The herald., 1897-11-19
Knows HIS
SIGNATURE
Checks Identified by Mr..
Griffith as His
OTHERS DECLARED FORGERIES
OTHERS DECLARED F0RGERIES
CARMEN MONTEZ AND BIRDS
TRIP TO CANARY COTTAGE
Evidence for the Prosecution Not Yet
All in-New Suits-The Calen-
dar-Courthouse Notes

again yesterday morning with specta-
tors at the continuation of the Bird for
gerry trial. Mrs. Bird sat beside her
husband during the day and the latter
preserved his smiling countenance dur
ing the entire proceedings. At times 1t
was difficult for him to suppress his de-
sire for active participation with his
attorneys and he made no attempt to
conceal his satisfaction when a point
seemed to turn in his favor.
G. J. Griffith was recalled to the stand
for cross examination and remained
there during the morning. The evidence
adduced was essentially that elected on
direct examination. The story of Mr.
Griffith telephoning to Bird was repeat
ed. Witness could not recall that he
had gone to his ranch on the morning OF
August 10, before breakfast. returned 10
the office and signed checks. He 1dentI-
fed a check for $21. 40 on the State Loan
and Trust company, but could not re-
call that Bird was in the office when ne
returned and said a man at the ranch
had quit work and wanted his money.
Witness thought the man called and
received it from him.
Mr. Griffith had agreed to pay Bird
$75 a month for two or three hours work
a day with the privilege of working out
side, and from the time spent away from
the office he thought Bird must have
earned $500 or $400 month. He gener-
ally signed his checks with a stub pen,
though he sometimes used a gold one
which he carried in his pocket and which
was exhibited.
The witness was requested to write
his signature with the gold pen and two
stub pens supplied by the attorneys for
the prosecution and the signatures
placed in evidence. Mr.. Griffith said
that he made up his mind that check
DESIGNATED as No. 10 for 5000 was a for
gerry the moment he received it.
Ibid YOU have an Interview with John
KNIGHT. q reporter on The Herald on
Aug 80 at the Nadeau hotel, and did you
send him typewritten copy saying that
Bird had treated you badly but had not
committed crime?"
The witness attempted an explana-
ton in extenso. that Mrs. Bird had
called ut his Office and pleaded for her
husband, and to save the family of the
the defense objected to the answer and
the court admonished the witness to an
swer more directly. He finally admitted
that it was very likely he had. Various
checks were shown for Identification,
followed by handful enclosed in en-
veloDes with the lower right corner cut
out. exposing the signature only.
This was a signal for the attorneys for
fI,a q
strenuous objections to the practice of
alleged trckery on the part Of the de-
Tense. The court, however, overruled
the objection and the witness identified
all of them as his own signatures eX-
cept l. s, 0. II, IL, which he believed We're
not his.
After some further examination of
checks the court took a recess until
o'clock.
Mr. Griffith took the stand again in the
afternoon on cross examination, when
more checks and stub books We're sub
mitted for examination without elicit
ing anything not brought out on the di-
rect examination The testimony given
on the preliminary examination was read
but witness could not remember saying
to The Herald reporter that the system
business was such that it could not be
possible for Bird 10 commit forgery.
On redirect examination witness said
Detective Bradish had called on him
on August 18th, also a woman named
Carmen MonteZ. In pursuance of in
formation obtained from this woman he
went to Birds residence between and
o o'clock the next morning, but Bird was
Ia han n ha irSt
National bank and secured the check,
marked exhibit A.
His bank book was balanced four or
five days after the discovery of the 5000
check.
A check for $340G had been made pay
able to Bird and Hay for piece of land
purchased of DR.. Cochran because wit
ness did not wish to appear in the deal.
This closed the redirect examination.
There was perceptible stir of interest
and craning of necks among the specta
tors when the name of Carmen Montez
was called as the next witness.
Miss MonteZ, attired in a gay street
suit, black hat and black lace veil part
ly concealing a handsome face, took the
stand, and admitted her age to be 90
years. She had known the accused
Blru 1lNe 1nontnS ana naQ met MIN IN
Los Angeles. In a conversation witness
had with Bird on the 18th of August
about o'clock he told her that he had
been accused of drawing $500 out of the
bank in Mr.. Grifliths name. Witness
and Bird went out to Canary cottage"
about 6 o'clock in the evening and at II
o'clock she called on Mr.. Griffith. Witness
told Bird what she intended doing and
he replied that he did not care.
He was in a store room down stairs
when she left him to call on Mr.. Griffith
and was there when she returned, but
witness could not remember whether or
not the door was locked. Witness did
not remember that he said anything
about taking his life at Canary cottage
but had told her of being accused of
drawing 5000 from the bank.
On cross examination Miss Montez ad-
attorneys and several others about the
case and that the conversations had in
huenced her testimony somewhat. Her
testimony on the preliminary examina-
ton was read, and she admitted that
she had answered as so stated. Her tes-
timony was all concise and to the point.
A. ]. Bradish, police officer, was the
next witness. He remembered being in
Mr.. Griffiths office about o'clock on
the 18th of August and had been at the
First National bank previous to going
there. Mr.. Griffith had telephoned to
in 70 hn ri v,ryiV re