The San Francisco call., 1897-06-12
Fatal Error of Attorneys Who
Once Supported the Pencil
Will and Deeds.
MRS. CRAVEN DISsIPATES THAT
CONSPIRACY" TALK.
Efforts of the Fair Heirs 10 Buy Her
Off Come TO Light and Something
Said About Judge Aiken

| The bold and dramatically proclaimed
charges of conspiracy, fraud, perjury and
| forgery hurled into Judge Stacks court
when the attorneys for the Fair hers
essayed the playing of their last card and
grand coup by beckoning Mrs. Nettie r.
| Craven 10 the witness-stand are still as
enveloped in mist and mystery as ever
| The accusations are still IN proved and
are as far from it as before.
The attorneys for the heirs ave either
stun bled upon gigantic mares nest or
else they have been unclever in revealing
the awful plot-in uncovering the deep
| dyed villains they have talked so much
about. Patience must again be the pub
| lies potion or else-well, complete loss
of con hdence in the promises of eminent
| attorneys.
1t was a long, sultry and exciting ses-
sion-by long odds the day" OF the Fair
Craven trial. In anticipation of sensation
| being piled upon sensation-due, of course,
to those Iurid promises-an immense
crowd gathered in the courtroom early
yesterday morning, and throughout the
| day hung with breathless expectancy upon
every word uttered. Many ladies &C
eepted the discomfort of being jestled by
the mob in order to be witnesses to the
disclosures or failures to disclose, and
were even more patient than the rest.
Mrs. Craven resumed her place on the
witness-stand shortly after the bailiff
raped for order. The lady plainly is
still suffering from the effects of her re-
cent illness, but nevertheless she ap-
peared calm. collected, determined. The
stitiing air and the heat had a visible
effect upon her. for twice she asked the
courts permission to retire to the corri-
dor for breath OF fresh air. 1t was
cruel siege for delicate woman, but she
underwent the ordeal nobly. At no time
Was she other than cool and confident.
| What was heraIded as a ponderous
question, a hold-over from Thursday af-
ternoon's session, was the first thing to be
answered. Judge Slack interrupted,
however, to give a decision on a question
as to whether or not the defense had the
right to subject Clerk Stanford of the
Crocker Company to a crucial test as to
his ability 10 identify natarial blanks.
This was a momentous issue at one time,
| but In the excitement of the past twenty
four hours, the ruling now passed almost
unnouced. The court ruled Eat for the
time being, Stanford could be spared the
| ordeal.
Then the unanswered question was once
more propounded to Mrs. Craven. Have
you ever entered into a contract by which
Mr.. Cullen is to be compensated, in the
event that you win this case, in return for
his testimony"
| No objection came from the attorneys
for the defense to Mr.. Wheeler's query.
ANSWER the question, Mrs. Craven,S
said Judge Slack softly.
Have your" repeated Wheeler.
mo, sir" replied Mrs. Craven, with
emphasis and positiveness.
"You have no such contfact"
NO sir"
Ibid you never sign an agreement OF
any kind whereby he was to benefit ii you
were successful in this case?'
"Who, Mr.. CulIen?"
| 'Yes"
"No, sir; never did"
| Mr.. Wheeler now made his question
more general, this time asking il she had
ever signed an agreement with "any per-
son" whereby Mr.. Cullen was to benefit in
case she won the suit.
| Mr.. Delmas objected to this on the
ground that the question called for the
identity OF some written instrument. If
such document existed it was the best
evidence OF itself and should be prod uced.
Both Messrs. Wheeler and McEnerney
argued that the question was proper as It
only called for an answer divulgtng
whether or not such contract existed.
| Mr.. Delmas said it was plain that the
other side was on a fishing excursion. The
attorneys had promised with a great
| flourish to prove the existence of a foul
cons piracy, but, be said they were now
apparently afraid to start in, and pre-
Ierred to pump and pry into the defense's
case in the hope of getting informa lion
and learn the names of Mrs. Craven's wit.
nesses.
! Judge Slack said be would allow the
question to be answered on the assurance
that it was only to establish the identity
of the document, if such a document ex.
listed.
! Mrs. Craven uttered another emphatic
No" in answer to the question.
Mr.. Wheeler whispered to his associate.
Mr.. Mitchell, and then asked Mrs. Craven
ii she had ever signed contract with any
body whereby anybody was TO be bene-
flied if she won.
Mrs. Craven said she could eIucidate
the point very easily, if permitted, but
Mr.. Wheeler wanted a stereoty ped answer.