The herald., 1898-01-29
Carmen Montez Tries to
Explain That Letter
SAYS 1T WAS NOT BLACKMAIL
RuT SHE TRIED TO PLAY GRIF-
FIFTH FOR $16o
Attorney oliver Feels Called Upon to
Justify His Position-Bird's
Sureties All Secured

Yesterday was a star day in Depart
ment one and the attorneys engaged IN
the case of r. A. Bird eXcelled them
selves in spatting and wrangling untl
Judge Smith lost all patience and then
there was an explosion. The court
scored Deputy District Attorney NC
Comas first, and to that, gentleman
modest remonstrance and reminder that
he knew how to try case, retorted that
he did not. Mr.. Meserve tried to speak
his little piece, but in the attempt to rub
in the courts remarks to Mr.. McComas
came to grief himself. He got raped
over the knuckles-metaphor OF
course-and for the remainder OF the
day a more subdued air distinguished
the several legal gentlemen.
During the morning the cross-eXamln-
alton of Mr.. Griffith was concluded ana
after Mr.. Hammond, paying teller at the
First National bank, and one or two
other witnesses had been examined MISS
Carmen Montez was put forward by the
prosecution This little lady-and she
is very petite of form-was somewhat
gorgeously arrayed in a gown OF ruddy
colored velvet with high Elizabethan
collar that formed a background for a
Spanish type of face. The court room
was packed, for every one was deslrous
to know Just what figure that letter
written by Miss Montez to Mr.. Griffith
and published yesterday in The Herald
would cut in the case. But this witness
wasn't inclined to tell too much. After
a few preliminary questions the exam
ination was continued somewhat as fol-
lows:
How long have you known Mr..
Bird? ?" inquired Mr.. McMcComas.
81 can't tell; about five months" was
the rather non -committal reply.
"I'll ask you if you saw him on Au-
gust 10, 1872
81 guess 1 did"
'Whereabouts?''
"At my house, 540la New High street,
in the afternoon"
"How long did he remain?"
mot very long. I was very busy and
did not notice the exact time"
Did he say to you on that occasion
anything about any trouble over
check, with Mr.. Griffith"
mo, sir; not at my house"
"He did somewhere else, did he?"
HE told me at the Canary cottage
that Mr.. Griffith accused him of forg
ing a check for 5000"
"Where is the Canary cottage, and
how do you go there?"
"Mr. Bird and just went for drive
''And what did you do?"
eve sat in the public parlor, and then
he said that Mr.. Griffith accused him of
forging a 5000 check on the First Ma
tional bank"
How did it come up?"
81 don't know, unless he was full"
"What did you say?"
81 didn't say anything. 1 thought he
was either full or crazy"
Did the defendant tell you that he
had drawn $2O0?"
mo, sir; he did not
What did he say, then?''
"NIr. Griffith had sent him to see
some man, he said, and he had rung
Mr.. Griffith up, and was then asked if
he had drawn 5000 out of the bank, and
he replied that he had not"
What did you say?"
81 told him l was going to see Mr..
Griffith about the matter"
"And what did he say?"
"He said l could do what I liked"
"And you did, see Mr. Griffith, didn't
you?"
Eyes, SIR
''And you then told Mr.. Griffith what
Bird had told you?'
II told him part of it, but not until
had heard his part of the story first"
You questioned Mr. Griffith then?"
r-;,
had been drinking and did not know
what he was saying"
WAS Mr.. Bird al your house when you
returned from your interview with Mr..
Griffith?'
Yes, sir; he remained until next even
ing, about or 6 O'clock"
Did he tell you any more about the
check?"
"No, sir.''
did you tell him all that transpired
at your interview with Mr.. Griffith?'
81 told him part. That Mr.. Griffith had
said he had employed him under very
peculiar circumstances, and that he
knew that Bird had forged check on
the bank that day"
That ended the direct examination.
and then the witness was taken in hand
by the defense.
when, Miss Montez. was the first
time you sWore that Mr.. Bird said that
he told Mr. Griffith over the telephone
that he had not drawn $500 from the
bank?' began Mr.. Pendleton.
''At the first trial Of the case"
"Why did you not mention it at the
Awarded
Highest Honors-World's Fair,
Gold Medal, Midwinter Fair.