
right to the theaters as they had.
Behind the sudden move of Kehrlein
this morning, Is story of two partners
attempting to freeze the third man out.
it is alleged, by denying him share in
the management of the business and
then. by padding salaries and expense
accounts to make it appear that the
venture was not profitable.