The morning call., 1893-06-22
MUST BE TRIED.
Judge Morrow Refuses M.
d. Howell a Delay.
TWO WITNESSES MISSING.
After Long Delay the Accused Must
Now Answer to the Charge of
Passing Counterfeit Coin.

Upon the opening of the United States
District Court yesterday morning every
available seat in the courtroom was occu-
pleu by persons attracted there by the trial
OIL Nj. ID. Howell, charged with passing
counterfeit coin. The Government was
represented by United States District
Attorney Garter, and the defendant by
Attorneys Campbell. Pillsbury and Bald
win.
Immediately upon the calling of the case
Attorney Campbell announced that the
defendant was not ready to proceed with
the trial of the case, owing to the absence
from the State of two important witnesses,
VINO. If present, would give material evil
denee In behalf of the defense.
lie informed the court that the names of
the missing witnesses were H. c. Shaw
and 5. c. Harson Of Stockton. By the
latter witness they expected to prove that
he was present in HowelPs office when a
box OF counterfeit coin was received and
later carried off by man named NJ H.
Jones. He desired the case continued
until some time in August, and in support
OF MS motion quoted numerous authorities.
District Attorney Garter opposed a con-
tlnuance, stating that it was only trick
OF the defense to delay the trial; that
there had been ample time between the
continuance on May y to the present time
TO have secured the attendance of the
missing witnesses.
The day was taken up with the argu-
ments OF the attorneys upon the motion
and at its conclusion Judge Morrow de-
cIded that the trial must proceed and that
the evidence of the absent witnesses,
given In the first trial, would be admitted
IN the present one.
This will be the second tIial of Howell
on charge of having in his possession
and passing counterfeit coin. On the first
trial the Jury disagreed.
About ntteen months ago the State be-
came hooded with spurious coin, and Gov
eminent officials began to hunt for its
source. The investigation resulted in un-
covering gang OF counterfeit tiers. A man
named Abattt and several accomplices
manufactured the spurious coin, while
Howell and others secured it's circulation.
w hen the Government officers had COM
pleted their inquiry they had turned up
one of the largest and NEST dangerous
band of counterfeiters in the country.
Howell, by reason of his standing and
wealth, was admirably suited for pass
Ing the coin. 1t IS charged that he
bought II In large quantities and then
passed it upon the people of Stockton and
other places.
Upon one occasion several hundred dol
lars worth of spurious 81 pieces were
shipped by express from this city TO How.
ell at stockton. While in the express
Office in this city Secret Service Agent
Harris opened the package and marked
each piece. some Of which were passed by
Howell.
Upon his first trial Howell's attorneys
Insisted that tie guilty man was NJ. H
Jones, who Occupied a desk in H0well's
Stockton store. The Government made a
search for Jones, but he has never been
found.
The Defendant has secured continuances
from time to time with the hope of helping
his case.
The work of securing a jury will begin
this morning, and it is expected that the
trial will consume two weeks time.