Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-14
Baker Convicted of the Mort
gage Job.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the
Famous Case.
Contradictory Statements Made by
Interested Parties.
The End of . Sensational Trial-Inci-
dents About the Court Room.
How Baker Took the
Verdict.

Edward L. Baker, whom old man Hoy
called "the prime mover" in the bogus
mortgage scheme, was convicted last
night of forging the much-talked of and
now famous mortgage, with intent to
defraud Morris M. Green and O. A.
Stassforth.
The trial was begun in department
six on Monday last, and has attracted
immense crowds Of spectators to the
court. The many twists and turns the
affair has taken lends an additional in
terest to all the proceedings, and the
sensational developments in the case
will be talked of for days to come.
The end is not yet reached, however.
Other parties besides Hoy and Baker
were in the job, and if the information
now in the possession of the district at
torney and his officers proves correct,
others will go to the penitentiary with
the two men who now stand convicted
of the crime.
Just how far the conspiracy reaches
and who were in possession of the facts
that fraud was being attempted Is not
known, but before the matter is
dropped, every clue obtainable will be
followed to an end.
The prosecution of these cases was
very ably conducted by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney McComas, who has been
indefatigable in working up his evil
dence, and searching in his cross-exam-
nations. Baker had told very plaus-
ible story on his direct examination,
which was altered in several material
points when Judge McComas. got him
under cross-examination. Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Blades assisted in the
prosecution.
The defendant resumed the stand
when court opened, and was subjected
to short examination by Mr.. McCo-
mas. Nothing new was brought out by
his answers.
When Baker was dismissed J. X.
Stump was recalled for further cross
examination. Mr.. McComas asked him
whether he did not go to Morris M.
Green after the arrests had been made
and implore him to let up on the prose-
cutions; that if the cases were pushed,
he, Stump, might be implicated. The
witness replied that he had not done so.
He was then asked whether he did
not 60 to Green and ask whether he and
Mrs. Green would not like to take trip
east as far as Salt Lake city, at his,
Stump's, expense. The witness denied
having extended such an Invitation.
Later on in the examination he be-
came somewhat tangled and admitted
having gone to Green in behalf of
Baker, but made the remarkable state
ment that after going to Green's house
in the interest of his friend, he said
nothing about the case. The fact that
Stump went to Green for the purpose OF
lnterceding for Baker is new matter in
the case and makes another strong
point for the prosecution.
The defense called o. X. Clark, a
young man employed by the Los An
geles Abstract company, to prove that
Baker did not 60 to the company to get
the certificate of title to Green's prop
ertv. This witness also strengthened
the case for the people.
It will be remembered that Hoy testi-
fed to getting the certificate himself,
though he acted under Baker, direction /;
that Baker furnished him SIS to pay the
company, and waited outside while he
went in and procured the certificate.
The defendants attorney was at
tempting to show by the witness that
Baker was nowhere near the abstract
Office when Hoy got the certificate. but
Mr.. Clark corroborated Hoy by stating
that the latter gave the paper to man
who was waiting outside. ~
Morris M. Green was called to rebuff
the testimony of Stump. Mr.. Green
testified that Stump did call on him and
request that the prosecution be dropped.
The conversation was given in detail,
and the witness further testified that
Stump said he had induced Hoy to sign
the mortgage, and was sorry he had any
thing to do with the transaction. This
testimony was also corroborative of
Hoy's statement on the stand that
Stump represented himself as Green and
authorized the signing OF the mortgage
by Hoy.
At this point both sides announced
the testimony all in, and recess was
ordered until / o'clock. The jury was
ordered into the custody of the bailiff
until the close OF the trial.
When court opened for the afternoon
session the lobby was jammed with
people, and inside the railing were a
great many members of the bar. The
defendant looked clipper as usual. Mrs.
Baker occupied chair just back of her
husband. She was accompanied by her
two little daughters, both bright looking
and pretty children.
Deputy District Attorney Blades
opened the argument for the prosecu-
ton with brief statement of the facts
of the case, and the points relied upon
by the state to secure verdict. Mr..
Peck made strong plea for the defend
ant and was followed by Mr.. McComas,
who finished his address about O'Clock.
Judge Mckinley occupied nearly hall
an hour in the delivery of Instructions
to the jury, which retired about half
past 5 to find verdict. The instruc
tions were very favorable to the defend.
ant.
At 6 O'Clock Judge Mckinley ordered
the jury taken out to dinner, and went
home announcing he would return at s
o'clock.
The court room was we'll filled at the
hour named, and the word went round
that verdict had been reached. Judge
took his seat on the bench. Judge
Clark occupied a chair beside him.
When the jury was ordered into The
court room the defendant for the frs
time since the trial exhibited signs o
nervousness. His nonchalant name
was all gone, and he occupied his tint
toying with scrap OF paper.
As the clerk asked the Jury to an
nounce the verdict, Baker looked up ant
eagerly scanned the faces of the twelvl