The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-23
JACOBSON MURDER.
A Jury Impaneled for Sydney
Bells Trial.
Opening Statement Of the Case-Campbell, the
Accomplish, Narrates the Circumstances
of the Killing.

yesterday when the twelfth juror was ac-
cepted and sworn in the case of Sydney
Bell, on trial in Judge Murphy's depart
ment for the murder of Samuel NJ. jacobson
as he was about to enter his home at the
corner of California and Fillmore streets,
about midnight on the 10th of August.
Only nine jurors had been secured when
the court adjourned on Tuesday afternoon
and Judge Murphy had ordered venlre OF
fifty persons. Fifteen of these were ex-
amined before the requisite number was
secured, many seemingly making statements
to prevent their acceptance.
The names of the twelve men upon whose
verdict will rest the fate of Sydney Bell are
as follows: E. S. Cram. 1922 Golden Gate
avenue; Henry T. Holmes, 1922 Pine street;
l.. S. Pease, 14O1 Suffer street; James Pat
terson, 924 Greenwich street; r. V. Lucy,
921 Page street; U. C. Hawks, 400 Washing
ton street; E. Il. Dimond, 2O2 Market street; E.
A. Bulls, 1913 Steiner street; l.. I. Lewis, 293
Washington street; A. II. Vail, 27o2 Sacra-
mento street; Patrick o. Reilly, 915 Post ST rect;
j. NJ. c. Platt, 1925 Broadway.
After the reaung OF tile information Judge
NJ urphy admonlshed the jurors not to converse
about The case, listen 10 conversations regard
ing il, or 10 read newspaper comments upon
the case. Judge Ncul Of Tuoumne County oc-
cup.ed seat Oh the bench with Judge Murphy.
After recess Assistant District Attorney Hos
mer arose 10 make his opening statement 10 The
jury. He said that The prosecution expected TO
prove that II was the custom of Bell and Camp
bell, bis confederate, to leave their rooms early
In the evening ana remain out until late hour;
and that on the night OF JacObson's murder they
agreed and planned 10 90 out ana lob som eDody
on The street He then outlined the movements
OF the pair, Bell procuring pistol and load d
club, the after Of which he gave 10 Campbell.
/ Tie footpads took Suffer- street car as far as
Baker street, where they allghted. and walked
along Baker 10 jackson, watching for victims
who might descend from HE cars.
They then walked down Fillmore street to Cal
ifornia, when Campbell drsned to 20 home, but
being dlssuaded by Bell they continued up Cali
fornia toward Webster Cable-car No ap-
preached from which descended Mr.. Bateman,
who saw the twOrobbers. Car No 10 cana along
soon after aud jacobson, who was a passenger,
aghting, Bell approached HIM.
At this point Attorney Henley OF counsel for
the defense asked that OWING TO the nlnuteness
OF detail IN the opening statement, AL witnesses
IN the case, except the arrestlng officers, be eX-
cluded from the courtroom Judge Murphy
made tile order, from which he excepted Captain
l. w. Lees and Detective BOhen.
THE ENCOUNTER WITH JACOBSON.
Resumng his statement. Attorney Hosmer
said that Bell pulled his handkerchief, worn as
neck-cloth over his lace aud ordered jacobson
10 hold vi his hands. The unfortunate jacobson
seized The wrists of Bell. who placed his pistol
against his victims side and fired. jacobson
managed 10 walk up the Steps and enter his
house, where lie died. 1t would further be shown
that People IN the ueghborhOod heard the report
After tie murder Bill and Campbell came
downtown and separated at CogswelPs Fountain.
After Bells arrest in December upon another
charge, there were found IN his possession
| loaded club and also pIsol whose chambers
| cOrIesponGed III CALDER and shape with the bull
| let extracted from JacObSon's body. III we show
this state OF facts," concluded Mi. Hosmer, I'VE
! expect verdict OF guilty Of murder"
Police OHlcer Russell was the first witness
! called by The prosecution He Identified large
| diagram, which was offered in evidence, as one
| drawn by him on a scale OF SIX feet 10 tbs Inch
| and representing the corner OF California aud
! Webster Streets where the murder was com
| milIed. The witness explained tile diagram,
| which showed the steps leading TO JacObsouS
! residence
| CAMPBELL THE AccoMrLICE.
| Edward W. Campbell the next witness, at
whom the defendant ScOWied. Cdmpbel's count
! enauce is somewhat Of the same type as beiFs,
| although the latter's appearance, particularly
! when his hat is removed Is more epulslve than
! that OF his confessed confederate. CanpDelPs
! testimony was in substance as follows:
! 81 trst met Bell when was employed as
| canYasser by The Singer Sewing machine Com
! pany. One morning Bell WAS given WORK by the
| company, and was sent out with me In 4 delivery
| wagon. We worked together some time and be
| $780, Bell called at my bOardng-house, $50
] Clara street, ana asked TO see me. He requested
/ me To 90 out with him, and after demurrlng /
finally consented. Bell SAID that lie had sume-
| thing good on lie string and that as lie was
| broke he must get some stun.
| " We went to tie ComsGOck saloon, on hearny
street, for my pistol but did not get 1t. Bell ell
| tered restaurant opposite lie California Thea
ter and got a box. from which lie took pistol he
said he had bought hat day for So. He loaded IL
| and handed me pultceman's club. We TOOK a
! SutteT-stteet car 10 Baker, where we alighted.
| he told me that when found man to step
| TO one side, while Bell pointed tile pistol at him
| and told him to hold uU his hands. II he refused
| was 10 hit him GU the head with a ciuO.
THROW UP YOUR Hands,"
! AFTER walking around for some time aud pass
Ing a number of people whom | was afraid to
! modest. we finally reached the corner of Fillmore
! and California, when 1 said was going home.
| Bell dissuaded me, and when near Webster a
| man got of, and Bell approached me for letting
| him 20. Soon another passenger allghted and
walked diagOnally toward No. 1900 California.
| AS lie Tea cled the curbsione Bell started toward
| him. pulling handkerchief around his neck over
| the lower part OF his face.
"Bell said, Throw upyOur hands and the man
turned iii surprise and caught Bell by the wrists.
| Bell said, Give it To him. but before l could do
| anything Bell placed The pistol TO The mans side
| and tired. When l heard the shot l ran down
| Webster. Bell followed me, and went TO
| Vallejo, to Jones, to Green, TO Montgomery ave
nue., parting at kearny"
Tie club and pistol were produced, which
Campbell Identified as those which Bell had on
the night OF the murder. On cross-examnation
Campbell admitted having spent three years in
San Quentin for The larceny OF a horse and
buggy.
viii a great deal of eircumlocutlon he ex-
planned that "a job had been put up on him."
and that when his innocence WAS discovered
four years OF his sentence were RENTED. Camp
bell was measured In court by the counsel
10 the C Sc, assist by Judge Murphy. Tue
height OF the witness is feet 924 inches.
The trial will be resumed this morning.