The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-01
V|SAL|A'S TRAIN
ROBBERY CASE,
Bad Day for Lovern and
Ardell at Their Elk.
animation.
TIE OMNIBUS THIRTEEN
Testimony of the Thirteenth Wit
ness Causes Defendants
Uneasiness.
IS a SALVATION ARMY MAN
And Tells How He Furnished the
Powder for the Job and Then
Became Scared.

VISALIA, CAL, April 30.-At the pre-
liminary examination of Lovern and
Ardell, the prosecution to-day introduced
thirteen witnesses and adjourned until
morning. Leon Goldstein, clerk for the
Sweet Company, testified that ST Lovern
purchased 10 cents worth of cheesecloth
on March Is, Lovern remarking at the
time, II want it for the old woman to hang
outside" The sample of cloth and the
piece around the lantern was similar to
that sold to Lovern.
Eugene Requard, alias Frenchy, the
porter of Lovern 81 Ardell' saloon, swore
that on the 18th he was carrying in wood
at the French laundry when Lovern came
to him and said, "Frenchy, 1 want you to
go and get my two guns and dog-collar."
He could not remember the time of day.
There were several men in the saloon
when he gave them to 81 and walked
away.
NJ. L. Weaver, gunsmith, identified the
two guns brought to his shop by Billy Ross
and afterward delivered to Requard, or the
man known as Frenchy, on the morning
of March Is.
The thirteenth witness, John Haines-a
Salvation Army man-said his name was
"Mr. Haines." He had been acquainted
with Lovern four years and with Mccall
and Britt two or three months. Was in
troduced to Mccall by Ben Hicks. He adj
mitted having had conversations with
Lovern, Ardell, Mccall and Britt about
the attempted train robbery.
Witness was cutting wood near his
home when Mccall came by and asked
him il he wanted to make stake easily.
He said yes" Mccall then told him he
meant to rob train and wanted him to
stand in. They met a few times and the
matter was mentioned again. Finally,
two or three weeks after, Mccall invited
witness to go to Visalia and confer with
Lovern and Ardell about the matter. He
did so on Saturday evening, attending the
Salvation Army meeting first. Was intro
duced to Lovern by Mccall as his friend.
Lovern, Ardell and Mccall were in the sa-
loon consulting together. He talked
awhile with them, they assuring him that
their plan was good way to make for
tune soon. Next Saturday night. after
meeting again, he visited the saloon and
had another talk with the three. Lovern
showed him the guns and said he would
have them fixed up we'll; also a sixshoot-
er. At the next visit Lovern urged him to
stay with them and not back out, as there
was good stake in it. The three were
there again. Lovern assured witness that
he and Ardell would be there at the rob-
berry if they were needed. Lovern also
said he would furnish the guns. This
meeting was the Saturday night before the
attempt.
Ali were to get share of the money
captured. Haines was to furnish the giant
powder, as Mccall said he didn't have
any, and Loyern and Ardell thought it
would look suspicious if they bought it in
town, and woodchoppers generally had
some. On March IL he brought the powder
to Mccall and Britt. Next day Mccall
told him sit was generally the third man
that gave these robberies away" He,
being the third man, got frightened and
quit.
Haines' testimony, being different than
the counsel for defense expected, caused
the defendants to shift uneasily in their
seats, also causing counsel and clients
to put their heads together.