The herald., 1894-05-24
THE v|GNES PERJURY TRIAL,
Did He Try to Secure Money
From a Prisoner?
Lewis Ewing and His Witness Tes-
tlfy in the Case.
Mr.. Cleveland swears Positively That
He Heard the Defendant Explain
His Agreement With Ewing.
Yestsrday's Testimony.

The trial of ex-Dsputy Sheriff II. @.
Vignes, under indictment upon charge
OF perjury, began yesterday morning in
department one of the superior court.
1t will be remem bered that Mr.. Vignes
was accused by George Brooks alias
Lewis Ewing with having agreed to pro-
cure him a light sentence at the Whit
tier reform school instead OF peniten-
tisry sentence for stealing a set OF har-
ness, if he paid him 500. When the
charge was first made the grand jury
returned an accusation against Vignes,
citing him to appear and show cause
why he should not be removed from his
office as deputy sheriff. This proceeding
was rendered useless by the dropping Of
Mr.. Vignes from the rell OF deputies.
An indictment was then returned
against Vignes charging perjury, In his
having before the grand jury denied all
the statements attributed to him. The
case has been pushed to a speedy trial
by both sides. A great deal OF interest
is felt in the trial, especially by the
Spanish portion of our population.
District Attorney Dillon is con-
Quoting the case in person for the
prosecution and Horace Appel and o.
w. Pendleton are counsel for the de-
fen6ant. There was large crowd OF
spectators yesterday, all intent upon
hearing every scrap of evidence in this
somewhat unique case.
The morning session was occupied in
the selection OF a jury and the following
jury was empaneled: George Alex
ander, VIM. @. M. Allison, Harrison
Fuller, Frank Gerling. Winchester Gill
lett, Gadi s. Gibson, Jos. IL. Green,
Joseph Hyans, Peter O. Keller, Wins
low, VIM. M. Osborne, Richard w.
Pridham.
The first witnesses introduced were
members of the grand jury who were in
terrogated as to the manner in which
the indictment was found, those present
and the statements OF the defendant,
which went in under frequent objec-
lions.
Mr.. Alonzo B. Cass, the secretary OF
the grand jury, testified that the jury is
still in session and not discharged. He
WAS present April Goth when the grand
jury had the Vignes matter under con-
sideration. 1t was an investigation
charging him with wilful misconduct in
OAbSps 1hls AkhCH 700 - WibhOpu bCAOAC
the grand Jury. Mr.. Cass WAS present
when he gave his testimony. The
minutes were merely q long-hand
synopsis of the testimony. All that Mr..
Vignes had said was not taken down.
Upon being asked what Mr.. Vignes
said the witness replied that the evidence
in substance was to deny the evidence OF
the other witnesses.
Thie answer was stricken out upon
the request OF counsel for the defense.
The witness then testified that Mr..
Vignes said he took Lewis Ewing out OF
Jail to Dir. Luitweiler's place of bust
ness; that he stepped off several feet
from Ewing and Luitweiler'a manager,
and heard none OF their conversation
that he did not know the contents of q
note he took to the manager; lac denied
offering for 500 to get Ewing a year a.
Whittier instead of the penitentiary by
the pull he had with the district attor.
ney's office or court.
The order sent BY Ewing to Mr.. Cleve.
land was shown to Mr.. Cass, and he
identified it as the one filed with the
grand jury.
The following ia the order:
Mr.. LUITwEILER: have got my SEN
tence. l CESS that / will come tomor.
row. Be sure to do my uncles and
fathers respect. By not telling them
about me. Have my uncles not to write
to my mother about my truble. Pay
over to tho Bearer my money. Don'i
let my father know of me getting into
this troable. My money amounts to 25
doPs. Pay over 20 dels to the bearer.
So good by. Yours most respectfully,
LEWIS EWING.
Upon cross examination Mr.. Csas
said Mr.. Vignes testified that he re-
ceived the order after Ewing's sentence.
Mr.. Martin and @. II. Rhodes of the
grand jury testified in similar manner
about the examination OF Mr.. Vignes.
also saying that Mr.. Vignes denied hav-
ing told Mr.. Cleveland that for $40 he
would use his influence to tighten Ew-
ilg's sentence.
Mr.. Cleveland, manager for Mr.. Luit.
weller, testified that Vignss and Ewing
called on him on the morning OF April
Oath at his office. Vignes was about
four or five feet away during the inter
view. Ewing began the conversation.
He also said that Vignes participated in
the conversation.
Ewing said he had arranged with
Vignes," remarked the witness, that
upon the payment of $40 he would
plead guilty and get q sentence of one
year in the reform school. thought
that would be q good thing. l called
Vignes up to AK him some question: