The San Francisco call., 1913-07-21
THEATER SEIZED
AND R[CAPTUREO.
Two'Proprietors Battle With
Third Partner for Nov
ing Picture House

4 -
OAKLAND, July ea.--Emil Kshrlsin,
asserting, that his. partners, J. T,
Turner and Fred Dahnken. since
january Is had appropriated all the
profits. amounting to sso,ooo. from
chain OF six moving picture theaters
operated by the three men in this city.
Sam Jose Stockton and Fresno, entered
the Oakland Photo theater and the
Lyric theater. the local houses of the
the National Detective agency today.
and forcibly took possession Of the two
playhouses. in which he. owns third
interest
Eight hours later. at o'clock this
evening Turner aad Dahnken, accom-
panied by 20 of their employees. madea
rush on the detectives and employees OF
kehrleiu. who was guarding the Oak
land photo theater.. ~
Before Kehxlein.s men could recover
from the surprise of the attack they
had been elected from the theater and
the playhouse was again In the hands
of Turner and Dahnken.
Clubs were freely used by the at
tackir,g force.sbut no one was hurt
The crowds were dispersed. by the
police.
At 7:A5 o'clock rurner and Dahnken
led ATTACK on the Lyric stheater In
Broadway near Twelfth street.
Xehrlein and his som, oliver. who had
learned OF the recaprure of the other
playhouse, were in charge themselves
and had warned their employees.
RIOT CALL SENT IN
At the approach of Turner and
Dahnklen with their coirorts riot call
was sent into the police. while the
! doors csf the theater were barred.
Kehrlein's men prepared to resist the
attack.
The opposing forces nret with rush
in the lobby OF the heaaer.
Blows were freely struck on both
sides
The opportune arrival Of Corporals
John Fahey and c. W. Brock with
posse Of patrolmen prevented any Sc
rious injuries being inflicted.
Fiva men, including Turner, were
arrested as result of this melee.
Turner was arrested ON battery
| charge on the complaint of Kehrle1n,
who alleged the former had struck him
when he tried to prevent him getting
into the theater. s8E
Erick Turner nephew of j. T. Tur-
lmer, was arrested on a battery charge
preferred by young kehl1ein.
Robert Reel another OF the Turner
and Dahnken forces, was charged with
disturbing the peace. Fred l. Lemarr
and Walter L: <Kfvert both employees OF
X elr lein were arrested for battery
and disturbing the peace respectively.
CROWD GIVES TROUBLE
The police had great difficulty in
ldispersfng the several thousand people
who blocked Broadway during the
iprogress of the. riot.
To prevent, further trouble. Kehriein
closed the. theater shortly after .
O'clock, placing q heavy guard over
the entrance to prevent its recapture
by lnis partners.
Turner, when he was seen this even
| fng, denied absolutely that kehrlein
had third hi lllai interest In the thsster Cir
| cult. isF1@ AsAs@' @-'sFAs~ -
why, it is absnrd,Yj he said. '.Kehr-'
lein has one share of stock In the
proposition, given him because he H.
secretary. He has absolutely no right
to a third OF the profits. Furtliermore,
he's putting nonunion men in place of
our employees.
Eehrlein 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 Books captain Of police,
maintained a special detail OF police
at both theaterss 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. kehrlein's operators at the
machines and Kehrlein's cashier in the
box Office. Alao, the lock on the box
Office had been changed and a new one
installed by the detectives under Kehr-
lein's orders.
Turner found the same situation
awaiting him at the Lyric playhouse.
1875 Broadway.
Threats and appeals had no effect The
irate theater managers were politely
informed by Kehrleins 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 ]. Petersen
| and demanded that their partner, Kehr-
| lein and his star be at once thrown
out of the theaters. They insisted that
| they had been robbed Of the houses,
that 1t 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 it was a matter for civil
| suit to decide. Under the law, he re-
| minded Turner and Dahnken that
Kehrlein. as equal partner. had as much
right to the theatsrs as they had.
| Behind the sudden move of Kehrlein
this morning, Is story OF two partners
attempting TO freeze tho third man out
1t Is alleged, by denying him share In
the management of the business and
then. by padding salaries and expense
accounts to make 1t appear that tho
| venture was not prontable.