The morning call., 1894-08-04
OWNED THE LIE.
Witness Lesher Wrote a
Confession.
STOPPED BY THE SHERIFF.
Rather Peculiar Conduct of Mr..
Wykoff.
WOODLANDS LAST SENSATION.
The Man Paid to Hang Worden AL.
lowed to Disappear Into
the Night.

WOODLAND, Aug. 3.-Another sensation
was furnished tonight by Witness John
Charles Lesher. who testified on the stand
that he had boasted he was to receive $500
for his testimony in the case. Ever since
then he has been confined in the County
Jail by request of the defense, and this
evening Sheriff Wykoff happened into
Lesher's cell and found him writing. He
looked over his shoulder and found that
Lesher was writing a confession. Sheriff
Wykoff at once seized the Incriminating
document and sent for Judge Fisher. The
Judge refused to read the confession,
which read as follows:
CONFESSION OF JOHN CHARLES LEsHER.-
hereby state and swear by oath that was to
received from Judge Armstrong $500 five
hundred) for the testimony that was TO give
against Worden, Hatch, Compton and Mullen
and Knox on the charge OF train-wrecking and
murder, and that my testimony was false, ex-
cept Worden's vile language in the depot of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company on July 4,
and on the testimony given regarding the trip
to the wreck and seeing the so-called Mr..
Irvine on or near the scene of the wreck, and
/ met four armed -"
The statement ends here. Subsequently,
w
pen through the confession to the word
murder"
Sheriff Wykoff had caught him at this
point, and the witness, getting scared, had
stated that the first part Of his confession
was false. AS matter of fact, Lesher
sent uptown to General Hart, and Colonel
Harlow went down. but refused to speak
to the witness. A reporter asked Lesher
about his onfession, and he stated that
he had met at the second trestle west of
Washington, about half mile from there.
four armed men. and they said, THAT'S a
good job. We have got even with the
railroad company for once" He says all
his testimony was false, except what he
said about Warden, and that he rode back
with Irvine. He also claimed that the
prosecution had intimidated him.
When asked why he made the confession.
Lesher sta ted that Hatch had told him if
he did not mis- father and mother would see
it in the press of the country and so he
decided to set himself straight. The con-
fession is written on the Sheriff's letter
head.
Sheriff Wykoff's conduct is much crit-
cized here. He snatched the paper from
to see Lesher. Previously General Hart
consented to Judge Fisher releasing the
witness. providing that he would guaran.
tee he would appear for further cross-ex-
animation. When Judge Fisher saw
Lesher the latter raised his hand and
swore to the truth of the whole tatement.
That's my voluntary statement" said he.
Later on the first part of the confession,
referring to Judge Armstrong, was
stricken out 10 mysterious m amer.
In fact Sheriff Wykoff has acted in
peculiar manner. Ee allowed the witness
to go. giving him half dollar for expenses.
Lesher claims that he was in hard luck
and forced by want to accept the terms
offered him.
Lesher disapp cared after leaving the
Jail. There is much censure of the Sheriff
and it is owing to the fact that WykOff
broke in on him and stopped him that the
confession is not complete. He said when
he discovered Lesher writing:
''That sort of thing won't go here. You
must do that in open court"
What happened in the brief period that
Wykoff had Lesher alone will never be
known. but it is certain that the witness
fession after being in the Sheriff's company.
Carroll Cook. counsel for the prosecu-
tion, was seen in regard to the affair, and
said: The first acquaintance that [ had
with the imprisoned witness was on the
day preceding the giving of his testimony.
Prior to that Lesher had been coming to
Woodland daily and returning to the hos
pital in Sacramento every night. and l
had had no opportunity to examine him as
to what he knew. l had had him pointed
out to me as one of the witnesses In the
case, and had twice been upon the point
of calling him on days when witnesses were
short, but did not do so for the reason that
l make it a rule never TO put q witness
upon the stand without first examining him
myself that l may know what his testi-
mony may be. Upon the day before he
testified spoke to him, but all that said
was to tell him that he must not 60 te Sac
ramento that night, as we desired to ex-
anime him at my rooms in the Byrnes ho-
tel in the evening. That evening he and
other witnesses called at the rooms. Mr..
Head, the District Attorney. Alvin j.
Bruner associate counsel for the prosecu-
tion) and myself were present Mr.. Bru-
ner took down his statement In writing
while 1 questioned him.. He told a
straight story. which agreed with the tes-
timony of the other witnesses who had
already testified in the case. and we dis
missed him with instructions to be in court
the next day. and the next day witness in
waiting was called in and examined.
When called as witness his
testimony was the same as the
statement made to US, and as I am in
formed the same as a statement which he
made to United States Marshal Baldwin
before he ever met Judge Armstrong. At
the conclusion of his testimony in court i
mistrusted the witness from his manner
upon the witness-stand. and when he an
swered upon cross-examination that he ex-
pected TO obtain a reward for bis testi-
mony, / became convinced that | would
not ask for the holding OF any man for
murder upon his testimony. At recess l
held consultation with my associate, and
we all agreed that we wanted no doubt
fnl evidence in the case, and, upon the
reconyening of The court, made motion
that the entire testimony of the witness