The morning call., 1891-10-25
SCHMIDT SENDS
LONG LETTERS.
They Are Presented to Judge
Trout in Open Court.
The District Attorney DenOuncss the Methods
Employed by Sidney Bells Friends
to Save His Neck

Judge TrOutts courtroom was the scene
Of some rather sensational developments in
the Sidney Bell case yesterday morning,
when Charles Schmidt, a witness in that
now noted case and himself criminal in
custody, was called for arraignment
District Attorney Barnes was present, and
it was noticed that he carried IN his hand
two bulky documents that might have been
mistaken for a transcript Of the evidence in
the Bell case.
When Schmidt's case was called Mr..
Barnes asked the attention Of the Court a
few minutes, explaining that two letters
addressed to him and signed by Schmidt had
been lett at the Office by the Rev. Thomas c.
Easton. He thought they might be Of in
terest to the Court. and possibly 10 the
public. They did not lack in serious charges
against himself, one or two Of the Judges,
the Police Department and others, and if
the charges were true, certainly the public
should know it.
KEEPING SECRET THE CONSPIRACY.
The concluding paragraph in one Of the
letters proposed that if the District Attor-
ney would only let Schmidt off the con-
spiracy would remain a secret between Dr.
Easton, Schmidt and himself. Mr.. Barnes
peculiar and reprehensble methods being
used by Bells champions to cheat the gal
lows, but as he had no secrets with crlm-
inals or clergymen he desired the court and
the public to know what was being done.
He then read In full the two bulky letters
that he held in his hand, extracts from
which are given as follows:
AS you already know, / pleaded guilty to two
charges OF burglary although l Sm not guilty OF
those charges; / am sorry now that did as
| n
1ney are The following: / thought that Mr.. Kip
had betrayed me. saw Mr.. Hiukle was unjustly
against me, having expressed himself that way
toward me and MIR. Kip, and further having re-
celYed that morning enough morphine to end my
miserable life If things should come to the worst.
Beside. did not want any criminal court no.
commence to think now that was foolish to
take another mans crimes on my own shoulders.
! mink | would sooner stand trial and have a
jury to pass their opinion, and II you Will give
me fair show think Will stand a chance.
The real enllty party In this case is Campbell,
but don't believe you would charge him with
anything, II you knew II, that he was guilty |
did deny that / knew something about Ii, OF
course, but can bring proof that tho tools were
hidden IN his house all the time. They were
found In his possession in San Jose, aud he be-
ing an old criminal aud an ex-convlct he knew
more about crime and law than 1 did.
REFERRING TO CAMPBELL.
Referring to Campbell and intImatng
significantly the use that was being made Of
him, he adds:
He had the best Of living and everything he
Wanted His wife used 70 sleep there every
night ana believe he never saw better days In
his life than he did down there; also, his wife
was kept In fine style at the International
Hotel, and her board and bis board, room and
washing was paid for.
He used to tell me what expensive suite of
rooms his wife had. At the same time she was
working ln the dives on the Barbary Coast aud
earning money. No wonder she stood by him so
we'll She was e nuisance in the City Prison,
used for message service by the prisoners and
smuggling ia whisky aud other kinds OF things.
Yes, Campbell even went so far as 10 buy stolen
property of arrested prisoners and sending 1t out
by his Wife. / can prove all these things II
necessary. She has pair OF stolen gar ers on
now, 1 believe, il you can aud will get her caught
unexpected.
Campbell told me down there II ! wanted TO
get my liberty the only way 10 get II was TO come
on his side and try TO help to convict Bell. He
said he was told by the police TO tell me so, but
for me not to tell anybody. IL was then that
Campbell told me all about 1t. Campbell was
then kept In good style, but lived next door TO
him on prison fare.
| have been promised my freedom by all OF
YOU Campbell told me that when was on the
stand Mr. SiIYey told him. ''Charley is making
his liberty by saying those few words. Not
everybody Is having chance like him."
MRS. CAMPBELL.
He then refers to Mrs. Campbell and tells