The morning call., 1894-09-13
HE THTS AGAINST DELMAS.
Linforth Has Closed and Craig
Resigns His Claim.
GREAT EFFORTS LOOKED FOR.
Beginning of a Forensic Struggle
Between the Pet Orators of
Town ard Country.

Now has the supreme moment arrived
when the great forensic battle is to be
fought between Grove l.. johnson and
d. NJ. Delmas at the conclusion of the
Martin will contest. At the last moment
Attorney William Craig has been stricken
down by sickness. and, according 10 a
communication received from him by
Arthur Rodgers, the famous will contest
will have to 90 TO the jury unenlightened
oratorically by the efforts of Mr.. Craig.
As the time for the battle draws nigh
more and more interest Is evinced in the
proceedings. Special policemen guard the
entrance to the chambers of the Board of
Supervisors. where the arguments are
being held, and the plain-clothes officer
with the large white cameo ring still keeps
his watchful eye upon the aggressive Mrs
John Martha.
Grove L. johnson has been in physical
trouble ever since the commencement of
the trial. Deluded by the balmy air that
gently sways the trees IN the classic pre-
cincts of Sacramento, the willy lawyer be-
thought him not of wind and fog when he
joutneyed eastward. The consequence
mas been that since his arrival here the
"hum bic member of the country bar" has
Welded gracefully from cold to sore throat
his expected forensic triumph he finds him.
sell with two large, uncomfortable bllsters
on his tongue.
Nevertheless, the Sacramento lawyer
has announced that, come we'll or ILL., he
will surely speak to-day. 1t Is advisable
that those desiring good seats should come
early. The two front rows of orchestra
stalls nave already been engaged, while
hOi pollOi control the gallery.
Mr.. Walter LInforth brought an elabo-
rate address to a successful conclusion at
noon yesterday. Mr.. Linforih is not
marked out as one upon whose utteTances
a host will hang, but be argues in an in
geniOus style, and he cOntrived TO impress
the jury with strong conviction that the
expert witnesses introduced by Arthur
Rodgers on behalf of Mrs. Henry Martin,
had, in the attempt to show that Henry Mar
tin conld not have written the second will,
in reality sworn positively that noIother
hand but his was responsible for its exc
cution.
Just how Mr.. Linforth arrived at this
Is made manifest only iQ the transcript of
the shorthand reporters notes, but he got
there somehow. 1t was by some extraor-
binary process of evolution, amazing in
its intricacy, great in its result. But when
he finished picking TO pieces the testimony
given by the experts Breckenfeld, Schmidt,
Maxwell and Fogle, Mr.. Linforth claimed
TO have shown by the various con Ontradict0ry
statements made by these gentlemen on
the witness-Stand that what is could never
have been and vice versa, that which was
destined never to take place had been as
tonishing the world for some time past.
"In word, gentlemen" said Mr.. Lin
forth, sail of these witnesses called by the
other side, all of them, gentlemen, swore
positively that Henry Martin wrote this
second will"
In bringing bis speech to a conclusion
Mr.. LiDforth spoke of the number of wit
nesses that had testified to the lunches,
rides, drives, visits and conversations that
had been shared by Henry Martin with
Mrs. John, all important testimony as
going to show how absurd it was that
Henry Martin should ever have denounced
his sisteT-in-law as foTger, blackmailer
and the murderess of his brother The
evidence of Third Mate Chambliss was re-
garded by Mr.. Linforth as especially i'm