The morning call., 1891-09-03
ACROSS THE BAY.
The Examination of Maxwell for
Murder.
Republican Alliance organization-Work on
the Boulevard-A Paragraphic Daily.
Death From Poison,


the charge OF the murder of r S. Colvin,
who was shot four times in his room on the
evening of August Sd by John G. Howell,
and died from the effects of his wounds on
the Sth of that month, was taken up in. the
Police Court yesterday morning. The
courtroom was crowded. All witnesses
were excluded.
1t will be remembered that Maxwell went
up to the room of Colvn with Howell on the
night OF the shooting and was present at the
time the shooting commenced. It's thought
from this and other circumstances that he
had knowledge of the contemplated bomi-
eide and he is charged as an accessory be-
fore the fact.
The testimony was much the same as that
given at the preliminary hearing of Howell
A. j. Ross, night watchman and Deputy
Sheriff, testified to the circum stances of the
arrest and was not cross-examined.
Senator Frank j. Moffitt was examined at
great length. He was present at the arrest
and accompanied Howell toIthe City Prison.
The witness gave testimony as to messages
given him by Howell for friends, and among
these was one to Perrie Maxwell. Howell
told him to tell Maxwell to remember all
that occurred. also to tell him to remember
llidV NOlNlu Ullli kndAMcllI " ~ Out
of the room, and that Maxwell knew he shot
Colyin in self-defense. Howell also told
him Maxwell was his friend.
Ii. ?. Squire of the Times Publishing
Company gave testimony, but its Importance
was not apparent.
DR.. r.. Harmon testified with regard to
several ante-mortem statements of Colvin
and said that he did not advise him that he
was about to die and on the contrary and
UP to time of the final declarations encour-
aged Colvln with the hope that he would re-
cover, not deeming 1t advisable to dis
courage the patient by telling him that he
would have to die. COlyin was clear
headed" when he made his statements.
IDENTIFICATION OF STATEMENTS.
After recess, C. L. Colvin, brother OF
the dead man, was called as witness and
identified tue second and third statements
made on August Sth. They are in the hand
writing OF the witness and up to .the morn
ing of that day, as answered on crOss-eX-
animation, his brother believed that he
would recover. The statements were Of
fered in evidence, notwithstanding strenu-
Gus objections on the part OF the defense.
These words were however stricken ut:
Maxwell had done all in his power to
make trouble between Annie Howell and
me, and was doing all he could to get my
place here as reporter. ," These were
given by C0lyin in his statement as part of
a written statement by Mrs. Maxwell in his
possession. They may be reinSerted and
made part of the dying statement later on if
the prosecution shows a conspiracy be-
tween Howell and Maxwell,
John Gould, an attorney at-law of San
Francisco, who has an office in the same
building in which Maxwell has one, identi-
fed Howell, who had in the meantime been
brought from the County Jail, as frequent
visitor at MaXwell's Office, and last saw
them three or four days prior TO the shoot
ing.
John Bagless, clerk for Cobb & Co. of
San francisco, gave similar testimony, the
offices of Cobb & Co. and Maxwell being on
the same floor. Maxwell was in his Office on
the day after the shooting; also d. Holland,
the detective. aud others at Maxwelps desk
a few days after the shooting, searching for
papers. The witness identified ex-Judge
Laidlaw as one who searched through Max
wells desk after the latter had been ar
rested.
Robert Williamson, a San Francisco stem
cgrdpher, testified that he saw Howell and
Maxwell frequently together in the latter's
CffiIe. and j. B. Becker, matchmaker of
32l Montgomery street, oD the same floor
with Maxwell, had seen Howell one day at
Maxwelrs Office about two weeks prior TO the
shooting
THE CONSPIRACY LETTER,
The only new piece of testimony. was
offered during the examination of Colvln
Wntl the. pTOS6tutlUll lHtIOuuctu tUe So
called conspiracy Ietier-the letter which
has hitherto been withheld, and which, it Is
claimed, compromises Maxwell. 1t is in a
mans handwriting, ordinary note paper,
and reads rs follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, June H. 1891.
Friend: HoWelL: By taking little more time,
for preparation am confident can accomplish
more and greater certainty. Put myself In the
object attitude Of selling QUITO him c0mpleiely,
aud l want to have apparently more Of value
to offer than Lean now claim: For This reason
i would like to have A. write me. note.
from, copy which Il can make to fit the case.
Such mole / Will let him see enough
Of 10 serve the purpose, being careful
OF. course that lie shall not get possession OF il
and Teturn The same to her Ort0yGua uafterward.
II you don't object 10 this write this at your
suggestion. In the meantime l Will make the
preparations which i consider necessary from
My knowledge OF the case and of'the man. Sorry
i can't act more promptly, but the taskis by no
means easy TO perform, and must have grea er.
Tine Though have had plenty of leisure dur
Ing tile past ten days, have been very busy to-
day and will be rushed Till sunday; am COM
peedto work To- night until late hour. Stlll1
/ thought Ii il best Tor o our .interestsio Can be
seen at my place here Tomorrow (Frtday) atany
time. Respectfully z. ii. Nj.
:-. REPUBLICAN. ALLIANCE.
The Republican Alliance of Oakland has
elected as Directors; L.. i. Bromwell. +.
w. a. Kenny, j. Ii. Grindley. A. F. Coffin,
+. S. Stratton, ID. II. Shinn w. b. Hamil-
ton aud G r. Morrow The Directors have
elected the following offieers:: President,
14.E L. Bromwell; First Nlce-P President, +.
5. Stratton.; Second Vice. e-President, A. S.
Coffin; Recording Secretary, IL. IL Shinn;
Financial Secretary. w b. Hamilton; Cor
responding. Secretary, DR.. H. p. Carlton;
Treasurer, F. L Brigianl. w. c. Little has.
been chosen as commander of the
drill corps The articles of ineorpora-
tion have been drawn. The purpose
: of the club is. stated to be
t0*build a hall for social and poltica, gath
erings, and tOpr0cure other properties as.
well. The; corporation lis Tor fifty years.
The capital stock is $4,000, of which $500
mas sbeen subscribed, tlfe. nine directorsi each.
giving 500. The shares are divided into
1000, of $40 each, and President Bromwell.
solicited the members to subscribe, assuring
them that The shares would Yield at least
six per cent. 5.3.. r.: e.:
Theestate Of William Collins, late Super.
of the Mountain View Cemetery,
has been appraised at $26,911 A. The: de-;
ceased had di posed =of a large part OF. his
estate to=liSTelatives by deed. - : #: IT.. n n
f. b. Ssh i'll was sued Yesterday. by Isabella
A.: Taylor to recover $1,000 on a: :promissory.
note. -tt=:;:5.. i. =. -. .::.:.>.- u
:: :oAKLAND's LAW LIBRARY.
Another meeting was held on Tuesday
evening in furtherance of the Law Library.
and articles were submitted providing for
the establishment and government of the
library on the rules laid down by the act Of
the Legislature. The Board of Supervisors
will shortly. fit up suitable rooms in the
Courthouse:
William Brockags and John Calvin have
gone to Baltimore TO study for the priest
hood and William Taylor. has left for Bel
gium for the same purpose. All three are
quite young men, members Of st. Francis de
Sales Church, Rev. Thomas McSweeney
rector, and sons Of prominent citizens OF
Oakland.
During the month of Augustin the work
on the Lake Merritt boulevard $500 cubic
yards of stone were deposited, making
! total of 7400 cubic yards to date. Six hun
| 'dred feet of the embankment has how been
completed, and the FIRST section will be COM
| pleted In abonttwo months.
| Piedmont. Parlor, n: S. G.. W.. will.ride
/ in stage-coach, and will leave Oakland on
| Tuesday morning to take part in the cele-
bration of Admission dayat Santa Cruz.
REV. MR.. HATCH's CASE.
The case of Rev. j. L. Hatch, Commits
sfoner of Immigration and leader Of the
| Church of the Agnostics. has been con