The morning call., 1894-09-12
The Speech of Walter III.
LinfOrth.
IN REPLY TO MR.. RODGERS.
illustrated by the Antics of an
Eccentric Intruder.
WHO TELEsCOPED The CROWD.
Another Light Put Upon Expert Tes.
timOny to BewiIder the
Jury.

Walter Fl. Liniorih talked all yesterday
in the Martin will case. The junior coun-
sci for baby John Martin occupied both
morning and afternoon sessions of the
court in an endeavor to refute the opening
arguments of Arthur Rodgers, and when
court adjourned for the day Linforth had
still Got some steam left which he will use
uD this morning
The DAYS proceedings were not remark
abl1 for their brilliancy in any description.
That is TO say. there was no book throw
Ing on the part of Mrs. John Martin, nor
was there any need at all for the presence
of the policeman with the large cameo
ring. But it was not meet or right that
the day should pass without some sort of
hilarity, and so an elderly eccentric ildi-
vidual came to the timely rescue.
The individual in question was cid and
gray, yet jovial withal. He wandered into
court in an abs1racted kind of way and
taking a prominent seat started in to focus
prominent objects In court by the sim pie
process of closing one eye IN telescopic
fashion TO the other. This process helped
MS vision wonderfully, and when he gazed
upon the charms Of Mrs. Henry Martin his
enthusiasm knew no bounds, and focus lug
the object of his desire 10 the manner jus
pantOmimic gestures as called forth the
approval of the whole house.
Mrs. Martin herself was simply over
come. She fairly broke down and giggled
cOnvulsively behind her fan. AS for Mrs.
John, when the seemingly crazy intruder
transferred his affections TO her, she be-
slowed upon him such look as caused his
apparent inbeclity to disappear and his
hat 20 retire With himself into the darK
and Chi lY corridor beyond.
Following the eDereetic speed of Arthur
Rodgers TN Thursday and Friday Of last
week Walter II. Linforth started in upon
the Introductory speech on behalf of the
three-yeaT-oid proponent Of Henry Mar
tins alleged second Will Mr.. LiniOrth is
some what handicapped in stature and a
naturally weak voice, but such defcien-
cles as these he made up by much vigor
of action and gestcnlatlOD.
He commenced by representing his
cause as being quite unlike that of the
other side. in that they had no thanks to
bestow. no compliments to pay. ~ our
naths as jurors, gentlemen" said Mr.
LiniOrth, compel you to weigh well the
evidence in this case, and TO render just
and true verdict" etc. Then the coun-
sci commenced 10 describe the various
disadvantages under which bis own side
lay.
''Who are the parties to this suit? On
the one side we have Z. b. Pond and Mrs.
Henry Martin. both surrounded by
friends, both surrounded by wealth. On
bOy-alone. Mrs. Isabella j. Martin has
no clore 10 do with this case than you OF
l. In deciding this case you must at once
put out of your minds the thought that
Mrs. John Martin is In any way party TO
this acton"
Then Mr.. Linforth complained that he
had been led 10 understand that the only
point in this case was the question a to
whether or not this second will was a
forgery. did Henry Martin write this
will or did he not?" WAS The question
This was the understanding as accepted
by the other side. But they changed
their base, gentlemen, and have introduced
a heap of eXtraneous matter TO prove that
which they did not al first pretend.
III the only issue In this case is such as
they assert why was a wOman'S honor
trampled in the Dust? Why was her
shame dragged through the mire? Why
vas her little baby boy bastardlZed in this
way. or attempted TO be so? What has
the supposed birth of child 10 March,
1885, in PniladelDhis, got to do with this
case
The object of the other side, gentlemen
OF the jury. was to introduce extraneOus
matter, irrelevant withal, and 10 drag Mrs.
John Martin In, as q party t. this action.
That was their object. gentlemen"
Mr.. Linforth was particularly desir0us
of ascertaining the reason why Messrs.
Melton and Watt, Henry Martins old
mining partners, had not been pat on the
stand to testify as TO their knowledge of
Henry Martins hand writing. why were
they not asked?' he said. "Why were
they not questioned as to whether or not
Henry Martin wrote this will?"
Then the speaker proceeded to pick to
pieces the principal objections to the will
as urged by Arthur Rodgers. He touched
upon The first objection, namely: that
Henry Martin had no idea that he was a
dying man and therefore had no object in
making will. In reiuting this idea
counsel introduced the testimony of ex-
Judge j. z. Bates, who testified that
Henry Martin one day said to him. "I'm
balf-dead myself and Pm fixing up my
affairs" This occurred about the time of
the execution of the second will.
Mr.. Linforth in attemrting to refute the