The morning call., 1892-02-10
TRIAL OF CURTIS.
Officers Who Captured Him Give
Their Testimony.
The Steel Nippers in Evidence-The Defense
Clearly Outlined Scenes in Court
Roland Reed Visitor.

The steel uippers found fastened to NJ. B.
CurtIs' right wrist on the night Of his arrest
for murder and a section of wood from a
board fence on Folsom street, through which
bullet had passed, were admitted in evil
dsnce at The trial of Curtis yesterday.
The only witnesses sworn during the day
we're three police officers, 2. Bode, j. J.
Allen and Charles NJ. Reynolds. The first
two officers chased the mau seen running
away. and the third officer, as clerk IN the
Office of the Chief of Police. had had charge
Of written statements Of certain Of the other
witnesses.
SCENES IN COURT
The usual crowd Of spectators were early
Oh hand. Mrs Curtis never leaves her hus-
bands side. and she sat in her accustomed
seat yesterday.
The brave little woman exhibits remark
able c0mposure under the trying ordeal. No
word escapes her. At times she leans her
elbows upon the table in front of her, aud
supporting her head in her hands, bends
forward and peers at tie witness. She
often chats with her husband in an earnest
way.
lie keeps a little red-coyered memoran-
DUN book before him into which he jOts IN
hurried manner points that may avail him
in bis defense He, too, watches closely
each witness, and confers occasionally with
Messrs. Knight and Wilson, who sit nearest
to him. Mr.. Fcote conducts the case tor
the defense, and is on his feet most of the
time.
ROLAND REEDS HAND-sHAKE.
Roland Reed, accompanied by his busi-
ness manager Mr.. Pennoyer, dropped in to
see Curtis yesterday ana, after OOtn gentle
men had shaken him cordially by the hand,
remained with HIM during the afternoon.
Mr.. Reed took q seat on the left Of MI.
Curtis, slightly TO bis rear, and listened
very closely TO the testimony OF the officers.
The Rev. w. W. Davis, the well-ku0Wn
Protestant Episcopal clergyman, also came
in and shook hands with the defendant.
TIE FIGHT FOR CONVICTION
Thus far the trial has proceeded without
any serious controversies between opposing
counsel. District Attorney Barnes and his
assistant, Mr.. Hinkle. both Young men, are
making very vigorous fight 10 secure a
conviction Quick with objections 10 the
admission Of iuu ateTial or Irrelevant
matter they succeed IN getting a great
many rulings against the cunning and In
genIOuS F.Ote. Judge Trout is prompt in
his decisions and has Illus far shown no
open Partially for either side. The trial IS
exceptionally free from WTanges between
counsel or long WiLded arguments on points
OF law.
Tie Jury show no signs Of fatigue They
are a very intelligent body, far above the
average jury, and they appear 10 pay very
close attention 20 the evidence
PROGRESS OF THE TRIAL.
Tie Indications are that the trial VIII last
for several days 10 come. The prosecution
have already produced about fifteen Wit
uesses, and there are seven more to be
ballad n f}rA q, tex la q o.
PENDANT These seven are what the lawyers
call "shOTl' witnesses. Their testimony
will be brief. Possibly the case for the PEG
pie viii close this afternoon
Ii Is uOtSet known how many witnesses
viii be examined for the defense. but il is
understood a large number will be called
Including those 10 be called 10 testify to the
inoffensiye disposition and good character Of
the man who stands charged with the terri
bic crime.
A WITNESS THAT WHISPERED.
Officer BUde was the first witness called
yesterday. He IS a c9mpactly built little
man with a nectarne polish on his rudy
cheeks and a sh0ebrush under MS nose,
which passes for his mUStacne. lie gave a
great deal of trouble % lawyers and re-
poTteTs because Of his aversion % speaking
above a whisper HIS jaws were not Idle.
They were as active as a dynamo. 4 Quid
of chew lUE-gUm was the motive power.
Once be was asked to spit it out 50 that his
words could be heard. lie held fast to the
Quid, and 10 schoolgirl could suTpaSs him
in either speed or endurance Of jaw action
Oh gum stick.
OFFICER BODE TELLS BIS STORY.
This officers story was largely repeti-
ton Of what had already been told By other
Witnesses He identified the uippers be-
cause he had marked them when they were
taken from the defendants wrist He iden-
titled the short heavy OveTcOat worn by
Curtis. He Identified a s0da-Water bottle,
containing some kIud Of lIQuOT, taken out
of the Defendants pocket when 0vertaken
and captured on Shipey street With Mr..
Hinke as a subject he showed how the
nippers appeared on the defendants wrist.
He testified that he had never lost ght Of
Curtis from the time he began TO chase him !;
also that Curtis crossed dIagOnally from
Folsom into Fifth, instead Of sharply turn
ing The corner.
A TURNING POINT.
The significance Of this point in the evil
denCe is evidently considered of great i'm
poTiance 10y the defense in ablishing their
contention that Curtis could not have
plac. d the pistol where it vas found unless
be turned the corner sharply and then
passed along the sidewalk on the east side
Of Fifth street.
MIR. Foote'S cTOSS-eXamiuatiOn Of Officer
B0de was searching and severe. The law
yer desired TO show that on the morning
lOilUNllR Tue uOm4EtQFs DOQes dressed IN
citizens clothes, visited Curtis in his cell,
and there asked him If he wouldn't like a
drink Of whisky ont Of a bottle he took with
him; that having failed, IN tile language Of
Mr.. FOOte, TO bullyrag' Curtis before he
bad a chance TO see his friends, he, BOde,
remarked to Curtis, You - little Jewlsh
---, you are in hot box; that be-
fore using these words he had Informed
Curtis that be, BOde, had come from a
friend Of his 10 find out where he got the
whisky found on his person, where lie got
tile pistol and why be had shot the man,
and that soon afterward Mr. Kowalsky,
coming along said 10 BOde, "WhO are you ?''
at the same time opening Bodies coat and
exposing his police star 10 the defendant.
WAS CURTIS BRUIsED2
All these charges Bode, the witness, de-
MED very positively. He was then asked
his object in visiting Curtis in the prison.
He replied that il was TO see whether he
had any bruises, as be had been told that
Curtis hal complained, when arrested, thai
be bad been attacked by h0Odlums. The
only mark he found on him was a slight
abrasion on the wrist at a point above The
place where the nippers had clasped him
DR.. Williams and Officer Cole examined
Curtis also, and stripped him to search fol
bruises. They did not examine his head
and witness had not been Informed thai
there was big lump on the back Of Curtis
head.
BoDE AS RUNNER.
Mr.. FoOte next cross-examined Officer
Bode al great length with regard to his pur-
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