Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-24
Lockwood Tells of His Har-
boring DamrOn
In the Room Of Mrs. Foster,
His NeighbOr.
C. H. G. Vignes Talks FOrcibly to
Mr.. Hardesty,
And Charges that He Tried to Bulldoze
Him into Swearing Out a Complaint
Against the Justice.

probably the last, as arguments Will be-
gin in the forenoon and the case is likely
to 60 the jury late in the afternoon.
The first witness called by the defense
yesterday morning was Deputy Consta-
BILE Vignes, of the city Justices court. He
was witness for the defense, but his
testimony amounted to very little until
the district attorney took him in hand.
Then it became quite lively. Mr.. Har-
destv asked Vignes why he had refused
to swear out a complaint against Lock-
wood, after he had heard the statements
made by the justice of the peace in re-
gard to his connection with the hiding
of DamrOn.
Mr.. Vignes stated that he had posi-
lively refused to do Hardesty's bidding
because the latter had threatened him
that unless he did as suggested by the
deputy district attorney, he would en-
compass his discharge as deputy under
Constable Smith. At this answer Mr..
Hardesty waxed very excited and thund-
cred the following query at the witness,
who did not become discomposed in the
least: ''Don't you know, sir, that l
didn't say anything of the kind, but
that l told you that if you did not swear
to that complaint you ought to be
ashamed of yourself and resign at
once?"
The witness and the prosecuting Of
fcer's memories were evidently much in
need of refreshment as they could not
agree upon the words that had been
used. Vignes also accused Mr.. Hardesty
of having vainly attempted to get Joe
Chambers, of the police court, Deputy
Constable Charley Smith, and court
bailiff to swear to complaint charging
Lockwood with having harbored and
protected Damron, none of them would
do it,
The witness caused considerable
laughter among the large number of
auditors in the court room, who were in
very good humor at the remarks that
were passing between Vignes and
Hardesty, by saying that he had induced
Mrs. Perret, relative of his, to 60 on
Damron's bond, because he thought that
the district attorneys Office was hound
ing him and he wanted to help him
keep out of jail. Witness believed he
had paid the consequences of his inter-
ference. After Lawyer Horton had
testified for the prosecution to few
facts that were not very important, a
witness was called to the stand by Mr..
Shinn, whose testimony was expected to
be very lively. The audience was very
much disappointed, however, because
nothing was brought out of a sensational
nature.
Hugh Branscomb testified that he
learned the whereabouts of Damron from
the fugitives wife. He met him in the
Redick block. and so far as his recollec-
ton went, in room II. He was there
only twice. He saw Damron between s
and O'Clock on Monday morning. The
witness was not cross examined and the
court ordered recess till 80.
In the afternoon, when court con-
vened, Damron, against whom an at
tachment had been issued, was reported
in Santa Monica. The court assented to
having him recalled today.
The defendant, Lockwood, now took
the stand. He said that he is lawyer
bv profession, and at present justice OF
this city for nearly four years, and be-
fore coming here had lived nearly all his
life in Ottawa, Ill. He said he has a
wife and four children, now on visit
in the east. He was we'll acquainted
with Damron, who had made the motion
for defendants admission to the SUI
preme court. For time both had had
an office together, and had been very
intimate and friendly. Damron now is
defendants attorney in damage suit
arising out of one of his official acts. On
the 18th of July witness met Damron,
who asked him if he would endorse a
note for him. Damron said that he was
considerably indebted to Chadwick, and
did not want it to appear as being his
own note. He asked him to sign above
him. as maker. Witness promised
to do so, and when Damon
the next day came into court while wit
ness was on the bench and presented
him paper to sign, he thought it was
the note spoken OF. Next morning he re-
ceived notice from the Southern Cali
fornia bank that they held note sign
ed bv E. T. Wright and himself. In
.uuired at the bank. A little afterwards
Hardesty saw the witness and urged him
to swear to complaint charging Chad
wick with forgery. Lockwood refused
and the deputy district attorney threat
ened to cause witness own arrest to1
forgery. He then went back to the
bank and examined the signature on
the note and felt confident that it was
forgery, but after considerable refiec.
ton he thought it probable that it was,
after all, MS own WTlIlIlS,dHu Iiic HoIO " os
the one Damron had given him to sign
Then he went on hunt for his friend
who told him that Wright knew al
about the transaction and was not going
to cause any bother. Damron urged
Lockwood to 60 to the district attorneys
office to see Wright. This gentleman
on inquiry, admitted his willingness te
drop the matter, and witness asked +. Z
Kelly not to go on with the prosecution
of the case. The district attorney refused
Witness said that he was then taker
to the police office, arraigned before JUS
tice Austin, and discharged after having
secured separate examination. Dam
ron was arrested on two charges before
the next day and witness could not un
derstand what it all meant. Mr.. Lock
wood now went into the details of his in
terview on the Saturday evening or
which Damron disappeared, at the lat
ter's office. When he left there he fully
expected that Damron intended to leave
that same night for San Francisco Late
at night Damron came to witness room
and asked to remain there few days
He remained in No. 12 until arrested.
Judge Lockwood, on cross-eXamlna
ton. stated that he had rented rooms
and 10 of the Redick block on April 1st
and paid the rent OF rooms 10 and IL TO
two months or until July 1st. He wa