The morning call., 1892-02-16

lutely impossible, owing to the darkness OF
| the night, for any one to see whether Ihere
we're two, three or FIVE persons present
when the shooting occurred. There was a
! high fence and q house to throw dark Shau-
Ows, making an almost impenetraDle glOoul'
Counsel would produce a man living III
the neighburhOOd who was up late tIaV
night, suffering With the neuralgia, VINO
saw three men pass his window on the way
10 the police station. He soon heard SHOT,
then two more. lie next heard man uu-
ming up Fifth and saw him run In the dlrec-
ton of Howard street.
RAN LIKE A DEER.
Mrs. Abb0ttals0 saw three men, one Delhg
a police officer and the other two being I'M
der arrest. Mrs Abbott saw one man come
out Of the gloom and run across the street
like deer in the direction OF Howard. Be
sides these witnesses the defense would IN
trOduce two ladies who had attended the
Tiyoli performance that night and who were
turning the corner of Fifth street just as Ihe
shooting took place. Ihey met man run u,
ming. who seeing them, Immediately turned
another way. These ladies Will also swear
that they did not see Denny at the point ne
claimed to be. 1t would be proved by the
evidence Of Curtis himself that the OotIe
of stuff found in his pocket was as COM
plete an enigma 10 him as IL was TO Tie
VI
beknOWE to him.
HOW CURTIS WAS BRUISED.
That Curtis received rough treatment mat
night would also be established beyond
reasonable doubt. The evidence OF Mrs'
Curtis and Rev. w. Davis, who visited him
in prison next morning, would suOstanllale
this fact They saw black and blue marks
on his body eight DAYS after his arrest The
Jury would be asked also to consider mat
Curtis had no earthly motive for killing
Officer Grant and that the man VINO had
robbed Curtis had a very powerful one.
This man had Immediately before hun the
fear Of conviction, to be possibly 10lloWeu
by an Imprisonment for lie.
CURTIS on THE STAND.
The defendant was now called TO the
stand lie did not appear like man
weighed down with a sense OF blood quit.
lie was composed in his manner and be-
fore he sat down took a serious glance at
his peers in the jury-bOX
The examination was conducted by Mr..
Wilson. After giving his name, place OF
birth and other details already mentioned
bV his counsel, he said he had been on the
stage for twenty-five years. lie YlsleI
Berkeley, where he lived. on the afternoon
preceding the murder Tor the purpose OF
paying bill. He had about $40 on MS
person. He did not fad this man, who was
a plumber residing In Berkeley. Ihe
money was in gold coin, tied I'D in a sock
placed in his left hip pocket After feedlng
his dogs be returned TO this city to meet his
wife and Dr. Cook and Mrs. Cook, who oc-
cuped the same box at the Grand Opera
House.
he DENIES THE KILLING.
MI Curtis told the story Of his move
ments that night as outlined by MI. wilson
in his Opening address. He said he had no
recollection Of being in the Folsnm-street
Station that night nor OF his ride Ia the
patrol wagon. 1t was not until the next
morning, while q prisoner IN tue Clty
Prison. that be learned that an officer had
been killed. He then remembers saving IN
his cell. Oh God, my poor wife, lie was
asked:
did you kill Ofi,er Grant?"
Curtis looked straight at Mr. Wilson and
said in the most solemn manner, ana WIN
an emphatic gesture
q" did not Kill Officer Grant l never
harmed q human being IN my LIE.
A PROPERTY PISTOL.
Curtis admitted that he owned a white
pearl-haudled pistol, which he used as
theatrical property. This weapon was at
his home that night.
You are comedian?" inquired bis
counsel.
= am" be said.
And this is your first appearance as a
tragedian 2" said Mr. Wilson.
This ill-Iimed wJtlcism evoked a TeSpOn-
sive burst of laughter from the crowd. Nj
Curtis did not seem TO consider it joke.
The defendant stated that Tor six weeks
after his arrest he could not use his right
hand, and he was troubled with headaches
Tor three or four weeks after his incarcera-
ton. He said that though he had $40
about him the night Of The tragedy the
police Informed him that all they found on
searching him was s. cents in money. De-
PENDANT next detailed the inciIents con-
nected with Detective BODIES visit to him
IN Jail and of the latter insulting language
TO him when he declined TO talk 30 him, act
ing under the Instructions Of his counsel
District Attorney Barnes took the de-
feGdaut in hand for a searching cross
examination, but Curtis adhered to every
essential fact stated by him in his direct
examination. lie denied emphatically that
be had been on Moss street that night, nor
did he know where that street was.