The San Francisco call., 1896-06-10
DETECTIVE WOOD
IS AFTER TRUTH,
Incidentally There Was
Twenty-Five Hundred
In It.
THAT WAS SECONDARY.
Some More Leaves From Miss
AShley's Checkered Boston
History.
EsCAPADE WITH a DRUMMER.
More Details of Colonel Pope'S Efforts
to Get Her Away From
Boston.
EsCAPADE WITH A DRUMMER.

the Ashley-BaIdwln trial yesterday bv
Detective Wood of Boston. In the course
of his instructive, even if unwillinglv
given, disclosures of detective methods
Mr.. Wood demonstrated how, DESPITE the
scriptural declaration, one may serve two
masters.
The principals and even the few priv
ileged spectators sat unmoved bv YES
terday's testimony. Lucky" Baldwin
slid down in his chair and shuffied three
silver dollars in his hands. Farmer Os-
born sat outside of the rail and scowIed
his inoftensive scowl. Attorney Highton
paced back and forth, busily masticating
a bit of the weed, and almost hidden by
the side OF the iury-box Clitus Barbour
slept the peaceful sleep of Democratic
politician. Alternately Attorneys Crltten-
den and Highton piled Detective Wood
with questions, only occasionally inter
rupted by the stentorian accents of Reuben
II. Lloyd.
At the opening of the court yesterday
afternoon Detective Wood was put on the
stand. Before his testimony was taken
the courtroom was cleared OF all but the
principals, attorneys and representatives
of the press. AS at yesterdays session,
Attorney Crittenden objected to ali of the
testimony being admitted. and excepted
to the ruling of the court admitting it.
Wood testified that on the 18th of April
he had had an interview with Miss Ashley
IN his office. In this interview Miss
Ashley asked him if he were not ashamed
OF having written the letter of August 28,
IN which he called her a blackmaiIer
After she had stormed and scolded a
while she calmed down and witness told
her that what he said was the truth. He
hnr o. - IL
Miss Ashley called "Uncle Balch," and
asked her if he had not ruined her Wood
further told her that he might have some
sympathy with a wronged girl, but that
he had none with blackmailer. She de-
clared that she was not a biackmailer' and
tha previous to her meeting with Colonel
Pope her life had been innocent. Wood,
however, declared that he had absolute
evidence to the contrary and declared that
if she persisted in prosecuting Colonel
Pope he would prosecute her for black
mail.
Finally Miss Ashley admitted that she
had been intimate with a drummer, VINO
had promised to marry her. After much
tears and pleading with the detective, he
encouraged her somewhat by saying he
might help her to get back to Pasadena.
She requested him to write letters TO
various persons in Boston and elsewhere
retracting certain things Wood had said
about her.
Another interview took place between
the witness and Miss Ashley on the fol-
lowing day. Wood told her he had made
up his mind to help her back to Pasadena,
and gave her $50 or $50. She was very
grateful to him, told him she forgave him
for all the bitter things he had said about
her and asked him to help her in her suit
against Baldwin. Witness told her he did
not believe he could honorably do so, but
Ha 4 -
day.
On the following day, April 90, another
interview occurred. On this occasion Wood
told Miss Ashley that she had lied when
she said she was an adopted daughter of
Mrs. Thompson, but told her that he
had found out that she had been
servant in the Thompson house
hold, and that Mr.. Thompson had become
suspicious and had told his wife not to
pay her until she should give a receipt.
Miss Ashley wanted Wood to see Bald
win when he came East, and she promised
TO pay Wood a good sum for what he
should do in the matter. Although at
that time Wood practically aequiesced, he
declared that he had never received any
thing from Miss Ashley.
MIR. Crittenden then began the cross
examination OF the witness. Wood ad-
mitted that he had been continuously in
the employ of Colonel Pope for many years,
and tnat his house was still doing busi-
ness for the colonel. During April, 1894
and during ali the time mentioned in re-
gard to the Ashley affair, he had acted as
Colonel Pope's detective. He admitted
that be had been for Colonel Pope and
employed to negotiate a settlement with
Miss Ashley for Colonel Pope; the matter
of buying her the Pasadena property had
been suggested by Wood.
Detective Wood then explained how he
had happened to come out from Boston to
testify in the case now being tried. The
first suggestion for his coming out here
was made by Attorney Lloyd when he
was East about a year ago. The first
Wood and Baldwin last year. Baldwin
was at New York and Wood at Boston
and the arrangements for the latter to
enter Baldwin's employ were made by
correspondence. Baldwin promised to
pay Wood $500 and all expenses of him
self and two assistants. OF this sum $500
was paid down.
Some diversion was caused by a tiff be-
tween Attorneys Crittenden and Lloyd
upon an inquiry by Judge Slack whether
the attorneys wished other witnesses ex-
cluded from the courtroom. Crittenden,
looking around and seeing Farmer Osborn
among the spectators, said that he had no
ODlectlOnS 10 lDe presence VI WltHesSeS
who were through testifying, as they might
be interested in the result of the trial. At
torney Lloyd objected to plaintiffs lam
guage. Crittenden retorted in an under
tone that defendants counsel were more
sensitive than his witnesses.
Wood had been employed by Attorney
of New York to investigate Miss
Ashley's character. He did not know at
the time that Colonel Pope was having the
investigation carried on. Witness made
trips 20 Vermont and other places to find
out about Miss Ashley, his compensation,
So day and expenses, being paid him by
Lawyer Redding. Mr.. Redding made ar
to send Miss Ashley off to
and Detective Wood was called
off the case. Later, when she returned to
make trouble, he was again put on the
case.
When Miss Ashley spoke to Wood about
her claim against Baldwin,
Wood was still engaged in making the in
he had been employed on
and was to be paid for by Lawyer Red
ding. Miss Ashley promised to pay him,
but did not say how much. This visit to
Baldwin had been made principally TO
zarve COlOnaI Pope aIthOuph he claimed