The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-29
" INNOCENT" BELL.
The Murderous F0Otpad and His
"Christianity.'
When Interviewed He Sends Forth Vol
ume of Blasphemy That Startled Even
Reporters Captain Lees Speaks.

81 do not care to enter into a controversy
with Rev. DR.. Easton," said Captain Lees
yesterday when a CALL reporter asked his
opinion in reference to the alleged inno-
cence OF Sidney. Bell, the convicted muir
derer of Samuel NJ. jacobson.
The head Of the Detective Police smiled
as serenely as pretty girl with a new
gown, but there was row of wrinkles
across his forehead, denoting that he was
anything but unruffied, perhaps angry.
"DO you think there is any foundation for
DR.. Easton's statement that proof Of Bells
innocence is forthcoming"
LAS to that / do not care to express an
opinion 1t is time that DR.. Easton pro-
duced his witnesses and some proof of his
assertions of innocence on the part of the
convicted footpad l will say that the
police have made out complete case of
murder against Bell. irrespective of
Schmidts testimony. Schmidt forced HIM
self into the case by writing postal card
to the District Attorney and asking to be
called as witness. After an interview
with Schmidt District Attorney Barnes pre-
pared an affidavit which Schmidt swore to.
This affidavit contained the substance Of the
testimony given by Schmidt during the trial
of Bell. SO it will be seen that this fellow
Schmidt was never called by the Police
Department as witness.
CONFESSION OF PERJURY.
LAS to Schmidt's confession that he COM
mitted perjury during the trial, that is a
matter that does not concern me or any
other officer, for we had nothing to do with
his testimony. If he did commit perjury
he had his own private reasons for doing
So 1t may be that he expected, as he SAYS,
ha tod nd 1ff
country send in a confession of perjury
Be this as it may, | think it is time that
Bells friends did something more than talk 4.
Let them produce their witnesses and make
ont a case, and then every one will be COM
PEELED to take stock in their story"
Have you anything to say about this
j. A. Brown, the private detective, who is
said to be gathering testimony for Bells
f. champions ??
Nothing more than has already been
stated in the public press. Brown is asso-
ciated with newspaper fakir' in So
called detective agency. 1t has been shown
that Brown frequently visited the jacobson
residence ana tried to force himself into the
presence of members of the family. Fail
ing in this, he wrote a threatening letter to
a sister of the murdered man. More than
this, be has assisted III the circulation of a
story that conspiracy was formed to con-
Wet Bell
BELLS CHRISTIANITY"
In recent interview Dr. EastOn says that
Sidney Bell has stopped using vulgar Ian
guage and has been converted. Had the
reverend gentleman been present at an in
terview between three reporters and Bell at
the County Jail yesterday he would prob
ably have changed his mind.
We'll, Bell, how are you getting along?
asked Il member of the reportoral trio.
Go to" (profane expletive). was the 30
lite and gentlemanly" answer Of the Con
verted" murderer.
is ii true that you were converted by DR..
EastOn?" asked another reporter as he
placed his hand on the wicket to prevent
the ChesterfeIdian garrOter from closing it.
Let loose of that wicket, or I'll break
your jaw" (profane eXpletive), howled the
innocent" footpad.
Then Chief Jailer Haedler asked Bell
why he was wanted in the Superior Court.
IN be (prOfane eXpletive) if | know
what the (profane expletive) want" and
the glistening bald head of the thug dis
appeared as he slammed the wicket in the
faces of the visitors and officials.
In view of the newly awakened interest
in the Bell case and the recently published
charges against Detective Brown, who is
working up the case, the following from the
Ohio State journal Of the 2lst inst. is Of
interest.