The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-05
TO SHIELD The B0ODLER.
Mccall Tried to Call Down
0ttinger.
THE BRUNER BRIBERY CASE
Judge Wallace's Court Crowded With Spec.
tators to Witsess the Trial OF Assem-
blyman Elwood Bruner.

ue tElal Oh ASSemDiyuidu LiWOUu
Bruner is strong drawing card. and Judge
Wallace's court is continually crowded
during the hearing of this famous case.
Yesterday the proceedings were dry
enough to suit probate lawyer. Beyond
the gravity of the charge itself and the
positive evidence of Witness Ottinger there
was little to interest anybody with mind
above the trivialities of legal technicalites.
1t was day of cross-examina chiefly
and Witness Ot!inger was the sufferer.
Attorney Reddy was the inquisitor.
When court opened he brought out big
pile Of typewriter manuscript the pre-
vous examinations of Mr.. OttiDger
Referring to this transcript. he began
with the conversation between Ottinger
and Bruner, when the price to be paid Tor
sqnelchng the bill was named.
The fact is that you don't know when
the conversation took placer" asked Mr..
ReddY.
II know pretty near; can tell within
three or four days"
well, was it the first day of March or
the second day or before the first day"
1T might have been either; am not
certain"
did you not swear about fourteen times
In your previous examinations that the con-
March P'
well. perhaps Ibid. l still swear the
same"
What part OF the day did the converse
ton take piace?'
The witness did not remember.
DID you have more than one converse
ton with Mr.. Bruner about bill zoo in San
francisco"
Il am not positive"
Then why do you swear to what You are
not positive Off"
Sometimes | aCl positive about thing
and sometimes | am not"
You have testified that yen had two con-
versatons with Mr.. Bruner in San Fran
cisco; one during the Legislature and one
after it had adjourned; do you still say
that?"
Are you certain2"
= es, sir"
Are you able to remember the exact
language of Mr.. Bruner in that first con-
versatlon you had with him in your back
room on Market street?"
NO. SIR"
Then YOU have put your own construc-
ton on Mr.. Burners language?"
AS recollect it; yes, Sir"
and you are likely TO make mistakes?"
Sometimes"
WAS there ever any sum OF money
agreed upon as the price OF this work in
San Franc!sco?"
81 thought it was reduced TO SCOOP"
mot at first
Then there were two conversations about
money!"
Yes; first the sum demanded was
Sl50C and the second time $1,000"
have you not testified that there was
but one conversation in San Francisco re-
gardlng money where money was de-
manded?"
Eyes, SIR"
did you not say to Miss Nichols yester-
day afternoon IN your tffice al go Market
street, that you were now going to send
Bruner to jail or 90 there yourself"
II did,
Did You not. on that occasion, admit to
Mrs. Heath and Miss Nichols having had
the conversation about MIR. Bruner on the
train from Stockton to San Francisco, Satur-
day, September ZAP"
mo, Sir"
The jury was excused and the rest Of the
morning session was occupied in an en-
Geavor Of Mr.. Reddy TO introduce proof Of
Witness OttInger's conviction in the Police
Court.
Judge Wallace ruled against the admis-
sion OF this proof, rs the offense was not
felony. Only conviction for felony could
be proved to show the unreliabilty of
witness, he said.
1t should be stated, in this connection,
that Mr.. Ottipger appealed from the Police
Court conviction and was exonerated in a
higher court.
In the afternoon Attorney Foote began
redirect examination of Witness Ottinger.
dis questions provoked numerous objee-
tions and interJections from Attorney
Reddy.
rs il fact that at the examination be-
fore Judge Coffey you tried to shield Mr.,
Bruner ?" asked Attorney Foote.
at is"
AT whose suggestion ?"
"Mr. McCail's."
Here Mr.. Reddy objected, and the court
hnaiIy ruled out much of the testimony that
Mr.. Foote desired to bring out as showing
that Mccall was trying to get Ottnger 10
shield Bruner.
Secretary of State Waite was called to
prove the date of bill 7O6
Inc trial Will be continued this morning.