Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-20
Incidents of the Recent
Legal Farces.
Jurors Reported to be Afraid
to Convict.
Stephen NJ. Whites Little Story
About q HOrsethief.
Some Little Features Regarding Two
Celebrated Cases-What Will Become
of the Other Damron Indictments?

A significant feature of the farce called
the Edelman trial is the statement cur
rent in the city yesterday, that several
of the jurymen who held that the ex-
deputy county clerk should be acquitted,
did so because, in consequence of Judge
Wade's instructions to acquit, they
feared that they would be punished for
contempt of court if they disobeyed that
righteous judges wishes.
1t is rather new feature, and one
confined to this city, in the pros
ecution of criminals, to have the jury
fear that they will be sent to Jail for con-
victing felon.
The Other Damron Cases.
The legal battledoor and shuttlecock
game which is being played with the
trials of the various stealing public Off
cials would be amusing were it not such
an outrage on the rights of the people
and prostitution of law and justice.
1t now appears that the remaining in
ron, late Republican representative to
the state assembly, for forgery, will not
be tried until next year. Probably by
that time they will be expunged, per-
haps according to the instructions of
some learned judge.
These cases, two in number, based on
the S. M. Perry note and the Hervey
Lindley note, were first set for trial in
department one of the superior court !;
department one transferred them to de-
ortr ctx to1 c.
while, and at last department six sent
them back to department one, and then
department one set them for trial in
January next, before which time they
will possibly commence their Journey
again among the various departments.
These indictments are based on notes
to which the signatures of S. M. Perry
and Hervey Lindley are alleged to have
been forged by Damron.
There is another note yet, known as
the Worth note, bearing the signature
of Hervey Lindley, which was presented
to the grand jury, but regarding which
some influence has been used, so that no
Indictment has been issued, though one
was drawn and presented to the consid-
Grafton of that body. 1t is claimed that
the indictment was not issued because
Mr.. Lindley was asked whether Damron
might not have understood that he was
authorized to place the signature on the
note.
That evidence is the most paltry, idi-
otic plea that could be advanced The
attempted use OF it to prevent an indict-
ment is indicative of legal paresis. Mr..
Hervey Lindley in particular, and bank
ers in general, do not authorize their
tools and catspaws to sign their
names to notes. Mr.. Lindley
stated that he had not authorized
Damron to sign his name and that the
signature was forgery; ne naturally
could not tell what Damron might
assume to understand.
Mr.. Whites Little Story.
A HERALD reporter happened to be
present when Hon. Stephen M. White,
one of Damron's attorneys, and Deputy
District Attorney Hardesty met yester-
day.
"White," said Hardesty, "have you
exacted bond from Damron that he
will not sign your name to any notes ?'
Mr.. White smiled, and said: "That
reminds me of little incident which
occurred to Colonel Kewen, who was a
prominent figure among our lawyers
some years ago. Kewen defended a
horse thief and secured his acquittal
The fellow could not pay the fee, so the
colonel said: You come out to my
ranch at San Gabriel and work it out :;
work foi me month and I'll call it
square, All right said the fellow,
and that night the colonel took his
client home and told him what work he
wanted him to do the next day."
Mr.. White paused and started to
walk away.
"Hold on" said Hardesty, "there
don't seem to be any point to that
story"
ooh, yes, came near forgetting" re-
piled White; 'there isn't much of a
point to it; all there is, was that the
next morning the colonel found his
favorite saddle horse and his client
gone, and he never heard of either
again." and again the lieutenant gov
ernor moved off, and little semi-tropic
zephyr played with his leonine beard.
"hold on" again called Hardesty,
"what's the application of that story ?''
Mr.. White had reached the corner of
the street; he turned pensively, the
zephyr coyly continued to toy with his
whiskers; "the application ?'' he MUIR
INJURED, II didn't say there was an appli-
cation, did II" and he mingled with
the crowd and Iicanpoo rod