The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-24
SYDNEY BELLS TRIAL
C. NJ. Bateman Adds Link to
the Chain of Evidence.
Edward W. Campbell, the Confessed Accom-
plice, Stands the Crucial Test Of
the Cross-Examination

"a S"N'NN' -A' OhNoDSOu hoo lCouLiCQ bOAO'S
Judge Murphy and jury yesterday with
the cross-examination of Edward w. Camp
bell.
The witness said that the murder of
jacobson weighed heavily on his mind, and
that he first unburdened his heart in refer
ence to the circumstances of the crime to
his uncle, George Harrington. he after
ward repeated the statement to Captain l.
W. Lees, and subsequently the main incl
dents of the night of the murder during his
testimony in the Police Court.
Campbell said that he had been In Jail
since January Sth, and during the period of
his incarceration had been treated as other
prisoners, except that he was better fed.
His wife also had been held as witness in
a hotel, but during the past four months he
has not contributed TO her support.
The witness was then subjected to a
severe cross-examinati0n in regard to his
account of the occurrences on the night OF
the murder, particularly respecting his OBJ
servation of Bateman and jacobson, when
each was at the corner of Webster and Cali
fOrnla streets, but followed closely his evil
dence OF Wednesday, and did not vary ma
terially from his statements in the Police
Court as read to him by counsel.
A POINT WITH BELL.
He stated incidentally that Bell, in the
prosecution of his profession as n fOotpad,
always made a point of standing under a
lamp.post, so that his victims could see his
pistol when he ordered them to throw up
their hands
DR.. NJ B. Estes, the surgeon who made
the autopsy on jacobson, located the fatal
bullet wound about six and half inches TO
the left of the center perpendicular line OF
the chest and six and half inches below
center horizontal line between the tenth
and eleventh ribs. The bullet ranged ill.,
ward and slightly downward, emerging at
the small of the back on the right side.
jacobson was 26 years old, = feet high,
weighed 1870 pounds, and was a man OF good
physique ana muscular power.
CampbalPs cross-eXamination being re-
sumed, he stated that at the time of the
shooting Car 10 of the California line was
not forty yards distant. The pistol dis
charged with a mnffled report, caused pos
SlDly by its proximity TO jacobson cloth
ing. Bell was accustomed TO laugh at the
theories published in the newspapers after
the murder, declaring that they were away
off " and that he was in no danger Of detec-
ton.
WAS NOT A DECoY
After the noon recess Campbell admitted
that he had allowed his wife to work as
waitress in dive on the corner OF Sacra-
mento and Kearny streets, frequented IN
the evening by Bell and himself. He denied
that he had been arrested in San Jose for
stealing carpenters tOuls, but admitted that
his friend Schmidt had stolen them from the
park, and that he aud Schmidt had gone to
San Jose to sell them
When asked whether he had not acted as
a decoy to effect Bells arrest the iuformer
said that having determined in his own
mind to make confession he advised the
murderer TO leave town. question arlS-
Ing as to the comparative height OF the two
highwaymen Bell was taken up to the Wit
- Inv mol mt
found to he two inches shorter than his al
legged accomplice. Bell took advantage OF
his proximity TO Campbell to glare AT the
latter with such a look of keen, malg-
nant hatred that the iufnrTer quailed aud
inv0luntarily retreated several PAGES.
Max Ii. Brewer of the Singer Sewing
Machine Company testified that Be4l and
Camrbell were in the employ Of the COM
pany contemporaneously aud worked to-
gether, riding in the same wagon.
Alexander NJ. Barney, who is proprietor
of the dive at the corner OF Sacramento and
Kearny streets, also testified teat he had
seen tile confederates in his saloon on many
occasions.
REGARDING THEIR INTIMACY.
The next witness was Margaret Kohn, at
whose house, 235 Clara street, Campbtll
lodged from July 14th to September 18th.
She testified to the frequency Of Bells Wis
its to his partner. and said that Mrs. Camp
bell frequently quarreled with her husband
because Of his intimacy with Bell. She
corroborated Campbelfs testimony regard
ing Bells visit on the evening OF August
10Th, when Campbell went out with Bell,
after borrowing her sons overcOat. Camp
bell returned 10 his room between and
O'Clock on the morning OF August nth, ac-
companied by his wife.
Mary Kohn, the daughter, then took the
stand. Mary Is a pretty, modestIlooklng
girl, neatly gowned, and apparently about
II years of age. Her dark eyes had fright
ened look at The novelty Of her position, and
the handsome face of District Attorney
Barnes was wreathed in smiles as he pro-
pounded his questions, which Judge Muir
ply explained with evident pleasure to the
charming witness. She testified to the fire.
quency of Bells visits TO Campbell, who
occasionally opened the door to admit his
confederate.
BIT OF CoRRoBoRATIoN.
When James l.. Bahr had testified that
Bell occasionally patronlzed his coffee
house, opposite the California Theater,
Charles NJ. Bateman was sworn as a wit
ness. BE testified that about midnight on
August 10th last, he passed jacobson on
Kearny street, near California, while both
men were going toward the cable-car. When
the car started he looked around Tor Jacob
son but could not see him.
Alighting at the corner of Webster street
he proceeded to his sisters house, 2009 Web
ster, 10 escort his wife home, but finding
that she had gone, descended the steps lead
ing to the door. Then noticed two men, one
taellr than the second, whose suit was gray,
standing under the lamp-post at the corner
of Webster and California streets, looking
toward him. Bateman walked along Web
ster, and when near Sacramento turned
around and saw them standing in the same
position.
This testimony corroborated that Of Camp
bell, who stated on Wednesday that pas
senger on the car which preceded that on
which jacobson rode ran up the steps of
2009 Webster street. and then descended
and walked rapidly nortbward.
The trial will 60 on this morning, when
Bateman will again be placed on the wit