The record-union., 1893-11-17
NJ MULLEN In CONTEMPT.
He is Wanted to Testify in the
Jefferis Case.
The Prosecution Closes Its Case, and
the Defense VIII Open Up
This Morning.

Yesterday the trial of George B. Jefferis
for the murder of Clara O. Ayres was re-
sumed before Judge Prewett. sitting in
Department One of the Superior Court.
Al Starkey, the engineer, was recalled
by the prosecution, and ne identified the
mask, revolver, etc., which he testified
were left in his room by Jeiferis some
time prior to the tragedy.
Their introduction was opposed by
General Hart, Jefferis' counsel, who de-
clared that they had been brought before
the jury for effect, but they were shown.
General Hart then put Starkey through
another course of severe cross-ex-
animation similar to that to which the
witness was subjected on the occasion of
the bigamy trial some months ago. 1t
was in regard to an alleged conversation
between Starkey and one BLACK Frank"
at the Lafayette Saloon, in which it was
iutimated that Starkey had made over
lures TO Frank 10 do away with woman
IN consideration of the payment of 5000.
The witness again denied knowing
BLACK Frank" or ever having any such
conversation with any one.
Detective True was recalled and teStl-
lied that after Starkey had made his state
ment TO the officers, soon after his arrest,
he (the oificer went to Starkey's room
ana secured the mask, pistol, etc.
Then came the examination of various
papers, kilograms and marriage certifi-
Gates by experts for the purpose of prov
ing, If possible, Jefferis' signatures there
to. Most of this evidence was also SIM
liar to that brought out by the same wit
nesses in the bigamy case.
a. Abbott, Cashier of the California
State Bank, was the first handwriting ex-
pert called. He was shown the following
telegram, sent from San Francisco on the
morning before the Brighton station was
burned, and told to compare it with JEFF
ferris handwriting. The telegram read
SAN FRANCISCO, December %. 1892.
o. AyreS, Brighton, Culi(oynto: Got message
OF MI turgerson TINS morning. VIII send
package to-day. FRANK.
Mr.. Abbott was also shown the tele-
gram signed Frank sent from Sacra-
mento to Miss AyreS by some unknown
person. and he testified to his belief that
both kilograms were written by one and
the same person.
Witness was also quite positive that the
handwriting OF letter from Jeheris to
his first wife (Mrs. Fonte) and the sigma
ture in the San Francisco marriage license
book were by the same person.
The signature of George Goth Jefferis''
in the san MateO marriage license book
witness said was evidently In a forced
hand.
Witness explained the differences be-
tween long list OF signatures by Jetferis
and the one in the san Francisco mar
riage license book, and said those on the
list were evidently disguised. The sig
nature in the San Francisco marriage
license book, he said, bore evidence that
the person who wrote it was embarrassed
at tue time, or in great haste. There was
tremulousness in it which he could
not see in ether signatures OF Jefferis.
In reply to General Hart, witness said
that was not an indication that it was
made by person initiating the signature.
Fred Y. Williams, book-keeper for
Hall, Luhrs IL Co., and formerly cashier
of the Capital Savings Bank, gave testi-
mony concerning the handwriting in the
various documents. He gave it as the
result of his examination that the sigma
ture in the San Francisco marriage license
book and that of Jefferis on slips al
mitted to have been signed by him, were
written by the same person.
The application for the alleged fraud
ulent San Mateo license, signed Eugene
Goth Jetferis," Mr.. Williams said was
signature that he would refuse to cash
check upon.
Frank Miller, President of the D. 0.
Mills Bank, also testified as an expert,
=
other experts.
General Hart had Daniel O'Hern re-
called and asked him if he did not state
to John Catlin. while in the County Jail,
that he was going to employ another law
yer, and if Jef1ieris, with the aid of his
attorney, did not help him out that he
would cinch him?
mo, SIR" replied the witness. 81 never
made such statement"
C.. II. Jones then said that this closed
the evidence of the prosecution with the
exception of that of George c. McMullen,
whom they regarded as a very important
witness, and who was somewhere in the
East out of the jurisdiction of the court
He would not ask q postponement of the
case on that account, but would request
the court to allow them to put Mr.. Nc
Mullen on the stand if he should put in
an appearance before the close of the
case. He said he saw Mr.. McMullen in
Chicago some weeks ago, and McMuIlen
then said he would be on hand for the
trial.
Judge Prewett said that Mr.. McMullen
was clearly in contempt. He asked the
District Attorney to file the facts in the
form of an affidavit between now and
Monday, and he would take it under adj
visement.
The court thereupon adjourned to 10
A. NJ. to-day, at which time General Hart
will make the opening statement for the
defense.