The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-26
HaVemeyer in Court to
Answer Charges of
Contempt.
Senators as Witnesses Tell
What They Know About
the Case.
Broker Chapman Gets Temporary
Outing-Methods Adopted
by the Defense.

trial of Henry 0. Havemeyer for declin-
ing to answer certain questions propound-
ed by the Senate investigating committee
began before Justice Bradley to-day. A
large number of Senators were summoned
to tell what they knew about the matter.
Among those who appeared were Senators
Davis, Murphy, Lodge, Gray and Lind
say. Nathaniel Wilson. John 6. Johnson
of Philadelphia and John E. Parsons of
New York represented Havemeyer, who
was seated back OF his counsel. District
Attorney Davis was assisted by Lasker.
The jury was soon secured and Davis
opened the case by stating the we'll
known facts OF Havemeyer's refusal to
testify before the Senate committee.
r. L. Miller, stenographer before the
Senate committee, was examined by
Davis and read his notes of June Ii CIV
ing the refusal of Havemeyer to answer
questions propounded by Senator Allen.
The reply was:
''While l am perfectly willing to answer
any material matters under the advice of
counsel decline to answer about outside
matters. also decline to answer about
local contributions. 1 know of nothing
exists no bargain of any nature and we
never claimed that the pany was en-
titled to anything except what its merits
required"
Senator Gray of Delaware was on the
stand some time. The Senator remem-
bered that in su distance the question dealt
with contributions of the trust to CAM
paign funds. In reply to a question re-
garding the reports of the committee to
the Senate, one of which was considered
in executive" session, Gray said he could
not remember anything that occurred
in executive session"
Counsel then became involved in an
argument over the questioning of Senator
Gray regarding the action OF the Senate
on the matter. The desire of the defense,
was made aware of the fact that Have
meyer had declined to answer questions
and that the Senate did not take any ac-
lion on his refusal.
Judge Johnson made little speech on
the subject, III the course of which he said
that they would show that the report OF
the committee had never been received
and that the comm ittee was still in exist
ence. Mr.. Johnson attem pied to show by
witnesses that the question by Senate
Allen, which Havemeyer refused to
answer. was question propounoed by
Allen himself against the objection OF sew
eral members of the committee, and that
il was not question of the general com
mittee, but of an individual mem Der OF
the com mittee.
Witness said he could not tell whether
any one had said in the committee-room
that HavemeYer might answer the ques-
ton or not, as he saw fit.
Davis asked the Senator ii he remem.
bered the putting OF the question to Have
meyer.
Gray said he could not remember Jus,
what action the committee had taken, but.
although he personally was opposed tc
the question, as chairman of the COM
mittee he put the question to the witness
and must have done SO at the action OF
the com mittee.
During the hearing q little stir was
caused by the entrance of Broker Chap
man, who had been brought from the Dis
trict Jail to testify in the case. He walked
to the side of Mr.. Havemeyer, shook
hands with him cordially, and then took
seat near the District Attorney. Chap
man is looking we'll, and his confinement
in Jail has apparently had little effect on
him.
Senator'S Lindsay. Lodge and Davis
testified respecting the putting of the
question I'd Havemever. Davis seemed to
remember more than some of the other
Senators. He told the story of the APP
pearance of Havemeyer before the COM
mittee and his testimony. He said that
Havemeyer's examination was suspended
in order that he might look up data to
reply to Aliens questions and take the
advice of counsel.
When the committee reconvened Have
meyer declined TO answer the questions
The Senator remen bered the TACT that
there had been discussion in COMMITTEES
regarding the question and that the ma
iority endorsed it. The Senator thong bit
the record OF the proceedings OF the COM
mittee was correct.
Johnson took the witness and briefly
examined him as to the time of the dis
cussion of the question in committee.
Senator Davis thought it had taken place
n the first day.
An adjournment was then taken Until
tomorrow morning.