The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-09-18
Grove L. johnson Closes
His Speech.
AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE.
The lawyer Whispered Prayer
for the Little Boy.
DELIVERED WITH Blended KNEE.
A Brilliant Close to a Brilliant
Speech-Baby John Does Some
Unconscious Pleading.

After speech that occupied three days
in its delivery, a speech that will live for
years 10 the history If the courts of San
Francisco, Grove L. johnson has left the
case of Baby John Martin in the hands of
jury. 1t only remains now for d. M.
Delmas to put his forces of annihilation to
work for couple of days, and the long,
sensational trial will be at an end.
The wiry little lawyer from Sacramento
has been indefatigahIe. He has never
seemed to tire, despite a not Overstrong
constitution and voice that threatened 10
give out at any moment There are mo-
ments when he quavers and his voice sinks
almost TO a whisper. and he is forced to
pause in order to wipe the sweat from his
heated brow. Is he exhausted? BY 10
means. The next instant his arms are fly
ing around like windmills. his voice pierces
the heavens, and torrent of words pour
from his lips with a rapidity that strikes
terror to the heart of the shorthand re-
porter. lie is a great speaker, and for
natural elOQuence few men are his peers.
Mr.. Demas did an unusual thing when
he honored johnson by his presence in
court during the whole of yesterday. Like
his rival, Delmas has contracted a cold.
and he is nursing it with caution that Is
In itself foTeTunner OF what is 10 be eX-
pected of him when court conveDes to-
morrow morning. On all sides Svmpa-
thetic Inquiries were made of Mr.. Delmas.
II is a great thing to DE a fashionable law
yer ana have a cold. ShrOuded lE an over
coat he sat, like Napoleon anticipating a
great battle against the allied armies Of
Europe.
1t IS astonishing to reflect upon the num-
Der of quotations from all sorts of litera-
ture. from the Scriptures down. that john
son made use of In his great speech. He
quoted everything imaginable. On Thurs
day and Friday last ne spoke Of Tarquln's
hosts, of the iniQuities of King David. of
the bands of Gideon, Of the witches Of Mac
beth, of Nero tiddling over burning Rome,
and so forth.
Yesterday he was 10 his best form in
this respect. lie spoke of the Yankee
poem-as he put it-Of the storming of
Greytown in order to illustrate the shame
ful attack made by the other side upon
poor, honest old Woman"-Jennie lib
belts. He spoke Of the good old Anglo
Saxon blood contained IN the furltans of
New England when they stood up for
their rights. He told Of the power of the
witches of Endor to summon spirits from
the vastly deep, and himself expressed
keen desire TO cnnjure up the spirit of the
dead Henry Martin to the wholesale ami
hilation Of the cOntesting side.
johnson spoke of ex-Mayor Pond in
humorous way, as the ubiquitous, IN
fashionable and icy pond" He travelled
over 10 Whltechapel, London, and spoke
OF the women Quarreling. the fracas cul-
mlnating in a voice from another woman
crying: Mother, hurry uD and call her a
thief before she calls you one." But when
Grove L. Johnson went to praying and
preaching it was for all the world like
gospel revival meeting.
Contrary to expectations JOhnson's per-
Grafton was delivered in low pleading
tones that soOthed alike the jury and spec
knr
noisy defamation. After a very long
recitation from Tom MoOre's ''Lalla
Rookh," wherein he describes how the
Peri was sent dscoDsolate from the gates
OF heaven only TO find sOlace In the spec
tacle of a little three-year-old boy playing
by stream. soon to be joined at he hour
OF prayer by stern and warlike man
pestered by remorseful thoughts of his
past life and ending in the supreme hap
plness OF all concerned, the little Sacra-
meDto lawyer dropped Oh his knees and
uttered fervent prayer to the Jury TO
listen 20 the childish helrless appeal Of the
little innocent who, all unconscious Of
what was going on, shook his pretty curls
10 the faces of the jury and laughed.
1t was great effort aud a great effect.
Jurors were moved to tears and the whole
vast assemblage was hushed. The still
ness was broken only by the matter-of-fact
tones Of Judge Coffey bidding the jury
good-by for the night, after which Grove
johnson came back TO earth and babe
good by to the famous trial, en- route ONE
and the political campaign.
At the call of time johnson commenced.
in his usual low tones, too significant of
the storm TO come, by thanking the jury
for the indulgence Eranted him and by the
reca nitulatiOn of the facts he considered
that he had established beyond a doubt
Then he proceeded further.
The next witness to whom | direct
your attention is Prosper Reitnr, the res
taurant steward of the Palace Hotel.
SIT was one day in the fore part of 1898
that Reiter told you he saw Mrs Martin
enter tGe restaurant of the Palace HoteI
and seat herself at a table. She took
lunch, and then you have heard how
Henry Marin was In the cafe al the same
time and how be crossed over and took a
seat by the side Of his sistpr-in-law.
"Mr. Rodgers practically admitted that
Reiter 80 testified and believed what he
saw, but he rather wished you TO believe
that Mrs. John Martin hypuotZed Mr.
Reiter. As II such a thing were possible
However, that point l can leave fer you TO
decide.
''Mr. Reiter gives the lie TO all this stuff
that has been introduced TO show the
hatred of Mrs. Marin and Baby John,
Therefore, If you believe his testimony. if
you believe that Henry Martin had really
affection for his sisteT-in-law and the little
boy, we are entitled to verdict at your
case"
Turning to juror. according to his es-
t3blished custom, johnson desired to know
what object Reiter could have had in lying
on the witness-stand. Even admitting
that Refers testimony had been contra
dcted By other witnesses, did that prove
him liar? Had not Rpltsr reaa0n for
remembering the date of that lunch?
You'll remember the reason Relter gave.
He'd heard the gossip about the two FAM
lies and his attention was called TO it. II
he spoke the truth we are entitled to a YER
dict upon this branch Of the case. He cor
roborateS Mrs. Cornwall and was corrobo-
rated by her: he corrobOrates Mr.. Cham
bliss aud is c0rroborated by him. 1t shows
up Henry Martins life; it shows that he
and Mrs. John Martin were friendy-per-
haps more than friendly. Il shows the
likelihood of his making will in favor of
the boy. Notwithstanding all that has
been said there was every reason why
Martin should make this second will.
"We h ave another witness, Mrs. Mary
Cornwall. You'll remember how she said
she was haunted, Swallowed by detectives.
She was accused of perjury. Why? IFS
curious they always accuse women of
perjury. Why don't they accuse men I?
Are thew afraid a man would resent the
charge? / suppose so. Anyhow, here
they stand, full of all sorts of charges
against women.
What object wouli Mrs. Corn wall have
in telling a ialsehood? She o. ly testified
at the earnest request of Mrs. Martin, altor
she was compelled to come into court and