Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-14
The Idea of Going to Jail
was Repugnant.
And he accuses Mr.. HardeSty of
Persecution.
HIS Plea Yesterday for Reduction
of Bail.
District Attorney Kelly and Damron's
Proposed Trip to San Francisco
Taken under Amusement.

Lawyer Damron was brought before
Judge Cheney yesterday on motion to
reduce the present amount of his bonds,
which now figure up to $4,000. When
a vulgar malefactor is brought in court
of justice on criminal charge, there is
but little sympathy or interest manifest
ed for him, but when person of the
undoubted ability of Mr.. Damron is ar
raigned at the bar for that most subtle
of all crimes-forgery, it cannot fail to
attract the attention of the public, and
the public was the re as usual.
Mr.. Damron introduced number of
witnesses to show that he had remained
In hiding not for the purpose of running
away and thus despoiling his bondsmen,
but because he was afraid that one par
ticuiar member of the district attorneys
staff intended him no good, and would
cause his arrest.
If Damron's story can be credited, Mr..
Hardesty did not act only as a public
officer in the matter of his arrests and
re-arrests, but more as prosecutor.
He has been able to prove, at all events,
that the district attorney was aware of
his visit north, and that nothing was to
be done against him if he returned by
the following Tuesday. Mr.. F. P. Kelly,
the district attorney, while on the
stand stated that he had been seen by
Mr.. Carran, with respect to Damron's
visit to San Francisco. 1t was agreed
that Damron should return here the
next Monday, and Mr.. Kelly said that
one day, more or less, would make no
difference in the matter. So that if the
defendant did not return until Tuesday,
no motion for the forfeiture of his bonds
would be made by the people. At the
time of this arrangement, which was on
the Thursday preceding Damron's dis
appearance, there was but one charge Of
forgery against him. Mr.. Kelly admit
ted that he had not told Hardesty any,
thing about the arrangement, because
Mr.. Damron had requested him not to.
Damron, when placed upon the stand,
testified that Mr.. Hardesty had been
given to understand, by somebody, that
one of his bondsmen was no good. He.
therefore, caused the defendant to be
sent for by the police. At the station
he was told that he would be watched,
and that if one policeman could not do
it, twenty would be detailed for the busi-
ness. He then felt that someone in the
district attorneys Office was trying to
make his bondsmen 60 back on him and
give him up, so that he might be placed
i'll Jail. Mr.. Hardesty had told him
himself, that he would be arrested if he
left town.
This statement was corroborated by
the deputy district attorney, who moved
his head affirmatively,
Damron againinsisted that he did not
want to run away. His bail bond had
been declared forfeited against the dis
tinct promise of Mr.. Kelly. He had
hidden himself in the Reddick block
because he could not bear the strain that
Hardesty had put him under. The idea
of being in jail was repugnant to him
and he hoped to be able to fix matters so
that ample bail would be forthcoming
for him SO he kept in hiding. 1t had all
the time been his intention to surrender
himself the following Saturday to Sheriff
Aguierre.
After a little more testimony Judge
Cheney said he would take the matter
under advisement.