Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-28
THE COURTS.
JIM THE PENMAN TELLS HIS
STORY.
He Denies That He Signed Any Name
But His Own to the Note in Question.
Notes of Cases Acted on Yesterday.

The trial of.J. M. Damron on the
charge of forging the names of A. H.
Dunlap and Walter Lindley to note for
$3.50, payable to Mrs. Emma Hunter,
was continued yesterday before Judge
Smith, in department one. The illness
of Mrs. Hunter prevented her from
being placed on the stand, and at IL
o'clock the prosecution closed. The first
witness of any Importance for the de-
tense was A. j. Vinton, who testified as
to conversation which he had over
heard between j S. Chadwick and Harry
Branscomb, in front of the Phillips
block. Chadwick is there credited with
saying that Damron had gone back on
him, and that he (Damron) must be con-
victed and sent to the penitentiary, even
II perjury was necessary to accomplish
that end. On cross-examination it was
brought out that the relations be-
tween the witness and Chadwick were
anything but friendly, Chadwick having
at one time secured a judgment against
Vlnton. Damron was also mixed up in
that affair to a certain extent.
L. E. Newell, Calabassas justice of
the peace, was sworn, and testified that
Chadwick had once ventured the re-
mark that ''Damron would come out all
right in the forgery cases in time" or
words to that effect.
A large number of witnesses were
then placed on the stand and examined
with view to proving the bad reputa-
tion of the man Chadwick and the un-
sullied one of Damron, prior to the
charges at present pending.
1t was nearly O'Clock when Damron
was called to the stand to testify in his
own behalf, and then Immediately en-
sued fight between the attorneys rela-
tive to Chadwick's being allowed to re-
main in the court room. Judge Smith
settled the matter by excluding Dam
ron's former chum and companion, and
the examination proceeded, conducted
by DEFENDANTS counsel, S. M. White.
Damron first identified the note and
acknowledged having signed his own
name thereto. Yes; he knew Dunlap,
and had for two years or more. First
saw the paper on which the note was
drawn probably on the Oath OF April,
1890, when he made the note and signed
it at Chadwick's request. The witness
said: Il was sitting in my private of
flee and Chadwick came in and said to
me, Say, want to use $3.50 for little
while; would you mind giving me your
note for that much and letting me use
it% l said would do it to accommo-
date him, and he gave me blank, say
ing, Fill it out, payable to Mrs. Hunter,
and make it for $3.50, so l can pay the
commission for getting it discounted
did so, and signed my name, and
thought no more about it until after my
arrest on the other charge
" hen Chadwick came to me one day
and said that that note was deposited as
collateral at the Los Angeles National
bank, and that it was likely to make
more trouble.
at once if any trouble was likely to come
OF it,. and ne said he would, in fact he
did that very day, l believe.
mo, never told Chadwick that
wanted any money on that note, nor did
from him, and perhaps received some
that he had raised on the note, but not
to my knowledge.
II never signed any name to that
note except my own, and / have no
knowledge whatever as to who signed
the names OF Dunlap and Lindley who
appear there as suretles."
On cross-examinatlOn Damron said
that Chadwick was broker or "money
shaver, 'and that he was Chadwick's at
torney. He had had twelve years expert
ence, but thought it nothing singular
when Chadwick asked such a favor
of him. II had often granted and
received such favors in the past" said
the witness. Il never put up any Sc
curity when getting money from Chad
wick. When he told me that there
was likely to be trouble about the note
commanded him to go and take it up
l had then been arrested on three diff
ferent charges, growing out of affairs
with notes, and naturally did not wish
any further experience. Chadwick al
ways did business in the names of B. f.
Getchell or David Morris and did not
use his own name as he wished to con-
ceal his property"
Deputy County Clerk Frank Tanning
was sworn, and the records of the town
ship court were offered in evidence to
establish the fact of Chadwick's con-
viction February 81. 1882, on charge of
petty larceny.
After some wrangling between the at
torneys, the records were admitted.
A recess was then taken until 10 a. m.
today, when the people will put in some
evidence in rebuttal.
s NOTES.
A writ of habeas corpus, returnable
at 4:30 p. m. today, was yesterday
issued by Judge Smith in the case of A.
J. Crose, the grounds being those of
illegal imprisonment.
In department one Mrs. A. M. Swan
was Yesterday granted a divorce from