The morning call., 1893-08-19
THREE MEN.
A Witness Who Had Very
Weak Eyes.
IN MURDER TRIALS.
He Once Denied All Knowledge of the
Curtis Case Because of Former
Experience.

The trial OF NJ. B. Curtis for the murder
OF Policeman Grant was res umed before
Judge Murphy yesterday, when witnesses
were called for the defense
The first was Daniel Meyer. a ca pitalist,
who testified that he had known Curtis for
some years and had always found him a
well-behaved, respectable man.
Constable Edward j. Gordon Of Berke-
ley said that he met Curtis on the night of
the shooting. Curtis was very drunk and
witness had to help him on board the
train. He said he was going to take his
wife to see Sarah Bernhard that night.
and showed his pockets full OF twenty
dollar gold pieces.
On cross-examination the witness said
that he did not testify at the former trials
because he was not asked to.
William j. Shreve was called by the
prosecution as an expert On guns. He
identified Curtis revolver as a 3S Smith q
Wesson, and was asked to weigh the bullet
found in Grants body. He found the
bullet to weigh three grains less than an
ordinary 3S-ealiber bullet. A next size
smaller bullet would weigh twenty grains
less.
Charles T. Foster, called by the defense,
testified to having met Curtis on the night
of the shooting. Curtis had his pockets full
of $50 gold pieces. The witness remem-
bered having read of the Grant murder the
next morning. tie would have testified at
the last trial had lie been subpenaed.
Then came w. E. Harrington, a carpen-
ter, residing on Folsom street, near Fifth,
WHO said that on the night in question he
had severe toOthache and was walking
up and down his room taking ''tOOthache
drops" when he heard a scuffie in the
10 n,l-n nd
on the sidewalk. One, very small man,
said TO = tall man, Let me go. I've done
nothing" while the third man said to the
tall man, Let him go and I'll take him
home" The men went off and about
one and half minutes after the witness
heard three shots.
In cross-examination the witness admit
ted having very defective eyesight, which
might or might not have prevented his
getting job as driver of streetcar.
Did YOU not have an interview with
Officers Dillon and Crockett, in which you
said you saw and knew nothing of the nc-
currence?" asked District Attorney
Barnes.
Il may have"
We'll, what explanation have you to give
of ths?"
The witness was forced to admit that he
had once before given evidence in murder
trial, aud he had been burnt up so"
in court that he swore he'd never 90 into
court again. This answer made the jury
smile. and Foote looked rather uncomfort-
able.
In the afternoon host of witnesses
arrived TO testify to the good character OF
Curtis previous to his arrest.
Among those were Charles r. Thorne,
the actor, Captain Henry c. Pitman, S.
Blum, L. l.. Cromwell and I'll. V. Rams
dell. There were plenty more present,
but District Attorney Barnes said he was
mi linn 70 Init hai faS linn in il
respect
F. w. Page OF Berkeley once borrowed
pistol from Curtis to kill pig with:
Did you kill that pig?" asked Barnes.
Yes, SIR
Rev. w. w. Davis of ST. Luke's Church
saw Curtis at the old City Prison. There
were bruises on his body.
The evidence of Mrs. 7. G. Mcmillan
and her mother, Mrs. NJ. Is. Lacy, was
read as given at the former trials. The
first named witness and her mother re-
sided on First street, and were at the TIy-
oil on the night of the shooting. They
were walking down Fifth street toward
Folsom when they heard three shots. I'M
mediately afterward they saw a man run
out of Folsom street into Fifth and then
head toward Market.
Henry Jarrenson. painter. aud once in
the employ of Curtis, desired to take back
his former testimony regarding his identi-
tication of Curtis pistol as the one found
near Grants body. He had made that
statement at the instigation of The police.
A. +. FOnjo, proprietor OF hotel at
Berkeley. said that he overheard a CONVEX
sation between the last witness and PO-
lcemen Allen and Crockett, wherein Jar
renson was persuaded to identify the pistol
The defendants wife was then put on
the stand. She detailed the story of how
she and her husband had attended the per-
Torrance of Camille" at the Grand
Opera-house on the night ia question. Her
husband had S240 in his pockets. She
knew nothing oil anything wrong un til she
heard her husband was in prison.
DO you see this pistol, madam ?" asked
Foote. producing the weapon with which
the murder is alleged to have been COM
mitted. rs this your husbands pistol?"
mo, sir, II is not" was the firm reply
my husband wouldn't own such a pistol
as that"
The further hearing of the case will be
resumed on Monday.