The San Francisco call., 1897-06-26
Aitken Continues the Story
of His Own Unwaver-
ing Virtue.
In the Presence of an Immense
Attendance He WAKES
Dramatic.
Martin Kelly in the Role of the Dread
Villain Who Pursued This
Unhappy Innocent,

John r. Aitken was again the chief
actor yesterday in the Fsir-Craven drama.
The Judge" as counsel for the heirs
call him, resumed his interesting yarn
about the alleged deep and dark con-
spiracy he entered into with Mrs. Craven
and Martin Kelly, and then withdrew
from-suffering the tortures of stricken
conscience-the awful plot that is claimed
by the attorneys for the Fair children to
have been hatched up for the purpose of
looting the dead millionaire's estate. And
his story continued to be interesting to
say the very least about it.
There was an immense crowd present to
hear the recital, and this was fact that
quite evidently please this human bonn b.
shell, for it is said that Aitken rather
prides himself on his elocutionary powers
and his ability to tone his address with
dramatic effect without the use of slow
music and stage thunder.
The proceedings began at the point
where they left off Thursday evening. and
that was where a discussion was under
way on the question of whether or not
Athens evidence regarding alleged con-
versations with Martin Kelly were admis-
sIble. The counsel on both sides added 8
few finishing touches to their arguments
and then the ruling of the court was called
for. Judge Slack said he thought the
evidence could go in, and thereupon Ait
ken was directed TO relate the alleged talk
be had with Kelly after they left Mrs.
Craven's house on the night of Jnly 9, 1896
Leaving the house." he said, I'VE went
down Guerrero street to Fifteenth, and
then down Fifteenth 10 Valencia. Task ed
Kelly If the real business he wanted me
for was to testify in court that l saw Mrs.
Crayen's deeds in January or February of
1895. He said it was, and then declared
that l would have nothing to do with it.
Kelly said: God, John, this is an oppor-
tunity of a lifetime-you will make for
tune l again told him l would have
nothing to do with the scheme. Kelly
also told me what part he was going to
play in the affair"
'sTell us what he said," commanded
Wheeler.
well, be said that Cooney had sworn
to the acknowledgement of the deeds by
Fair, and there was no way in which the
heirs could get around 1t. He assured me
that there was absolutely no danger in my
going on the witness stand, and he had his
doubts If would have TO, as he expected
to secure compromise.
Continuing, Aitken said he did not see
Mrs Craven again after that night, but
saw Martin Kelly on numerous occasions.
He SAID Kelly insisted tnat ne SnouIo go
into the case.
Wheeler showed the witness draft of
his contract with Mrs. Craven and asked
him if he had ever seen it before.
''Oh, yes" replied Aitken after he had
briefly examined the typewriter docu-
ment.
"Where did you first see it?"
"Atm my office in the Parrott building"
"Who drew the documentp
morris L. Asher and myself"
who put the document into type
writing2"
II die"
Aitken was not permitted to 60 into
the details of circumstances under which
no drafted the contract, the court sustain
ing an objection on that point.
Under another line of questions Aitken
went on to say that Kelly called at his
office on another occasion and inquired if
th. witness had received note from Mrs.
Craven, through that lady's daughter, -e::
queSting him to write out statement OF