The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-16
ACTOR CURTIS'S STORY.

IA VI W. ~ W. ~ IN ~ ~ " ~
HE DID NOT HAVE A PISTOL, AND
DID NOT SHOOT POLICEMAN GRANT.
He Says He was Knocked Down and the
Policeman Arrested Him and His As.
saiiant-The Policeman was shot by the
Other Man. and Curtis Ran Down tho
Street with the Nippers ON Hts Wrist.
BAN FRANCISCO. Fob. 15.-In the trial Of Actor
Curtis for murder to-day the defence was out
lined. and the actor himself testified. Mrs.
Curtis occupied her accustomed seat by the
sido OF her husband. who nodded with q
smile to acquaintance as they entered the
court ROOM John Wilson. ESQ. opened for
Curtis He declared that tho nipper was upon
tho right wrist OF Curtis. and it would have
been impossible for him to shoot Grant. The
prosecution had tried to prove TINT Curtis was
left-handed. They got n gunsmith OF Oakland
to swear that Curtis was left-handed. He
afterward admitted on the witness stand that
the police had induced him to commit perjury.
The fact is Curtis Is not left-handed, he is
right Wewil prove there were three
mon there One ran across the street, and the
police were informed OF that fact, but they
hnvo suppressed this testimony. Within ton
minutes after the shooting Curtis said: Il
never owned a pistol. That Is not my pistol,
and did not shoot Officer Grant We do not
propose to try the police, but we will prove
Curtis did not murder Grant
" Tho defendants namo Is Maurice B. Strel-
niger. He was born in Detroit thirty nine
years ago. and was baptized in tho Episcopal
Church. We will show you by the testimony
OF Attorneys Kowalsky and Long that. on the
morning after the shooting. Policeman Beede
in tho capacity OF u spy. knowing Manager
Kreling Of tho Tivoll Theatre was a warm
friend Of Curtis. went into tho city prison and
into tho presence OF Curtis and performed one
OF the most contemplate and cowardly acts a
man can perform. He put his arm around the
neck OF Curtis and said in German that KrelinR
had sent him to ask where he got tho pistol
where he got the whiskey. and why he shot
Grant Curtis replied he had been instructed
by his attorney. kowalsky. not to talk about
the matter. Then the policeman stepped back
and said:
You dirty little Jew. you are IN a bad box
1--WE will prove that Mullins and Twomey,
two witnesses for the prosecution. went to Ko-
walsky's office the day after the shooting and
made different statements about the matter
from what they testified to on the witness
stand.
Suitiss Wheu dDoul - years oIus CnOSo tu0
stage as profession. He adopted the custom
Of theatrical people and changed his name
from Strclinger to Curtis. Lawrence Barrett's
name was Brannigan. and SO on down the list.
We will defy the prosecution or the police to
find q single blot upon his character or good
name. On tho night of tho shooting he came
to this city from his homo in Berkeley. and
lad $40. with which he Intended to pay bill.
hut missed the man to whom he owed the
money. He remained with his wife at the the
the Tiyol Theatre. telling his wife that il. he
did not return for her to meet him at the last
Curtis then started for the TivolL He had
; {hs in 1 q ilq%G1; We %usf eon
sissfss ssHsS hn fhs shs
%itcS Dy Mh na 4eans eu sse
The man accompanied him; At Sixth street he
as mind hs wGpS get rid Of I
Hbou. half the length Of the block when he
heard a step behind him AS he turned
e and Arrested ar both SM him and Es assa
ant. The policeman started with the two. and
& s nppsf sa a to run x Mr IL cS ae
wanted 70 and his wife. Curtis Ala not then
out until he got to the police station, The po-
licemau took the two men toward the station
mousse. lHSy CTOSSeu fOlSOH street.. GURUS
did not then know where the police station
The next thing Curtis recollects is he was
toward the building. and then two other shots
were fired Believing he r was being shot At.
and VAS imposSblo for ON MT the a op
posite side of tho street to tell whether there
were two or 1--WE pe e.s shere. 4 man resid;;
Fifth streets, was i'll and up when he heard
q. shots. He saw man run rapidly up
had under arrest. We will prove by Mrs Abb
S9t that there h re
were coming from the Tivoli. saw man. not
Curtis; run up Fifth street immedia!sly after
not have a pistol upon his person that night.
and that ne is not in the habit Of CARRYING I!
Il Il be- III
r. Davis that tho bruises found d upon o Curtis
Jumped mp on BY the robher We will SHOW w that
Curtis had 10 fotp I 66 Tor sh
shot had n reason for firing"
Curtis then took the stand and told almost
technically the story outlined by Wilson He
tho most emphatic manner:
nre NY RistG!! that night In fact my pistol
Then Pistol |; w Vas shown to him. and he
carried his money in a leather bag In his hip
pocket. This money he had not disturbed that
Tho cross-examnation did not shake Cur
tis's testimony in any detail
Attorney kowalsky testified to meeting Cur
tbs on the morning after tho shooting The
fret thing Curtis did was soemnly to assure
kownlsky that he had not shot .Grnnt:. Kowal:
Toomcy made on him. They wanted to know
what there was in 1t for them. kowalsky said;
then one Of them said that they saw the row
and heard the shooting. Then two men. one
with light overcoat and one with dark over
coat, ran away" Despite objections, this was
admitted
After some testimony as to CurtIs's good
character the court adjourned. 1t was q field
day for the actor. for hescan sustain his story
he cannot be convicted.
CRAZY TO START 4 JOURNAL.