Imperial Valley press., 1930-04-22
VARIOUS PHASES
OF JULIAN MESS
STRUGGLE ALONG
Grand Jury Continues To
Quiz Witnesses In Gi-
gantic Scandal

LOS ANGELES, April 22.-(U.P)
information supporting sensation
al charges that other promotions
were involved in deals similar to
those which caused the Julian Pc
troleum Corporation collapse was
obtained in San Francisco by Dep
uty District Attorney Fred Shelley,
it was learned on his return from
the northern city today.
Shelley refused to elaborate on a
statement that he "confirmed in
formation previously obtained' but
said that he probably would pre-
sent the result Of. his investigations
to the grand jury late today.
Shelley was known to have been
working on accusations that an
other oil company and mining
| company were involved in bribery
ring such as the one that assertediy
complicated the Julian corporation.
While Shelley was preparing the
information for his appearance he
fore the grand jury, .ncerest in the
various Julian cases still was di-
rected at Seattle where Jacob B>r-
man, former Julian executive, sur
rendered to federal authorities at
Mcneil s Island to begin his term
of seven years on a mail fraud con-
viction.
/ His surrender prevented tempor-
arilv his return here by state auth
critics and bail bondsmen who at
tempted to intercept him and bring
him to Los Angeles for trial on a
half dozen charges arising from the
Julian Petroleum collapse.
Meanwhile the grand jury con
tinued its probe into new phases of
the Julian debacle.
/ Banker Testifies
The first witness called was
William Lacey, banker and former
president of the chamber of com
merce. Jurors explained that he
was not involved in the Julian ease
but that he had come into posses
sion of certain documents which the
jury believed might be valuable in
the prosecution of numerous brok'
ers, accused of having benefited
from the over-issue of stock which
caused the Julian collapse.
, At the district attorneys office
Ben Getzoff, admitted "payoft
man" in certain Julian bribery
eases, was questioned throughout
the morning.
i. Getzoff once was convicted will
Asa Keyes, former district attor
ney, and Ed Rosenberg, broker, OF
having conspired to give bribes tc
bring acquittal of Rosenberg and
other defendants in the 1928 Julian
conspiracy trial.
He was granted probation wher
{! he agreed to turn states evidence
and aided in gaining the convic
tion of Harold Davis, chief deputy
! under Keyes, on similar bribery
charge.
One Case Continued
The district attorneys office ad
mitted that it was attempting tc
; discover if Getzoff could aid in the
prosecution of the brokers Governor
c. C. Young recently asked District
Attorney Buron Fits to indict.
/ During the day the trial of Nor.
ris Lavine, newspaper reporter, and
Miss Leontine Johnson, former see
rotary to s. C. Lewis, one time pres,
ident of Julian, was continued until
| April 90.
They were arrested when Lavine
was found with $75,oO0 in marked
money, said to have been the first
payment In an extortion plot which
they planned.
| According to the Indictment, La,
4 vina and Miss Johnson threatened
an expose of certain Julian deals
unless the money was paid to them:
| The postponement was granted
when Miss johnson attorney ex-
planned that she was in attendance
at another trial.