The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-10
APPLYING THE GAG.
An Attempt to Intimidate a
League Witness.

Mrs. Ellen Furlong. who is a witness in
the litigation Of the Pacific Endowment
League. now Yexing the patience Of Judge
Slack, stirred some cOmmotl0n in court
when she first took the stand yesterday
morning by informing the Judge that an
attempt had been made to intimidate her
and prevent her from testifyiug.
what is that, madam? p asked the Judge,
sharply
Il said that an attempt had been made to
intimidate me and to prevent me from testi-
flying"
"By whom
by a.man named J II. Struckmeier"
"Who is hep"
He is an officer Of the league"
How has he tried to intimdate you?"
"He told me that if l persisted in testify
ing he would have me arrested"
The Judge asked whether Struckmeier
was present, but there was no reply. He
then assured Mrs. Furloug that the court
would protect her against intimidation Of
whatever nature, and that she might an
swer fearessly the questions put TO Aer by
counsel.
Much Of Mrs. FuIlong's testimony was
the same that she gave when she last APP
peared on the witneSs-stand. She told of
large number she induced TO join, and that
for about forty she Cnly received SD COM
mission, whereas the usual commission col
leCted by ladies was g. a head.
When she first Joined il was represented
10 her by Lueders that there would not be
more than one assessment month, or pos
siby two in case Of IN emergency.
Attorney Deuprey, who represented Lue-
ders and his followers, asked Mis-. FurlOug
whether she was not CanyaSSiug the mem-
harabip n < mn d SCOutpui nd prai1fioa
them against the management.
signed the paper 10 become an inter-
yenor," she replied, and talked with sew
eral Of my friends, but never went around
talking about the league. Mrs. Ryan told
me that President Lueders paid her daugh-
ter's coupon last month. when it was not
due until this month, and she said she didn't
get back as much As she had paid In"
Mrs Sarah Boyd was called to the wit
ness-stand. She also had joined the league
upon tie representation that the assess
menls would be very ight-none at all the
first few months and never more than two
in one month
Attorney Dorm, who is conducting the
case for the dissatisfied coupon holders,
asked Mrs. Boyd whether she was able to
pay four or more assessments month, to
which the attorneys on the other side siren
uOuslY objected
Mr. Dorm said he wanted to show that the
management had practiced fraud and mis-
representation in obtaining members, and
is now playing n freeZe-Out game, or, in
other words, sure-thing game, in which
the members stood no show at all. Very
few OF them were able TO pay So a month
assessments.
On the other side the attorneys argued
that it is on its face a ridiculous proposition
that any one should receive $500 upon the
payment OF S7j When members with such
notions were undeceved at the end OF the
first year, and believed they were being de-
trauded, why did they not drop out
The question was finally ruled out as
having no bearing on the management OF
the league.
Several other female witnesses were
called and told substantially the same story.
President Lueders was again called, and
the remainder Of the day was consumed in
quiring into the technical management of
the league.