Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-01
DamrOn Tells of
Troubles.
Justice Lockwood Has His Ex-
animation Yesterday.
Who Was 1t That Gave the Honor
able Penman Aways
Damron Denies That He Wanted to Skip
and Says District Attorney Kelly
Knew He Was Going Away.

Damron, a fugitive from justice, was
called in Justice Savage's court at 10 |
O'Clock yesterday morning.
Mr.. Shinn was the only counsel pres
ent for the defense. He asked leave to
file motion for dismissal and written
demurrer to the complaint.
The court denied the motion to dis
miss and overruled the demurrer.
Mr.. Shinn then again pleaded for
continuance, on the ground that Messrs.
C. G. Stephens and R. A. Ling were un-
avoidably detained in another court.
Mr.. Hardesty opposed any further
continuance. He said that the opera
tions of the judicial department of this
city were stopped and obstructed by
this examination, and he wanted the
case to proceed at once. Here were as
witnesses awaiting the pleasure OF the
court City Justice Austin and Police
Court Clerk Chambers, and, as de-
fendant, City Justice Lockwood. During
their necessary absence from their
courts all judicial business to be deter
mined by the city magistrates had to
remain stagnant.
Justice Savage said he would grant
recess OF ten minutes to give the at
torneys for the defense time to reach
the courtroom.
At the expiration of the ten minutes
Deputy Sheriff Brady brought an affi-
davit from Stephens and Ling, reciting
that they were unavoidably unable of
being present. Lockwood then made an
affidavit reciting the facts of the absence
of his counsel and asking for continu-
ance, and Mr.. Shinn made another affi-
davit in the same drift.
Here the attorney for the people and
counsel for the defense had passage at
arms on the mispronunciation of the
latter's name. Mr.. Hardesty had in
variably called Mr.. Shinn throughout
the proceedings Mr.. Chin. When the
Chin business had gone on as long as
Mr.. Shinn could stand it, he blurted
out: "Mr. Hardesty, 1 want you to dis
tinctly understand that my name is no
more Chin than yours is Honesty"
However, the court sternly sat down
on the witticisms concealed in the inner
self Of counsel, and told them that he
would not allow any indulgence of per-
sOnalities between counsel.
Mr.. Hardesty, who was terribly in
earnest, read sections $50 and $50 of the
penal code, which make it mandatory
upon the examining magistrate to pro-
ceed with the case if the defendant, hav-
ing had due time to prepare for counsel,
appears without one. He stated that he
would take all chances against after
proceedings in this case if the court
would order the examination to 60 on at
once. Mr.. Shinn had been in the case
- H. l. 80
that he would plead the baby act now.
This was an examination, not trial;
and it should proceed. He reiterated
justice that these attempts at continu-
MED the motion.
Justice H. G. Austin was the first
witness for the prosecution. He read
the minutes of his court on the proceed
ings held on the 10Th, 18th and 21st of
July, in the case of the people against
Damron, Lockwood and Chadwick,
charged with forgery. This was the
charge in which Damron's bail bond was
declared forfeited. Justice Austin stated
that he had never seen J. M. Damron
since the 21st.
Joseph F. Chambers of the police
court, testified that he heard CONVEX
sation last Saturday between Lockwood,
H. G. Vignes and G.. Smith in small
room situated between the two city JUS
tices' courts in the old city hall. Lock
wood said: "Damron came to the door
of my room and asked me to let him in
and not to give him away" Mr.. Lock
wood said that he let him in and would
do so again for any such friend as Dam
ron had been to him.
Geo. p. Phibbs, deputy district attor-
ney was also present at conversation
in which Lockwood admitted harboring
Damron. The police court clerk was just
going out of the room. 1t was about
O'Clock in the morning. The persons in
the room were talking about Damron's
capture. Witness asked where he had
been captured. Justice Lockwood re-
piled that Jim had come to the door of
his room in the Redick block on
Tuesday night, or he might have said
Sunday night. He said: "For Gods
sake, let me in and don't give me away"
Lockwood said he felt sorry for him and
let him in, and that he would do it
again, as Damron had been a friend of
his, and he would do it for any friend
of his.
On cross-examination Mr.. Pbibbs said
that Lockwood might have said: 81
couldn't turn him away" But he did
not explain the reason why he did not
keep him out.
Mr.. Redick, proprietor of the Red
ick building being away, the defend
ant admitted that at the time of Dam
ron's re-arrest he was the tenant Of
rooms 10 and II in that block and was
paying the rent.
At l O'Clock James Damron was
brought into court in the custody of
Jailer Darcy. He testified that he was
charged with forgery on the 10th inst,
and arrested on warrant issued from
Justice Austin's court. He was admit
ted to bail. Has known Lockwood five
years. From Monday morning, the 2lst
of July, until O'Clock the 25th of the
same month, witness was concealed in
room IL of the Redick block, and re-
peatedly conversed with Lockwood. On
the Saturday afternoon, the witness
continued, after he had given bail in the
third charge of forgery against himself,
he went from the Hollenbeck, where he
roomed with his family, to his office.
He had been there while when Lock-
wood came in. Damron said to him
that he intended to 60 to San Francisco
that night, but he was afraid of being
arrested on the road. At 9:30 Mrs.
Damron brought him some change
of clothing in gripsack. Wit
,,oss woc considora h1v worriad