The record-union., 1892-12-24
DOBGON'S TRIAL.
Witnesses Tell How His Alleged Con-
fession Was Taken.
Judge CatlIn Rules That the State
ment is Not Evidence Unless OBJ
tanned Without Promises.

The trial of Henry Dobson, one of the
alleged Gait frebugs, was resumed be-
fore Judge Catlin yesterday morning.
jury having been obtained the pre-
vious day the taking OF testimony was
proceeded with, j. X. Mckinstry, whose
barn il was that was burned, being the
first witness called. He described his
property, gave the date of the fire, and
said he understood that Dobson was en-
ployed by George Crabtree, who is
thought by the prosecution to have been
the instigator of the plot to burn Nc
Kinstry out.
District Attorney Ryan next endeav-
Ored to place in evidence an alleged con-
1ession made at the County Jail by Dob
son to Sheriff Stanley, Mr. Ryan, eX-Chie1
of Police Drew, Timothy Lee and Elwood
Bruner, and taken in shorthand by STEM
ographer Win j. Davis. But as Judge
Catlin had declared that he would not
admit the statement unless it were shown
that it was obtained without promises or
inducements, Mir. Ryan adopted the
method of proving the existence of the
statement and how it was obtained by
the officials in whose presence DobsOn is
said TO have confessed. He called on
Stenographer Davis nrst, and the witness
said he took the statement down in short
hand. He said that Sheriff Stanley, eX-
Chief Drew and Mr.. Ryan were present.
EX-Chief Drew was the next witness,
and he testified that Mr.. Stanley and Mr..
Bruner were present when he talked to
Dobson. The latter said he wanted to
make a statement, and Mr.. Bruner told
him he could if he desired. The witness
was sure that no inducements were held
out TO Dobson to make the confession.
The cross OF the ex-Chief
by Grove l.. johnson developed the fact
that the defense will fight the statement
on the ground that it was obtained by
promises by some one assuming author
lily. AS there were several statements
made at different times and to different
persons, promises might have been made
by some and not heard by others.
AT the afternoon session Sheriff Stan
ley testihed that he heard Dobson make
his confession, and knew of no promises
or inducements having been held out to
him.
EX-Police Captain Lee gave testimony
similar to that of the Sheriff, and on
cross-examination denied that any in
ducements had been held out.
When Captain Lee left the Witness
stand District Attorney Ryan stated that
he had expected that Mr.. Drew's testi-
mony would cover all that Elwood Bru-
ner would testify to, but as Mr.. Drew
could not remember all that was said,
it would be necessary now TO have Mr..
Bruner present. Mr. Bruner was out of
the city and would have to be sent for.
Mr.. Ryan therefore asked that an adj
jOurnment be taken.
Juror Wilson objected to a session to-
day as it was a Jewish holiday.
Attorney Johnson suggested that a con-
tinuance be taken until after New ear
He had an engagement for the middle of
next week at Paso Robes and could not
be present then.
Judge Catiin did not want to continue
the case until January, as the calendar
was full.
After some further talk the case was
finally continued until Tuesday, Janu-
airy Sd.