The morning call., 1891-01-09
PALMER'S TRIAL,
Ex-senator Fair Put Through a
Trying Ordeal.

Ex-senator James G. Fair as a witness in
law case has proven to be wonderful
drawing card, as standing room only" has
been at very high premium in Judge Muir
phys courtroom for the past two days,
during the trial of III. j. Palmer. At least
it must be taken for granted that the ex-
Senator is the attraction since the trialitSelf
is fairly wearisome for want of interest.
A. l.. Hart, counsel for Palmer, was par
ticularly severe in his cross-examination of
the venerable millionaire yesterday, and
much of the time treated him as though he
was miscreant youth instead of one of the
most respected and revered Solons of the
commonwealth.
Mr.. Fair has long since earned and de-
served the reputation of being an exceed
ingly difficult man to question. That is,
questions may be piled for an hour, but they
are always answered with such exquisite
caution and skill that at the end of the hour
the questioner is apt to r-tire knowing less
than when the interview began.
This same sort of adroitness displays
itself when Mr.. Fair is on the witness-stand
in court. and if the interrogating counsel
happens to be of an aggressive character the
thrust and parry" betH cen the bar and
witness chair soon becomes very interesting
Much of Mr.. Harris labor was expended
In trying TO learn what mysterious DISPOSE
ton had been made OF one w. Is. Clark.
Clark was TO have been one of Palmer'S
witnesses, but before he reached the city he
disappeared. The attorney wanted to know
OF the witness If be had paid Clark any
money Of late. yes, sir; for carpenter
work, etc, replied the Senator.
Hart, in reply TO an interruption by the
prosecution, said angrily that he didn't be-
lieve Clark ever did any such work Tor the
witness. Judge Murphy scOwled like cy-
clone at the attorney for making usch a re-
mark, and told him it must not occur again.
1t was grievous breach of propriety.
The examination finally ELECTED the fact
that Clark is now at knights Landing, and
attempt was partly successful in showing
that he was being kept there at the ex-Sena-
tors expense On the direct examination
testimony was given that Clark had turned
over to Mr.. Fair large number of books
and documents containing the record of the
Re ed ranch management. Mr. Fair testi-
fed that they were his. On cross-tXamlna-
ton Mr.. Hart wanted 10 know of the wit
ness how he knew the books and papers
were his.
Did you examine them?" he asked al
most savagely. The Senator replied evas-
lively that lie did not examine them and
could not describe one of the lot, but he
knew them to be his because his managers
told him so.
"And you come into this court" contin-
ued Mr.. Hart still more savagely, land
swear to fact that you know only from
hearsay?"
The ex-senator WINGED lii tie, but would
not bulge from his position that the papers
were his.
what was the color of the books?' asked
the attorney.
Il couldn't exactly say?" replied the ex-
Senator Suavey.
Name any one of the papers or books in
that package?"
Il couldn't do it now"
"Oh, you cannot, Ell? And yet you swear
they were yours when you don't even know
what they were, and couldn't say positively
whether or not there was line inside of
thcm?"
This sort of bully-ragging continued for
nearly two hours, and finally the ex-Sena-
tor, looking some the worse for wear and
tear, was excused.