The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-08
NELSON'S DEFENSE.
He Continues His Cr0ss.Exam.
inatiOn of Judge Murphy.
A Multiplicity of Questions Asked, Which
Fail, However, to Elicit Anything
of Startling Nature.

Before Police Judge Joachimsen yester-
day afternoon at o'clock was resumed the
examination of William NJ. Nelson on a
charge of criminal libel preferred by Judge
d. J. Murphy. Attorney Darwin appeared
for the people, while Clarence Gray repre-
sented the defense.
When court opened Judge Murphy re-
sumed the witness-stand for further cross
examination and in answer to an inquiry ON
the part of defendant stated that he had
had no conversation whatever with Judge
,Joachimsen in regard to the case.
Ibid Sharon call at your house and engage
YOU to conduct a case for him?" He did"
Q.-What fee did you receive? A.-NOne
of your business
Defendant asked for Mr.. Gray's assist
ance, and the latter insisted that the witness
be required to answer the question, supple
menting his argument by reading from the
circular in which it was alleged that witness
had procured the Indictment Of innocent
men for com.
The Court ruled that the witness need not
answer the question, and when pressed Tor
reasons refused to give any.
o. will now ask what money Sharon
placed in your hands for any purpose? A
Not one cent, beyond my fee.
Q-HOW much was that? A-That de-
cline TO say. but l will state that l never
work without a fee. What l did get was in
good, American coin.
Q.-Yon we're employed to prosecute Sarah
Althea Hill and me- y ere you not? Al
was.
Q.-Wbat were you doing around the
Grand Jury room at that time? A.-Watch-
ing you.
nf ? a fOrxo 4 IT marked IN far
a. | know.
Odd you consult any witnesses as to
what they could testify about me? Al
did.
Q-Who? Al decline to answer
Witness was then asked if he had given to
the District Attorney list of names OF wit
neSSeS, but in reply testified that If such list
had been presented it came from General
Barnes.
j. d. Sullivan was then called to identity
the list but failed to answer to his name.
Defendant then asked if the witness had
heard while the Grand jury was in session
that document in his handwriting had
been captured. In reply witness stated that
lie had never heard OF it,
Odd you hear of the Grand Jury in
yestigatlng it? A.-No.
do you know one James f. Brown?
A.-Haye known him since he was boy.
Odd you know his father? Al did.
He kept a livery stable on Sansome street.
Q.-Was 1t your custom to go to that
stable to sleep there? Al can't say that
it was.
Q.-Do you know that this J. E. Brown
VS. in tue habit Of removing the horses
from the stalls to prevent their kicking ont
your brains while YOU were there? A
| can't say that he did.
Q.-Nas Brown tried afterwaId in your
court? Ale was.
Q.-Do you remember the charge made
against Kim? Al do.
Q.-Haye you any knowledge Of a similar
charge ever having been made in this State?
Al have not.
The defendant then sought TO introduce in
evidence a copy Of document read in court
at the time sentence was passed, in which
he sought TO Willy the Judge. but the court,
in response to an objection on the part Of
Attorney Darwin, refused to admit It. a
long wrangle ensued, during the course of
which Nelson endeavOTed TO introduce 1t
indirectly, aud was warned by the court to
obey its instructions.
Neils Il then asked: ibid you know that
Brown was a man OF some means?'
Il knew his father left him some prop
erty.'
Odd you tel the Deputy Sheriff to
take him acr, IS the bay at once, as there
was nothing more to he made out of him?
A-No, sir.
Witness was then asked in regard to two
cases, which 1t was said had come up for
trial during his term as District Attorney,
but he could remember nothing of them.
He testified, however, that if he were shown
the indictments he might be able 10 recall
the circumstances. As the documents in
question could not be found an adjournment
was taken until o'clock on Tuesday after
neon next,