The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-04
ACROSS THE BAY.
Testimony for the Defense in
HOwell's Case.
Trouble Over Electric Tracks-Indictme NJ
an Observation-Disclosures Reported.
a Section Of the Boulevard.

ments, ana a NUMBER OF women attended out
of sympathy for Miss Annie Howell.
The defense opened with evidence as to
the reputation of the defendant for peace
and quietness, and continued until Judge
Henshaw stated that he deemed it uunecss
sary to examine more witnesses on that
point, as lie believed tho testimony given
was sufficient TO establish the fact
w. Fl. Watson was called to provo that
Colvin brandished revolver In bis face some
time before the shooting, and said be in
tended to use it. He did not say upon whom
he intended to use it, and the testimony was
not allowed at the present state of the case.
Sol n. Sheridan eff the Oakland Morning
Times was called and testified to going into
the room of COlvin after the shooting. hay
ing heard the five shots while writing at his
desk. He testified to taking notes of the
first statement of Colvin, afterward writing
out the statement on a desk in the room and
reading it to ColYin, who signed it, The
statement was produced, identified and Of
fered in evidence by the defense. 1t was
admitted and then read Mr.. Sheridan also
testified as 10 the position of the furniture
in the room and to the finding of a pistol in
drawer of COlvln's desk while hunting for
hard paper upon which to write the state
ment in ink. 1t was lying in the top
drawer with the handle out and the
drawer and called the attention of Detective
Holland to the fact that the pistol was there.
THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT
The following is the statement written by
Mr. Sheridan and signed by Colvin on the
night of the shooting:
OAKLAND, August 8, l SOL
Maxwell was over all evening aud told me
that Howell was coming 10 see me about
that matter. The trouble about his daughter
Annie b. Howell, mean.
We walked around. / walked around with
Maxwell and We had a few drinks. We met Mr.
Howell on Broadway between Eighth and Ninth
streets and started up here TO my room. L told
Maxwell not TO come UP. as l wanted 10 speak
to Mr.. Howell alone. Maxwell came on up
nevertheless. On our way up, out IN the hall, he
called me aside and whispered TO me not to tell
Mr.. Howell that he, Maxwell, had written those
letters 10 MS uanghter. ne came INTO the room.
and as soon as we got In Howell said. Throw
I'D your handsp 1 said, "why, MIR. Howell,
you dou't want to shoot me-: l am unarmed
shoot, and ran toward tie corner of the room.
He SAID nothing more. All said was, Don't
Maxwell was a witness for him, and went out
after TWO or three shots had been fired.
This is a tue and correct statement. and
sign II In the belief that will not live.
~ r, S. CoLvIS.
SOL M, j., n kF sMFSfbAs Witnesses,
The defense offered this to contradict the
statements made shortly before death on
the Sth of August.
Paul Goldsmith, another newspaper man,
testified to seeing the revolver in the drawer
over Sheridan's shoulder He corroborated
the testimony of Sheridan. He thought
there was a knife in the drawer also, but
would not be positive.
BECAME INsoLENT AND VIOLENT.
Carl b. Mead was called and testified that
he was i'll Colyin's office in November, 1890,
in response to a note from him. He found
him and j. G. Howell in conversation and
excused himself, but Howell wanted him to
remain. The prosecution objected to the
testimony as Irrelevant incompetent and
immaterial. Mr.. Olney stated that it was
expected to be proven by Mead that upon
Howell stating he was unarmed Colyin
became insolent and violent. telling Howell
among other things that the trouble was be-
tween him and Miss Annie Howell, and he
must not interfere. The jury was excused
and the matter was argued by counsel. The
court finally admitted the evidence. Mrs
Mead, who Is sister of Perrie II. Maxwell,
also testified as to Colvin'5 threats. He told
her that there was the blood of five nation
aiites in his veins, and that he inherited
some OF the viDdietiveness Of all of these
natlODallties He would accomplish his
purposes in reference TO the Howels.
Miss Annie Il. Howell was placed on the
wituess-stand, ana identified number of
letters written to her by K. S. Colvin. She
was on the witness-stand when the court
adjourned for the day and will be recalled
this morning. There are fifteen or sixteen
OF these letters, and when they have been
identified and marked they will be offered in
evidence this morning.
1t is stated that Colvin kept copies of all
these letters, and they arc now in the pos
session of his brother, c. L. C0lvin or attor-
neys Tor the prosecution. Perrie Ii. Max
well was IN attendance ON the trial yester-
day, 1t seems to be the general opinion
that the prosecution has a losing case, and
that the presence of The defendants family
will have its effect.
TROUBLE OVER TRACK-LAYING,
The City Council by resolution gave the
Sessions Vandercook Electric Railroad
Company leave to place its track on one
side OF the Eighth-street bridge, and yes
terday the cOmpany's men commenced the
work. Superintendent Wall heard that the
tracks were beng laid on the side, aud went
down and ordered the tracks placed in the
center Of the bridge. The workmen re-
fused, but the rain stopped the work. Those
who travel on the bridge state that the
track should be on one side, as it will then
give clear roadway of from twenty-six to
twenty-eight feet on the other side, while IL
placed in the center of the bridge there will
be only thirteen or fourteen feet on either
side, and not room for two teams to pass.
City Engineer Morgan announces that the
first section Of the big boulevard around
Lake Merritt Is nearly completed, and the
work of dressing the top has commenced.
AT the deep, muddy end the rock sagged
good deal but the hole was filed
Secretary Theobald OF the Humane So
ciety was discharged from custody 10y Judge
Greene on habeas corpus. The reason was
because Justice Byler of Alameda had failed
to sign the order committing him for con-
tempt
A SENSATIONAL REPORT.
A sensation was created in Oakland yes.er
day afternoon by reports that the Grand
Jury had indicted L. S. Culver of the Rrend
er and Sportsman and an Assemblyman
for Transactions growing out of his vote ON
the Veterinary Bill. Culver has been be-
fore the jury and so has DR.. w. II. Carpen-
ter, an Oakland veterinary surgeon, Whether
Culver is prosecuted or not under indct
meDt, it was asserted pretty strongly that
the jury had ordered an indictment drawn
up and that 1t was actually written. So far
as could be learned last evening, 1t had not
been presented TO Judge Greene
The will Of Joseph Roberts has been filed
for probate. The estate, consisting of real
and personal property, is valued at $4,000.
and is left TO the widow, but on her death
or marriage shall 60 to the thirteen chill
dren.
A man. giving the name of ]. A. Rein
hardt and stating he resided at Mana was
acting strangely in the Courthouse yester-
day and was arrested on suspicion of in
sanity.
A FAMILY DIVIDED
Ella F. McComb was granted n divorca
and the custody of her baby girl yesterdav
by Judge Greene from Carroll b. McComb
PAINTER, on the ground of cruelty The
rather was given the custody of the two
boys. McComo sued his wife on the ground
alleging cruelty and failure to provide
Judge Greene thought the latter hardly
made out but the former was, and he
scored McComb for his treatment of his
wife. mo
Chris Lindgren. who was struck nv tba
narrow-gange train on Monday night nj
First and Webster streets, died last eyeninG
at the Receiving Hospital. He was a sailor
on the bark Detroit and member of the
Pacific Coast Seamen's Union.
The petition to the California delegation
in Congress for an appropriation for most
office site and building for Oakland Ia being
circulated. 1t recites the great advance in
the postal business Of the city. -
THE ROBBERS ARE HERE YET
A. l.. Conkin, a carriage-driyer for Mrs
Peder Sather, was knocked down on This