The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-30
THE MOB OUTSIDE.
Judge Murphy Forced to Fight His
Way Into the Courtroom-A
DisgracefuI Spectacle.

DisgraCeful Spectacle.
A white-haired Judge of the Superior
Court wedged in the heart of a desperate
mob of men and women fighting, yelling,
foaming, and using his big notebook on
the heads nearest him-that was the spec
tacle presented in the corridor leading to
Judge Murphy's courtroom yesterday
afternoon.
Why should a dignifed Judge act in this
manner2
The truth is he was not dignifed Just at
this moment; he was angry, and right
eously so; he was fighting his way into
his own courtroom. The mob was a
selfish one. Every body in it was intent
upon one thing-getting into the Durrant
trial.
1t was the sensation of the day, and as
great sensation as there has been since
this trial of sensations began.
A dozen bailtffs and deputy Sheriffs
shouted: Keep back therel Keep back
therel Let Judge Murphy pass!''
The mob pressed all the closer, each one
expecting to be able to slip in when the
door should open for his Honor.
Soon the court was in the midst of the
mob, which was thickest and fercest in
front of the door. His coat was almost
torn from his back. His hat was battered
down over his eyes. His clothes were dis
arranged, his collar and cravat awry, the
sweat pouring down his judicial brow, an
ger flashing in his eyes, threats to the
crowd, entrearies to the bailiffs came from
his lips, and finally the honored Judge be-
came only man. He lifted high his bic
black notebook and began to hammer it
effectively upon the heads around him.
1t was al outrageous, disgraceful scene.
Somebody is almost criminally to blame
for it. Such a spectacle has never been
witnessed before in a civilized community.
1t must remain as blot upon San Fran
cisco's judicial fame unless an investiga-
ton can be held and those responsible for
1t punished. Such indignities as We're
heaped upon Judge Murphy yesterday
afternoon while seeking admission to his
own court in pursuance of most solemn
and important duty are shame upon the
City government, or upon that branch oil
II whose negligence permitted the disgrace.
full occurrence.
And not only the gray-haired, dignifed
Judge of the court himself was compelled
to submit to these indignities and humili.
-ations, but every officer and attache of the
court, every person, indeed, whether man
or woman, whose duty demanded then
presence in court received the same treat
ment.
In their bewilderment, their blind help
lessness, the bailiffs and deputy Sheriff:
and policemen themselves added not lit.
tie to the wild scene of disorder, for every
one of them, intent upon crowding some
favorite of their own into the courtroom
seemed unable to distinguish between
those entitled to admission and those
merely bent on getting in to crafty then
lust of sensationalism.
Jurors, attorneys, newspaper men and
women were handled as roughly by the
limbs of the law as were the others, and in
that wild, seething mob it was only thos.
OF superior qualities of persistence thai
finally gained admission.
At one end OF the corridor a rope ha6
been stretched from wall TO wall, but the
mob pressed up against it so fercely and
in such numbers that those appointed tc
guard it were overpowered and overriden
Juror Sieberlich made brave effort to
get past this rope. 1t caught him back o.
the neck In some way and almost strangleG
him. He finally came into court, with bic
red marks of the rope on his neck and
burning with indignation.
He took his seat in the box and tried tc
cool his flesh and his ire. Judge Murphy
was engaged in the same occupation. Il
was an unpropitious moment, but Mr.
Sieberlich did not realize this. When som:
degree of quiet was secured in the room he
rose and addressed the court.
"lf your Honor please" he said, 81 wan
to give notice that shall not come into
this courtroom again unless / can walk in
as 2 gentleman"
Once before Juror Smyth made a similar
statement to the court, upon less provo
cation withal, and yet with much better
success. Judge Murphy at that time held
that Smyth's Indignation was righteou!
and scored the deputy Sheriffs roundly fo
their negligence. But yesterday the Judge
himself had just passed through the ordea
and was smartinS still with the sting of it
Il don't see what call there is for such
statement, Mr.. Sieberlich, said the court
81 was nearly strangleG to death ou
there in the corridor" retorted the juror