The herald., 1894-11-15
Officers Hot on the Trail From
Salter's Boosting Adj
missions.
PARNES' MOTHER TALKS.
she Saw Mrs. Barnes and saltsr in Com
promising Positions-Tell-tale
Lotters-A Strange
Case.

SAN BERNARDlNo, Nov. 1.-THE sx-
animation of Thomas Salter, charged
with attempt TO poison w. s. Barnes,
was resumed this morning behind closed
doors, reporters however. being admit
ted, before Justice Knox at 8 O'Clock,
District Attorney Oster. assisted by c..
N. Damron, for the prosecution, and F.
w. Gregg and r. E. Bledsoe represent
ing the defendant.
The cross examination of Barnes. who
gave his testimony Monday afternoon.
WAS commenced. He qualified his testi-
mony by stating that on the night he
found Salter in the woodshed with his
wife, when they entered the house Salter
pulled out two pistols, a small one in the
left hand and large one in the right
hand, remarking that the latter was
Paul Powers gun. When asked if he
had ever found any letters or writing
about the house he answered in the af-
frmative, stating that he had discovered
two letters at different times-one under
a brick near his gate and one in bureau
drawer in the house.
After considerable wrangling among
the attorneys the letters were admitted
in evidence, exceptions being taken by
the defence.
The letters were from Salter, but not
addressed. They were very affectionate
in their nature and full of endearing
words, referring to the illness Of the one
addressed, and encouraging her to keep
up her spirits and all would come out
we'll. He assured her of his undying
love and promised to meet her soon.
assuring her that if he had her on his
lap few minutes he could encourage
her dropping spirits.
A number of other letters were brought
in and introduced as exhibits for identi-
tication by other witnesses. One letter
written by Mrs. Barnes to Sslter, intro
duced but not read, was identified by
the witness as in the handwriting of
Mrs. Barnes. Barnes had not read the
letter, but had heard about it, his wife
having spoken to him about the letter
the night before her arrest. In regard
to it she had stated to her husband that'
she had something to tell him if he
would promise not to be angry
said that Salter wanted her to elope
putting in 10 dresses. underwear. chose,
stockings, etc., which Salter had taken
away, but she had changed her mind.
She said Salter ran after her all the
time, and had repeatedly threatened to
shoot Barnes, and she was frightened
for his safety. They had several con-
versations regarding the supposed init.
macy, and che always denied it, as did
Salter when taken to task, and she re-
peatedly declared that she would break
off with Salter.
On cross-examination by the defense,
the witness stated that the first cap
sules were administered about the 4th
of January. He admitted that previous
to that he and Salter had at different
times exchanged quinine capsules. His
memory at present was as good as ever
before, and his present illness had no
effect On his mind. He was in the
habit occasionally of taking whisky,
but never to excess. He
never had la grippe previous TO
January. His suspicious were first
aroused in the latter part Of Decem Der.
1898, and he spoke to Salter about it
when they were out riding. The next
time he mentioned 1t to Salter was the
10Th of February, when he told him to
leave the house. He spoke to his wife
at the same time, and both denied be-
ing guilty. His suspicious were frat excit.
because Sater had late breakfasts,
next that his wife wanted him to make
his will, and third that he had chance
to sell out his business and clear $1,000,
but both Salter and vile opposed it, as
they knew it meant leaving the city.
He had no suspicion of poisoning on
the 4th OF January. The latter part of
March he took Salter for drive about
mile and half north of town. when
they talked the matter over ard Salter
made the remark that "Cots made
them equal" When they returned
both stopped at witness home for few
minutes. In conversation with his wife
two weeks ago last Saturday, she said
the defendant had stuck q pistol in her
face twice, and choked her.
Counsel asked il witness did not draw
Q pistol on his wife and threaten to
shoot her, and this wse the reason OF
the quarrel with Salter. Witness tried
hard to avoid answering, and finally ad-
mitted that he did draw pistol. Be.
ing asked if he did not fire two pistol
shots, he denied most emphatcally
bsvlng ever fired Gny shote. This closed
Mr.. Barnes examination. He was very
much exhausted, and in being assisted
from the stand his wife took him over
to one side and talked apparently in a
very sffectionate manner. During the
examination her head was bowed down
pn her hand, out occasionally u smile
would illumine her hardened counten-
ence. Salter was nervous, and his face
flushed throughout the ordeal, but at
intervals he managed to talk to his al
torney.
DR.. George B. Rowell WAS the next
witness, and stated that he was called in
about the 1st of January to attend Mr..
Barnes, end asked the patient what
medicine he had taken. and was in
formed that quinine had been admins
tered. Subsequently he tested the cap
sule and found a strong odor OF menthol
or camphor, and told Barnes they were
not fit to put in his stomsch. Later
symptoms showed extreme irritability