The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-08
SOCIETY ON DECK
:, Third Mate w. H. Cham
bliss Testifies.
MORE LAUGHTER IN COURT.
lie Saw Henry Martin Eat Lunch
With His Sister-in-Law.
: WAS CATECHIsED BY DELMAs.
Made to Tell of His Experiences
With the Fruit Pickers, Who
Played Poker.
WAS CATECHIsED BY DELMAs.

up uaiIyi eltner exciting or dlYerting, 10
make the crowd of spectators as we'll as
the jury feel that their labor is not in vain.
The case of John 3. Martin Jr., the tiny
little three-year-old son of John B. Martin,
deceased, and his guardian ad Item. Mrs.
John Martin, is now rapidly drawing to
close, and it is probable that by the close
Of this afternoons session all the evidence
deemed necessary for the refutation Of
the theory introduced by Mrs. Henry
Martin, the widow, to the effect that the
SPECIALIZED second will is forgery, will have
been introduced.
There only remain one or two witnesses,
one expert, Carl Eisenschimel, having to
conclude his testimony begun last even
Ing, ana one or two other trivial pieces OF
testimony to be taken before the close. 1t
will be then the turn of Messrs. Rodgers,
Delmns, Craig, Robinson and Heynema1n,
as representing the widow, to put on such
witnesses as they may require in rebuttal,
before proceed ing to argument and the
subsequent elaboration and verdict of the
jury.
Just as the trial was solemn and severe
during its early stages, so has 1t now be-
come of a most diverting nature. For, on
Monday last, when Professor f. o. Young
his opinion, not only that the seco nd will
was genuine document, but also that the
d. first will was forgery, the audience were
kept 10 constant rOars of laughter from
the interesting revelations which the cross
examination of Mr.. Delmas ELECTED. Nor
was the hilarity at all subdued yesterday
when no less a parsonage than w. ID.
Chamblss, leader of society and ships.
took the stand.
Mr.. Chambliss is unfortunate. He is
constantly in some scrape or other, and he
= considered himself as doublY unfortunate
when be heard that his testimony was re-
Quired in this case, even going so far as to
ask of his legal adviser whether or not
there was any law in the land to compel
him to attend. His legal adviser happen
ing 10 know something of the why's and
wheTefores of things, Cham bliss, w. d.,
leader of society, attended.
The society leader took the stand with
considerable difidence. Arrayed in sump-
tuous ia ment he reclined in the chair
willing to testify on almost any subject
save some interesting Inquiries regarding
his past career. What ne had to say re-
spectiBg his connection with the Fruit
piCkeTs' Union, or some such name, as a
now deiunct poker CLUB was once styled,
amused his hearers greatly. An unfOrtu-
nate objection interDOsed by the other
aide and sustained By the court prevented
him from saying whether he was the
picker or the picked at these social gather
iGgs-
: Mrs. John Martin appears to be COM
pletely broken down. Since her return to
court on Monday last she appears pale
: apd cRTeworn. And yesterday, during
the entire morning session, the unchecked
tears rolled down her cheeks as she sat
behind her counsel listening to the evil
:dence of Clay w. Taylor, so far the only
early resident of Shasta County who has
come forward to say a word In her behalf
Jshn B. Martin Jr., 8tat years. the
prettiest and most selfpOssessed child in
the world, has not shed the sunshine OF bis
: . resence upon Judge COffey's courtroom
. this week, and somehow his pretty curls
and laughing blue eyes are missed. Prob
ably he will arrive in time to superintend
the close of his case. Other parties
showed up as usual yesterday, while the
attorneys were eager and watchfUl as ever.
''Senator Clay Webster Taylor" called
Grove johnson as soon as the jury had
. been called and Judge Cofey had signIfed
that he had a cold by coughing uprOari-
ously and glazing fiercely around. A tall,
handsome, welI-whiskered elderly man
arose and marched with becoming solem-
nifty to. the witness chair. This was the
friend who had something to say In de-
lance of the abuse showered On the head
Of Mrs. John Martin.
Ex-senator Taylor told his hearers what
they very well knew, namely, that he was
an attorney-at-laW, resident at Redding,
Shasta County, and held the position OF
District Attorney from 1870 TO 1882. He
then said he knew both Henry and John
Martin in their lifetime very well.
Ibid you ever talk to Henry Martin
after his return from Alaska about Mrs.
John B. Martin ?" asked Grove Johnson.
les. l remember Henry Martin telling
me that he met Mrs. John Mattin on the
road between Weaverville and Redding.
This was after John Martins death. Mrs.
John pulled up her horses and asked him
to speak with her. Martin replied that
he was ready to do so then and there, but
his sister-in-lRw insisted on bis getting
out of his buggy and talking in the road.
She had some business matters of con-
fldential nature to consult him upon.
Finally Martin consented, got out of his
buggy and cODversed Win Mrs. John Mar
tin for awhile"
::"Had you any conversations in which
the manner of John Martins death was
commented upon"
"Yes, had"
what did Henry Martin say?"
He said" answered the witness, DELHI
srately, ''that ne did not think there was
anything wrong in the manner Of his broth
er's death" This answer was listened to
with evident interest.
Now, Mr.. Taylor, how long have you
known Henry Martin 2"
From about 1915.
-. Ever transact any business with him ?"
"No; no law business. / don't know
that I ever transacted any other business
with him, either"
81 hand yon now ths second will, dated
February %, 1893, and ask you If the 81 G.
nature is that of Henry Martini.
There was a satisfactory rumpus at this
question, Mr.. Delmas claiming that no
proper foundation for the question had
teen established.
Judge Coffey appeared to take this view.
ana tnen the witness stated that he had re-
ceIVed letters from Henry Martin. He
could only remember two, one being re-
ply TO communication from him respect
ing the purchase of the Queen of Diamonds
mine IN Shasta County. Delmas objected
10 this as insufficient qualification for tes-
timony, but the courts ruling was against
him. Then Grove johnson put his cues
ton over again.
Delmas was on his feet again in an In
slant with shower of fOwery rhetoric.
He somewhat asionished the Judge and
jury by saying that qualification for the
pFoper Identification OF a PERSONS hand.
writing could not be shown by the receipt
by the witness of merely one sporadic.
single, isolated epistle." Judge Coffey re-
covered breath il a moment, however, and
knocked out the objections raised by Mr..
Delnas.
I'VE save the point" was the eminent
lawyers sole remark.
The witness then was allowed to identify
the only letter remaining IN his possession
that he lad received from Henry Martin,
and then testified that in his opinion the