The San Francisco call., 1897-10-15
Marion Brooks Story
of How He Made +"
Barlow.
Some Inside information on
the Campaign in the
Sixth.
The Congressman Denies That He
Accepted Money to Use In
His Fight.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

| LOS ANGELES, CAL, Oct II "A large
aud ence found much enjoyment tod ay
! in the trial of the suit of J. Marion Brooks
against Charles A. Barlow, Congressman
| for this district, who was elected by the
| Joint ballots of Democrats, Populists and
| Silver Republicans Brooks claims that
he made" Congressman Barlow, put the
latter is so ungrateful as to refer 10 his
doughty friend as "woud-b be politician"
and denies the justice of the claims made
| against him in this suit.
Brooks claims that he advanced to Bar
low som ething like $1,000 used in the Con-
gressman's race for ctfice, and has fur
ther claim of $4,000 for services endered. I"
This latter claim is made as the price of a
retainer in the service OF Barlow in case OF
| a contest of election, which at one time
seemed imminent.
TIE plaintiff In the suit was on the wit
ness-stand all the morning and part of the
afternoon; first on direct examination and
later under cross-questloning. Brooks
said that be had worked over two months
for The election of Barlow, and had loaned
him various sums of money, bought a
300O- mile railway ticket for him, obtain ed
Southern Pacific passes for Mrs. Barlow.
paid the candidates hotel bills and res
| taurant scores, and in various ways givsn
financial assistance when it was a dire
need. To show that his assistance was in
demand, though he had to Go IN ost of his
work under cover OF negative I lend
ship" some spicy letters were introduced.
They had been written TO Brooks by the
am bilious statesman.
Part of Brooks services to his friend
and client consisted of watching the
| columns OF newspapers for dlsrespectful
articles about the aspiring statesman tha
could be made the basis of prospective
-Sal suits, and the colonel claimed he
had made certain papers print cards that
! amounted to retractions.
Congressman Barlow, on the stand in
his own defense, denied that he owed the
! plaintiff the sum named, but, as stated in
his answer 10 the complaint, he was will
| ing to confess judgment for $l70. He had
been asked by Brooks 10 sign fifteen $500
drafts on Washington banker but he
declined TO DO ii, as ne wanted time 10
pay.
He would not say that at that time he
had admitted the business of Brooks
claim. He supposed that Brooks was
working for him only as a friend and did
not know he would be expected TO give
| any return for the services until Brooks
demanded 10 be appointed as his private
secretary. He had told Brooks that that
proposition did not go" Then it was,
| according to the witness, that Brooks said
| he had made Barlow and wa going TO
| use him" He knew that Brooks had OBJ
| taineG transportation for him. but he did
not know that the word transportation
means ''free transportion."
The story OF the political combinations.
| most of which took place in San Fran
cisco, as told in court, was quite interest
ing if not thrilling, though l.. NJ. Wardau
former chairman of the Populist State
Committee and now Congressman Bar
lows private secretary, declared that
Brooks had no in influence whatever on the
fusion conference.
Boih sides finished their testimony, and
arguments will be made Tomorrow.