The herald., 1898-01-28
THE BIRD CASE
Carmen Montez Applies for Loan but
Fails to Connect

Fails to Connect
The trial of Il. a. Bird on the forgery
/ charge is proving both tedious and
monotonous. In such a case the evil
/ dence is generally more or less docu-
mentary and the facts to be deduced
| from books, accounts, etc. but in this
case, where the charge is that of having
forged a check for $500. no less than 14S
exhibits have been entered by the de-
fense. Judge Smith called a halt yes
terday when Mr.. Pendleton produced a
huge stack of Photographic reproduc-
tions of Mr. Gritfins signature, taken
and enlarged from as many checks. The
court allowed only reasonable num-
Der Of these to be used, but even so the
iteration and reiteration of questions
bearing only indirectly upon the case at
bar was tedious. The spatting of coun-
sci, too. that at first was a rather pleas
ant relief from the dryness of the testi-
mony, has become flat and Improbable.
1t is not matter of making witty re-
tort but only of saying something
nasty.
Meantime Mr.. Griffith was upon the
stand all day and was put through very
thorough oss-examination by Mr.. PEN
dleton. What with counsel propounding
questions calculated to trip the witness
up, or involve him in contradiction Mr..
McComas interfering objections or
making irrelevent but quite audible
aside remarks, and Mr.. Meserve snap
ping with the joyous irritability of
terrier, Mr. Griffith had a hard time of
it. He was at one time during the day
provoked to anger and he blurted out
what Mrs Rir6 said n him yN-b har
husbands defalcation became known.
She said then, so witness stated. that
her husband had been sent to San Quen-
tin from San Diego, that she had then
suffered acutely, and that if she had to
go through the same experience again
it would kill her This allusion to de-
fendant's previous fall from grace was
not testified to on the previous trial, and
probably would not have come out dur
ing the present hearing had not the
witness been badgered into making
fuller explanation than the question
asked demanded.
AS a stand-off against this. however.
the defense put in evidence a letter to
which they ascribe great Importance,
albeit it is not at present quite apparent
how it can help the defendant any. Mr..
CIlllllH was asked II he ndQ ever given
any money to Carmen Montez. the pref
ty little Spanish bit of frail femininity to
whom Bird is said to have admitted his
defalcation, and who went to see Mr..
Griffith to plead in his behalf. The wit
ness replied in the negative very en-
phatically and the defense then offered
the letter, of which the following is a
copy:
Los ANG ELES. Dec. 4. 1891 p m.
Mr.. q. j. Grifti;h-Dear Sir: ! most sin
cerely hope that you will pardon me for
the liberty l am and have been taking in
annoying YOU So | would not do so under
different circumstances, but as matters
stand now | am forced to call upon some
one TO assist NE. / have been very i'll for
the past week, and have run short of
money, and know no one else to call from
but yourself. Mr.. Griffith. ! don't wish
YOU to think that l am taking any ad-
vantage Of circumstances. | am not and
simply know of YOU as being an exjraor-
d!nary good man, and hope that you may
see fit to loan me enough TO get straight
ened out You shall have the same re-
turned, with interest at my very earliest
convenience which will not be later than
six weeks. l am compelled to have $3.50
by Monday at 8 o'clock. and if you Will be
kind enough to loan me the sum men
you in any way, besides returning the
same. | say again that I hope YOU viii not
think strange Of my asking this favor Of
you. ! know no one else as / said before.
who would be kiud-hearied enough 10 DO
such a thing under any circumstances
without irOnclad security. Now If YOU do
this, let me know what time Monday
morning | can get the money, or perhaps
the best way Will be 10 enclose the same III /
an envelope and let bearer bring It to me. j
he VIII think il is an answer to my note. 1
and ! Will tear it off 50 that he will think I
nothing wrong; and as a favor, never men, +
ton this TO a living soul, and you VIII
not regret f.-nOt even to your attorney.
and don't sign Your name TO the answer to
this note. Some time, soon after ! am
through with the trial, ] VIII see you and
return the money and explain all to you
Until then ! Will say by-by from the one
who telephoned you his afternoon.
At first reading the letter savors
somewhat of blackmail, despite the
fact that Miss Montez, who evidently
realized how hcr application might be
viewed. especially repudiates such an
idea. The amount Of "tamy" she incor-
porated in her billet-doux was not, how
ever, sufficient to catch Mr. Griffith. for
he disobeycd his correspondents injunc-
ton, ana showed the letter to his at
torney. The sequel to this letter will be
awaited with interest
The further hearing will be continued
today.