The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-27


nor heard none.
Bay Robinson was then put on the wit
ness-stand. BE is a resident of Lodi, and
testified that he had known Crabtree,
Dobson and Halter for two months. He
remembered the night of the Gait fire,
and was with Dobson on that night. He
met Dobson in saloon at about P. NJ.
They drank there, and after going to sew
erai places and emptying a bottle of
whisky they separated. This was be-
tween II and l2'o'clock. The witness saw
Peter Halter in Lodi the day after the
Calf fire. Halter told him that Jack lay
lor had 800 Of his money. He asked the
witness TO go over to Proctor's saloon and
tell Taylor he wanted to see him. Wit
ness refused, SO Haller went over him
self.
Under cross-examination the witness
said that he went to the Sacramento depot
to meet Waterman Hamilton, because
he had an interest in the case.''
oh. you have an interest in the case,
have your" said the District Attorney,
quickly.
81 thought had" said Robinson hest
tatingly.
When did you change your mind?"
1 haven't changed
case?"
EYES,"
w HdG IS LnaU 1ntereSt?''
They are friends to me-"
''oh, no! That's it, is it. All right.n
Later on the witness denied that he had
any interest in the case, except that he
peIleYed the defendants were innocent.
DoBsoN's REPUTATION.
There was a buzz of excitement in the
courtroom when the defense placed
Henry Dobson on the witness-stand. He
IS one OF the defendants, and is the one
who made the statement to the District
Attorney and others at the County Jail
which statement has been introduced in
evidence in the case.
Dobson testified that he was resident
OF Lodi, and is married. In answer to
questions asked by Mr.. Johnson, he
told the circumstances of his arrest, his
subsequent release on bail and rearrest
when his bondsmen surrendered him
and Crabtree. He had nothing to eat that
evening, and was given some LIQUOR to
drink by Constable Martin, who had him
in custody. After he was returned to the
jail he was locked up. Later in the even
ing somebody came to his cell and told
him that his bondsmen were outside. He
was taken out into the Sheriff's office and
found gang" there. He did not know
who they all were, and did not remember
3nuch of what he or they said, as he was
confused and pretty full. One of the
party was Mr., Ryan, the District Attor-
Iney. This official told him that he had
better tell the truth like man, and Nc
Ministry would let him off.
Did anybody else talk to your" asked
Mr.. Johnson.
sob, yes; they were all trying to give
me the razzle-dazZle," replied Dobson.
+ What did Bruner say TO your"
He said he had four aces on me, and
that would get ten years if did not tell
what | knew. Mr.. Ryan then said that if
/ would tell he would see me through,
and would see that l got off,
/ At this juncture Attorney | Johnson
moved to strike out of evidence the con-
fession of Dobson, which was introduced
during the examination, on the ground
that it was not a voluntary one.
Mr.. Ryan insisted upon cross examin-
ing the witness, so the motion was tenn
porarily Withdrawn.
/ on THE RACK.
The cross-examination Dobson was
subjected to was vigorous one. Dob
| son insisted that he could not remember
what took place on the night he made the
confession. He said the officers were
giving him the worst of it," and had
him ''rattled.'
Ibid you make any statement at all
that night ?" asked Mr.. Ryan.
81 don't know. If / did I must have
been crazy" replied Dobson.
MIR. Ryan then asked the witness if he
had not sent word to him tRyan) on
Thursday that he wanted to see him. and.
meeting him at the Sheriff's office, if he
did not offer to repeat the confession on
the witness-stand if the District Attorney
would make him State witness.
Dobson was very Teticent on this sub
ject. He admitted that he had met the
District Attorney and had had talk with
him. He declared, though, that Mr..
Ryan had asked him to turn States evil
dence, but he the witness) only said he
would see about it.
In answer to further questions asked
by the District Attorney, Dobson said he
had had talk with j. K. McKinstry in
Lodi several days ago, but he denied that
he had admitted to him that he had made
a confession
When the District Attorney was
through with Dobson Mr.. Johnson re-
newed his motion to have the confession
stricken from the evidence.
The prosecution announced that they
wished to contradict Dobson's evidence.
SO Mr.. Johnson's motion was temporarily
withdrawn again.
BRUNER DENIES 1T.
Attorney Bruner was placed on the
witness-stand and denied that he told
Dobson he ''had four aces on him. He
was taken into the Jail to see Dobson by
Chief OF Police Drew. He only talked to
Dobson few minutes. and asked him if
he desired to make a statement. Dobson
said he would make statement to Dis
trict Attorney Ryan. Bruner and the
Chief then wentaway and hunted up Mr.
! Ryan. When they found him they Sc
cured the services of Stenographer Davis.
and with Police Captain Lee and the
! Sheriff, visited the jail again. Dobson
was brought oat and Voluntarily made a
confession. Mr.. Bruner said the idea
| that Dobson would confess was evolved
in his own mind and that there was no
| talk about the matter with the District
| Attorney or others prior to Dobson's
confession. The witness denied pos
! iUively that any promises of immunity
/ were held out to Dobson in order to pet
| him to make the statement.
Sheriff Stanley was the next witness.
/ He testified that he was present when
1 DobSon made his confession. He was
positive that there Were no threats or
| promises.
/ Under cross the Sheriff
! explained that he permitted the District
! Attorney and others to see Dobson be-
! cause they had arranged for the inter-
/ view with Under Sheriff Bugbey during
| the witness absence. He did not know
! that Mr.. johnson was Dobson's attorney,
/ but added that even If he had known il
/ he would have acted just as he did
Police Captain Lee was sworn and cor
roborated the statements that no threats
or promises were made to Dobson. The
! latter made the statement voluntarily
and was not drunk.
DID NOT DECEIVE HIM.
/ Deputy Sheriff Alter testified that he
was acting as night jailer at the County
/ Jail the night that Dobson confessed
i Dobson was sober that night. The wit
ness denied that when he took Dobsor
/ from his cell he told him that "his bonds
men were outside" What he did tell
4 him was that the Sheriff wanted to SEE
I him. Witness did not know what was