The herald., 1897-04-15
TO BE CALLED AGAIN TODAY
EVENTS OF THE KID THOMPSON
TRIAL YESTERDAY
Other Occurrences Around the Court
house-Court Calendars-The
johnson Libel Case Still
Goes 0n-Notes


the Kid Thompson trial yesterday, when
Alva Johnson, who was brought down
from San Quentin to testify, refused to
answer the questions put to him. 1t was
just after the conclusion of Etzler's long
testimony that johnson was called and
placed upon the stand. The first few
questions put to him were readily an
swered. Then Major Donnell asked:
"Where was Kid Thompson on the night
of February Is. 1s94?"
johnson hesitated a moment and then
said: IT have nothing to say"
One could have heard pin drop in the
court room, so great was the stiffness.
Johnson had refused to testify and the
prosecution had lost one of its strong
est witnesses For 1t was on Alva john
sons testimony that Kid had been con-
yicted before His conduct now seemed
strange in the light of his former con-
fessions, and was great surprise to the
prosecution.
Another attempt was made to draw
reply from the unwilling witness. Il
cannot answer your questions" said
johnson. 81 refuse to testify" Then the
witness intimated that he had been in
timidated. He said: 1T is not any in
fuence in this court or outside OF here
that l fear" and while he did not say so
he limited that it was trouble inside the
states prison that he dreaded. NO fur-
ther attempt was made to get the wit
ness to testify and he was taken back
to Jail.
One of the first witnesses called In the
morning was Etzler who claims that
Kid told him all about the robbery. He
told about his meeting Thompson ana
said that he and a man named MeHoro
were riding the blind baggage en- route
from Los Angeles to Bakersfield, when
Thompson climbed down off the top OF
the car and Joined them. Mefford had
introduced him to Etzler as the cleverest
horsethief in the country.
The trio was put off the train this
side of Bakersfield, and Kid ADVISED
Etzler to have nothing to do with Mef-
ford, saying he was no good. He SAID
that he had known Mefford in the peni-
tentiary at Yuma, and that he was
peach and had made considerable trou-
BILE. They got away from Mefford, and
Thompson then asked Etzler to accom-
pany him to Alva Johnsons ranch at
Tejunga, where he said he had some
money.
On the way Etzler says that Kid be-
came confidential and told him the par
ticulars of the Roscoe train robbery,
and confessed to throwing the switch by
which two men were killed. When they
arrived at the johnson home Etzler was
introduced to the family. Alva was not
at home, being in Los Angeles. Kid ansl
10 fhn har nd
mained hidden there all day.
When Johnson came home Kid
told him that Etzler knew all about the
robbery. Johnson said that he was sick
of the whole business and would have
had nothing to do with the affair If
it had not been for the mortgage on
the farm. which he wanted to raise.
They had all three then driven to
Los Angeles, Etzler and Johnson rid
ing on the seat, and Kid Thompson be-
ing placed in the bottom of the wagon
and covered up with sacks. Kid and
Etzler had then beaten their way to
Tempe, Ariz., where they remained sew
eral days. Here they ran across fellow
named Tuper, and the three camped
together in tent.
Kid wrote to Alva Johnson to forward
his share of the money secured in the
Roscoe robbery TO Tempe, Ariz., and in
due time the box came by Wells Fargo's
express. Etzler and Thompson were
together when the money was taken out
of the express office. 1t was carried off
to a canyon, and there the box was bro
ken open and the contents taken out
and placed in three sacks. 1t was in
Mexican silver dollars and there were
600 of them. These were carried to
Phoenix and there exchanged with a
Chinaman for United States money at
40 and As cents on the dollar.
The trio, Kid, Etzler and Tuper, had
then proceeded to get drunk. A part OF
the money was deposited at a bank in
Etzler's name. The next morning Kid
said that Etzler came in and asked for
his money, and as he did not get out of
bed Immediately, struck a him. Later
Etzler went to work for a man near
Globe and it was then that he gave in
formation leading to Kids arrest He
had expected to get the reward Offered
by the Southern Pacific company bu:
said that he has never received a cent
of the blood money. Etzler was pu'
through a rigid cross examination by
Judge Phillips, but his testimony was
not materially shaken.
Alva Johnson, Clark and McCrone, the
trio of convicts from San Quentin, who
are to testify arrived at 80 in the after
noon. johnson was placed upon ths
stand Immediately upon the conclusion
of Etzler's testimony with the result al
stated above.
Bernard Mills. one of Kids attorneys
said after all was over: "Johnson's con.
duct was no surprise to US. He has ad.
mitted to his fellowp prisoners at Sar
Quentin that he perjured himself at the
: former trial and he has done simply
what we expected of him. We have an.
other big surprise before this trial i.
over and you may look for it at an.
time" Just what was the nature of this
surprise Mr.. Mills would not say.