The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-23
HUNTING THE SACK.
Clunie and Murphy Still on a
Wild Goose Chase.
Ariel Lathrop Tells What He Knows About
Poiitics-D. NJ. Burns Positively Re-
fuses to Be Sworn.

In the election contest case instituted by
P. }. Murphy against State Senator-elect
j. II. Mahoney the taking Of testimony was
begun yesterday before Court Commits
sioner Hogue. Reuben H. Lloyd and NJ S.
Dorm appeared for the defendant, while
Andrew j. Clunie represented Mr.. Muir
phys interests.
A number of witnesses, among whom
were Ariel Lathrop. d. NJ. Burns, Phil
Crimmins, l. c. Stump, Martin Kelly and
W. w. Stow. had been notified to appear,
but when the hour named in the summons
arrived Mr.. Lathrop was the only witness
present
Mr.. Lathrop was called to the stand, and.
on being questioned. stated that he was
Senator Stanford's brother-in-law and finan-
cial agent, having served in the latter
capacity for period of about ten years,
and during which time he had never had
any connection whatever with W. w. Stow.
He could say that he knew nothing of that
gentieman's business. and had not seen
him enter at Senator Stanford's house or
Office prior to the last election.
ONLY BUSINESS MANAGER.
Continuing the witness said in substance:
" | am unable to say whethero or not Senator
Stanford has any other financial agent or
manager"
Where does Senator Stanford do his
banking?'
AT the California Bank. Ny business is
done through the Nevada Bank, where l
opened an account some time ago."
=" Did the approaching election cause you
to open this account?"
NO sir. l had some $4,000 or $4,000 on
deposit at the Office of the Southern Pacific
Railroad, and when the recent change in
management was effected l transferred it to
the Nevada Bank. 1t was in no way
political fund l was given permission to
overdraw to the amount of 600 in view
OF the fact that the bills for the Stanford
University were paid through me-"
A STRANGER TO STOW.
AS to Mr.. Stow, hardly know him, and
at the time this money was deposited by
me in the Nevada Bank there were no d.
rections given me to honor any drafts
drawn on him. In fact, | only know from
hearSay that Mr.. Stow has had some deal
ings with the railroad Office.
- / met Mr.. Mahoney only a short time
ago, and met him three times in all. / don't
know that Mr. Stanford paid out any money
to any person for the purpose of securing
the election of members of the Assembly.
Senator Stanford has his own bank account
in Washington and New York. | don't
know that MIR. Stow was employed by Sena-
tor Stanford prior to the election for the
purpose of securing his reelection as Sena-
tor"
NEVER TALKED POLITICS.
In reply to further questions as to the
supposed relations between Senator Stan
ford and J. Ii. Mahoney the witness testi-
fed that he had never seen the two gentle
men in consultation, and knew of no agree
ment by which any candidate ON the Repub-
ican legislative ticket was bound to vote for
Senator Stanf0rd'S reelection. This he
could not know il true, rs he was not
politician, and had never discussed that
question with Senator Stanford in his
life.
is S. T. Gage an agent of Senator Stan
ford?'
Not to my knowledge. only know him
as coal agent for the railroad company"
Witness gave it as hia opinion that Menlo
Park was Senator Stanford's residence. He
saw him very seldom during his last visit
and never talked politics with him.
Wouldn't 1t seem strange TO you if Sen
ator Stanford registered from this city be-
fore election? This isn't his place of resi-
dence, is it?,".
"Oh. he his residence here, at Menlo
and at Sacramento"
BURNS REFUSES TO TALK.
Mr. LathrOp was then excused and d. NJ.
Burns, who had just entered the room. was
called upon for his testimony. He refused
to be sworn, and Clunie asked that he be
committed 10 Jail for contempt of court.
This the Commissioners ordered done. but
it was explained that the proceedings were
only technical, and that all parties would be
on hand when the matter was brought up on
habeas corpus in the Superior Court TO day.
No further action was taken, and the mat
ter accordingly went over till to-day.