The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-06

while awaiting his arrival James Carr,
clearinghouse keeper at 81 Sacramento
street, in the Fifth Precinct of the Forty
second. endeavOred to explain why so
many citizens had taken fancy to regis
terlng from his house. 1t was repetition
OF the same old story. Most of them were
seamen, ana after registering had gone
OUTSIDE the heads to return on election
day, Notwithstanding the conditions gov
ernlng wind and tide. The witness had a
fairy good memory, but when his book
was taken from him, and he was asked il
he knew one Bob Pendergrass, he frankly
admitted that he knew of no such person
among his dodgers or on his list of friends.
Why Bob registered from your house
in October" said Mepzes, land you cer-
tainly rememb ber him."
mo, he did not; but when he was
shown an entry in his book, made in the
dim and distant past. stating that Bob had
paid him a small sum for room rent, Carr
suddenly claimed an intimate acquaintance
with him and explained that he was sin
and out" OF his house all the time. His
present whereabouts was somewhat of a
mystery, however, but Bob in all proba-
bility was out on the bounding billows
plying his vocation.
Lewis Cohen then put in an appearance.
He is small of stature. wearing black
mustache and tailor-made garments. and
appeared to be thoroughly at his ease
when first questioned.
But, oh, what difference in the evening.
In answer to Clunie's questions. he said
he was bartender in the Washoe club, on
the northwest corner of Kearny and SUIT
ter streets.
Yes. of course be was q guest at the
Baldwin Hotel, and had been ION and off"
for long time. In facI, he was popu-
lar and steady patron, but he could not
possibly recall the names of any OF the
clerks with whom he had done business
ION and off, for months. The number of
his room was AL and he bravely flashed a
key to back up his assertion. Being a
young man of sporting procivities Of
course he did not reside in the hotel per-
manently, but he looked upon 1t as his
home and therefore registered from there
on October 8.
How long have you had this key in
your pocket?" said Clunie.
1.-Two or three weeks. One of the clerks
gave it to me when last registered"
Where did you reside before going to
the Baldwin ?"
"Out on Cough streer, and then l fol-
lowed the races for forty days and wound
up at the Burlington, and from there went
to the Baldwin"
''As matter of fact. don't you really
live at 344 Turk street?" was the next and
most paralyzing query.
COhn. after a great deal of hesitation.
was obliged to admit that abou. two
months ago he had engaged room at the
place mentioned. In rapid order aud un-
der a steady fire of questions be admitted
that he had never paid AGENT for the room
he occupied at the Baldwin, aud had no
idea who was paying for it.
ST just go up to the clerk" said he, land
be hands me a key to AL, because like
the room, and l suppose the rent is charged
10 my account. IL 1t is not paid by some
one else."
But the attorneys were not satisfied with
this explanation, and after fully half an
hour of patient work Cohn was made to
admit that on the afternoon of October 8.
the day on which be registered, he had not
resided in the Baldwin thirty days, or
even one day. His replies became almost
inaudible through nervousness, and he was
at the mercy of his questoners completely.
"Your Honor" began Attorney Clunie
impressively. "this witness has admitted
that he committed perjury by swearing to
the affidavit which now hold in my hand.
and l would ask that he be committed to
Jail pending an examination. However,
if he is willing at this time to tell the truth
and give us the name of the man or men
who paid for his room at the Baldwin and
induced him to commit perjury by regis
tering outside of his proper precinct am
willing to withdraw my motion for his
commi tment."
II have nothing to do with that matter"
said Judge Wallace, ''but if the witness
wishes to fully explain his actions he is at
liberty so to do"
Cobn did not hesitate moment, and in
a clear, firm voice informed the court that
on the afternoon of October 8 be met one
Louis Stern berger, deputy clerk under
Registrar Evans, who Informed him that
he was working for Senator Mahoney and
was anxious to have him vote for the
latter. Sternberger claimed to represent
the latter, and offered to install the wit
ness in the Baldwin Hotel, providing he
would register from there and cast his
vote for the Senator on election day.
Cobn stated that he finally accepted the
offer, and after registering at the new
City Hall was taken to the hotel by Stern
berger that evening and assigned to room
AL. which he occupied that night, but only
once or twice since. The hotel clerk, ,he
said. asked no questions and appeared to
understand the entire proceedings per-
fectly.
In answer to a question, Cohn stated
that the clerk in question wore a long,
brown beard, and wrote the name on the
red slip in his presence. The witness de-
clined to admit that he had been promised
any money by Mahoney's representative,
and his only motive for committing per-
jury was simply to oblige friend.
At tile conclusion of his narrative he
breathed sigh of relief. and started to
leave the courtroom, but Judge Wallace
recalled him, and after reviewing his
testimony briefly committed him to jail to
await examination on charge Of perjury
and illegal registration. The commitment
was ISSUED, and Cohn will have a hearing
under the provisions of section 81 OF the
law governing the purity of elections,
which is as follows:
Every person who willfully causes. Drocures,