The morning call., 1892-02-17
A BRIBE GIVEN.
George Lang Meets a Govern.
ment Witness.
he Thrust Two Twenties Into His Vest Pocket
What Was Brought Out on an
Examination.

Not since the days of the trial of the late
David S. Terry has the United States Cir
cult Court been the scene of so great an ex-
element as yesterday. The cause was the
revelation made in open court that Charles
Kelly, one Of the principal witnesses for
the Government in its prosecution of con-
domination suit against the Calistoga Dlstil-
lery, had accepted bride from George
Lang, the proprietor of the disullery.
Kelly was the first witness called in the
morning. As he was an assistant static
agent at Callstoga at the time Of the
seizure, and as it was through his hands
thai much of the evidence had passed. his
testimony consumed considerable time in
being extracted from him. There was pres
ent in court a large crowd of interested per-
sons, among whom were Special Agent Ell
bridge. Inspector Thomas and Assistant
United States District Attorney Charles
SAurtleff, who appeared for the prosecution:
George Lang, and his attorneys Dunn and
McPike.
Although Kelly had at the time of the
seizure a very distinct idea of everything
that had TRANSFERRED and expressed himself
most willing witness, when IL came 10
giving his evidence yesterday his speech
was slow and hesltaung. though IL colnclueu
in every particular with an aihdaYlt ne
made soon after the seizure, and which at
that time District Attorney Shurtlef was
peruslng by way of comparison.
FIRING THE BOMB.
Then came the crOSs-examinatiou and
subsequent bomb. Attorney Dunn was the
one VINO fred it into the camp.
Al - 49, On
your person that you received from hlnY
Numbered Mr. Dunn, who startled the court
as much by the loud tone as by the strange
question.
Kelly-Yes, sir producing two gold coins
from his right vest pocket.
as that money of the denomination of
1891? Look at il and see also if there are
no! three parallel bars underneath the chin
of the Goddess of Liberty, a mark under the
seventh star, a cross under each wing Of Tie
eagle and ar understanding under the denom-
ination 1912
Il guess there are"
RECEIVED OTHER MONEY.
Have you received any other money from
Nj Lang besides these marked coins that
went in evidence?"
~ es, sir.
"HOw much?'
Ten d liars"
where did you receive that-in what
place?'
in San Francisco; don't know exactly
what place.
"Did you tell the Government officials
that YOU had received that money from
hm?"
'rNo, sir"
Did You tell the Government or any of
its employees or officials that you had re-
ceived that $40 this morning?
Where did you receive that money this
morning.
Il received 1t just before I came into
court"
In this bgildins2"
Yes, sin"
In lat part of The building-in what
room! or office or wateTclOsetP'
''In the watercloset."
Assistant United States District Attorney
Shurtei1f on redirect examination asked:
Who gave YOU this $40, Mr.. Kelly?"
Mr.. Lang"
How came he to give you S40?'
Well, Mr.. Lang met me in the hall as l
was coming into the courtroom. He asked
me If l wanted any spending money. l
told him No, sir that | had all wanted.
He offered II to me and | told him l would
not rake 1t. lie put it into my vest pocket
and showed me out Of the door, and l came
into the courtroom"
ASKED NOT TO BE HARD.
Did he ask you how you were going to
testify ,"
d" lie asked me to be no harder than had
to be-"
Then Kelly testified that he had al Lang's
residence a conversation about what his
evidence would be, and that lie went TO
Lang's residence on Invitation. This was
IN October.
Did he say anything about money to
you?"
' He said If would help him he would
see me out"
At this point Kelly was handed the fol-
lowing letter, which was signed with a
cross, and he was asked O. read il:
October 10. 1891
George Lang. Esq: Have understood that
your case viii be made a criminal one, II they
place me In different position from what we eX-
peeled last week. Am afraid TO send you a copy
Of numbers through The mail. Have your broker
meet me few days before The case comes up II
possible. II might DO well for you 10 see me II
you can. y.
Dunn-Whose handwriting Is that
Kelly-It is mine.
The letter was admitted ds evidence. It
was addressed to George Lang. u First
street san francisco" marked Personal
in the corner and was postmarked January
%, S p. NJ. San Francisco"
After considerable skiTmishIng it was
brought 10 light that Kelly paid Lang a
visit on Friday when be came to the city as
a witness in the case, which was called that
day. Then followed line of questioning.
which, though practically barren of imme-
date result, showed clearly that Lang's
attorney wanted to give out the impress
sion that there is a NEGRO IN the fence"
that may yet be brought to light
Dunn-Did you say to Mr.. Lang on that
occasion that you would make your testi-
mOny favorable to him in this matter if he
would give you $500 or $500, aad if he did
not you would make 1t hard for him?
90 ! did not"
NO MONEY GIVEN THEN.
odd you receive any money from him at
that time?"
"I did not"
How long were you there?"
Not more than three or four minutes, 1
well, what business did you have
there?"
None that know Of"
"And this conversation was in the cellar? ?"
les. sir"
As the case progressed, Judge Hawley
grew more and more Interested, and at one
point Of The redirect examination, when At
torney Dunn objected TO Mr.. ShurtleG's
putting leading questions" Judge HawleY
said: few leading questions are needed.
1t appears that some one has been guilty
Of contempt Of court, and a full investiga-
tiOn must follow. Some one has tempered
Kely's evidence prior to the above reve-
latiOn went to show how he, as assistant
station agent &C Calstoga, had received
boxes purD0Eing to contain picture
frames" but in reality containing barrel
heads. On these heads were the Govern
ment internal revenue stamps which, when
nsed by Lang, cheated the Government out
Of about $50 each. lie noted the numbers
of the stamps and proof marks and noted
the occasions OF the shipments.
Since the seizure Kelly has left Calistoga
and is now station agent at Tehama. He is
a tall, well-built man of % years of age and
sports light brown mustache as an orna-
ment to his far from unhandsome face. He
is single man.
Among the other Witnesses examined yes
terday were Charles Newman, the Deputy
Collector at Sacramento who made the
seizure, aud Walter Sink. r. II. Brown and
l.. X. Tull, United States gaugers. The case
viii take couple or three days more.