The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-27
DOBSON'S BAD MEMORY.
He Does Not RecolIect Having Made
a Confession.
ssLarupin' Jack's'' Alleged Aibi-
More Startling Testimony in the
Gait Arson Case.

Gait Arson Case.
The preliminary examination of the
alleged Gait incendiaries was resumed
before Justice of the Peace Henry yes
lerday morning.
There was fully as large throng Of
spectators in attendance as on the previ-
GUS day. and the Deputy Sheriffs and Con-
stables were kept busy preserving order.
The morning session was held IN
superior Judge Catlin's courtroom, but
n the afternoon, the room was engaged
by the Judge himself, and Justice Henry
lad to move back into his own court.
HALLER AGAIN.
The. defense resumed its side of the
case and called Peter Haller-one of the
defendants who turned States evidence
the stand for further cross-examina-
ton.
He was asked by Grove L. Johnson if
he had not had conversation with John
8andeen in Gait last Sunday, in which
ne said that the published reports of the
.harges against him and the other de-
endants were a pack Of lies.
Halter replied that he had only said
did you not tell him. pursued Mr..
Johnson, shat you knew where Taylor
got the money alleged TO have been paid
aim by Crabtree for setting ire to the
larn; that you staked him to play poker
md that he won; that he was dead
shot at poker?'
ST said Taylor was a dead shot, but
did not say 1 knew where he got the
money!" said Halter.
'Do you know man named Bay Rob
inson, who lives at Lodi?"
IF know him, do not know him by
liame."
'Do you know a man named H Nc
Hugh, also of Lodi?"
mo, sir.
Mr.. johnson announced that Robinson
and McHugh were ell route from Lodi on
he train, and Halter was excused tempo
farily.
THAT ALIBT.
S. Proctor, the Lodi saloon and hotel
keeper, who is one of the defense's
strongest witnesses regarding the alibi
attempting to be proved on behalf of the
defendant Taylor, alias "Larupin Jack, y
vas recalled to the stand and testified
that after he had put Taylor to bed on the
night of January sd, he (Proctor) went
10 bed about $50 A. NJ. Before retiring,
and about a. NJ, he went into Taylors
room to put the light out. Taylor was
here and in bed.
On -cross-eXamination Proctor said the
tact of his putting Taylor TO bed at mid
}nght on the night of the fire was inn
pressed upon him because he had en-
iaged Taylor to drive his wife to Stock
ION the next day, and as he desired them
10 start early he did not wish Taylor to
remain up late. This trip was not made,
however, as Taylor was too drunk when
around the next morning.
DIDN'T KNOW JOHNSON.
At this juncture George Johnson was
brought into the room, and witness did
not recognize him and did not remember
ever having seen him. He could not re-
member that on the Tuesday after the
lire he told Johnson that Taylor did not get
TO the hotel the night of the fire until 4 A.
Il Witness could not remember when he
was first told he would be wanted as a
witness in the case. George Crabtree
told him about week ago he would be
subpenaed. He did not think Henry
Crabtree had ever spoken 60 him about
the case.
James II. Pope of Lodi, barkeepcr.
was the next witness. He knew Jack
aylor and remembered the night of the
tfalt fire. Witness was in Proctor's res
taurant on the night of the fire, about IL
O'clock, and saw Taylor there playing
cards. He had also seen Taylor about 8
o'clock.
John Brewster, a merchant of Gait, re-
Inembered the fire of the night of Jan
airy 23d. The fire started about HAS.
Witness said he had known George Crab
tree about twenty years; had known
Harry DobSon about fifteen years. Their
general reputation for truth and veracity
was good.
EVIDENCE AS TO CHARACTER.
A number of witnesses were then
called who testified that they knew
Crabtree or Dobson or both, and knew
taat their regulations for truth, honesty
snd Veracity in the community in which
they lived were good. Those who gave
this kind of testimony were Ralph 4.
Niles of Gait, who is in partnership with
Crabtree in ranch; Joseph Whitaker
Of the same place; /. NJ. Smith, one of the
guards Of the chain-gang; James Hicks
Ct HicksVllle (the man who is said TO
have dubbed Taylor 'Larupin Jack''), S.
J.. Wriston, Solomon Kreeger, Jud G..
Brusie and William Ennis.
Halter was called again and once more
cenied that he told anybody that the
money Taylor had belonged to him HAL
ler).
George Held, Frankie Bundshoe and
Charles Quiggle, all of Gait, testified that
The FIRE started before midnight.
Recess.
CHANGED QUARTERS.
AS some of the attorneys in the case
lad business to attend TO in the Superior
court, ii was nearly . @. CLOCK before the
examination was resumed. Both of the
superior Court rooms were engaged, so
the hearing had to proceed III Justice
Henry's little courtroom. 1t could ac-
commodate about a third of those who
esired to be present. The balance had
to content themselves to remain out on
Inc sidewalk.
The defense called j. w. Beckwith to
the stand. BE testified that he was har-
1sessInaker and had lived at Gait fourteen
ears. He remembered the occasion OF
the fire at that place, on the night of the
I'D of January. He was positive that he
saw the livery stable burning about fif-
teen minutes before midnight, and he
thought it had been burning some ten
llinutes before he saw it. The witness
lnew both Crabtree and Dobson and
said their regulations for truth, honesty
and integrity were good.
John Bandeen, farmer living near
Gait, was the next witness. He reTnem-
tered having talked with Halter after the
ire with reference to the story published
regarding the alleged incendiarism; Hal
Ter said il was a pack of d lies" and
tat he gave Taylor the money he had TO
7 lay poker with.
Bay Robinson was called for, but as he
7fas not present and the defense did not
wish 10 proceed further without him, a
recess was taken.
Robinson was not in attendance when
court reconvened, SO Matthew Hamilton,
Waterman of Lodi, was placed on the
7yitness-stand. He testified that he had
Known Crabtree and Dobson for some
time, and knew where the livery stable,
owned By the Crabtree brothers, was To-
Gated. The stable was on the east side OF
the railroad. and there was nothing be-
tween the stable and the railroad. tie re-
Rendered the night that the ire occurred
ct Salt, and was on duty on the main