The herald., 1894-12-20
THE SANTA MONICA SMUGGLERS.
Allgren, Smith and Mendez
Before Judge Ross.
Each Shifts the Criminal RESPONSE
billty Upon the Other.
The Trial Concluded, but the Jury VIII
Not Bs Charged Until This
Morning-In Contempt.

and General Pierce appeared for Allr
gren. Several days ago they moved for
separate trials, which was denied, and
yesterdays trial reminded one of fight
between Kilkenny cats. All OF the evi-
dence offered by the government was
objected TO either by Peck or Pierce for
the reason that it did not affect his eli
ent but applied "to the other defend
snts." In every case Judge Ross over
ruled the objections, the making of
which took up considerable OF the
courts time.
Willie Allgren, the 17-yesr.old son Of
the defendant, was first called by Mr..
Denis, and in q simple. straightforward
way, he told how his father became
possessed Of the opium. He claimed
that Smith, the steward of the Mineola,
assisted by Frank Mendez, the newsboy,
upon three occasions went to Allgren's
house, in the canon, with the cans OF
opium concealed upon their clothing.
They took them off OF their persons and
laid them upon the kitchen table, from
which place his father ordered them
removed to the oven OF an old unused
range. He did not know what the cans
contained, and when he inquired, his
father told him that he did not know
the contents. He was in bed and asleep
when his father left the cafion for Los
Angeles and consequently ha could not
say what time ne departed.
Gussie Allgren, the 11yeer.old son Of
the accused. corroborated his brothers.
testimony.
Sackett Cornell, temporary inspector
OF customs, was next sworn, and testi-
fed 90 follows: About midnight ON
Thursday, September 18th last. was
lying with Pete Bsdillo, whom l asked
to assist me, at the forks of the roads at
the base OF the hill, leading out of the
Santa Monica canon. About 2 a. M. |
fell asleep, as did also Badillo; but wa7
shortly awakened by the sound of wagon
wheels passing my head. | let the ve-
hicle pass, and Pete Badillo and |
elm bed the bluff intending to intercept
the emugglers. We walked up the road,
ana at the old adobe we found In
leveled at Algren, who was on
the ground, and Young, the express-
man, was seated on the wagon, in the
bed of which was large Saratoga
trunk. told .Jappi to keep Allgren
covered" and then cut the ropes and
proceeded to search the Saratoga, when
Allgren said: "Gentlemeu, | might az
we'll admit it, the Opium is there" l
then searched the trunk. found the 140
five-tael cans, arrested Allgren and
hand cutled him. | sent Jappi and
Young to Los Angeles with the opium
and returned to the ceilon with Allgren,
while Badillo went alter team. While
in DIllon's pavilion. Allgren said that he
had no interest in the stuif, but simply
banded it as an accommodation for
Smith. He handed TO me a couple OF
| letters from Chinese in Comax, British
Columbia, to Mongolian firm in China
town of this city, which he said were
given TO him by Smith, to be presented
with the opium.
Cornell said that while en- route to
Los Angeles with Allgrep, he voluntarily,
without any intimation of reward, said
thst he was acting as Smiths agent,
and that he protested against handling
the opium unless Smith accompanied
him on the trip. He also said that out
OF the proceeds of the sale of the opium
he intended purchasing an engagement
ring for his girl, but inatead had got
handcuifs upon himself.
John I. Gaffey, collector OF customs for
the district of Los Angeles, was next
called and he testified that no duty
was paid upon the opium in question.
j. II. Jsppi. temporary inspector,
corroborated Cornell's testimony, ssave
/ the fact that he did not hear Allgren
admit that there was opium in the
trunk
Robert A. Young, the expressman,
next took the stand and stated that on
the afternoon prior to the arrest ALL
gren engaged him to haul a trunk to
Los Angeles. He took the job, and left
at 2 a. m. for Los Angeles. He told
about the arrest of Allgren by Cornell,
and said that he hoard Allgren say that
''the stuff is in the trunk"
DR.. G. f. Heinzeman was sworn as a
chemist, and be identified the contents
of the cans as prepared opiu m.
Pete Badillo under oath stated that
Inspector Cornell called upon him to
assist him the night of the arrest, and
that he was present when Aligren WAS
ed in detail the testimony of the pre-
ceding witness.
The government then rested it's case.
and Attorney Peck proceeded to the de-
Tense of his clients Smith and Mendez.
Smith WAS first called, and he fatty
denied that he gave any letters to ALI
gren or that at any time he ever took
any opium or anything else in cans to
Allgren's house.
Mendez followed, and he, too, abso-
lutely denied that he carried any opium
to Allgren, or that he ever saw the con-
tents of the trunk until he noticed them
in court.
Watchman Benson, employed as night
watchman upon the mammoth wharf,
was next called. and he testified that he
had walked down the wharf several
times with Smith, and never observed
anything stored in his clothing.
Peck then closed the defense of Smith
and Mendez, and General Pierce opened
the defense of Allgren.
Justus Allgren WAS first called, and in
a clear, straightforward manner he told
of his connection with the opium snug
Cling. He said that Smith carried the
cans to his house. gave him the Chinese
letters and asked him ss . favor to take
the cans to Chinatown, give the Mon
golian the letters and who would give
him either check or cash. He denied
any knowledge of what the cans con-
tanned. and. while he admitted that he
examined the cams. he did not notice
the words in English, Prepared
opium" and at no time did his curiosity
prompt him to ask Smith what the cans
contained.
John Brink, Martin @. Marsh and
Louis Ebinger all testified to Allgrsn's
good character, but thev knew nothing