The San Francisco call., 1898-05-21
HUNTINGTON
 IN CONTEMPT He Leaves the State
 Suddenly. IS WANTED AS A WITNESS.
HIS ATTORNEY ACCUSED OF
 SHARP PRACTICE.
The Railroad Commission May Charge Both Counsel and Client With Breaches of Court Dis
 cipline.


 Francisco on Thursday without the for mality of first informing the State Board of Railroad Commissioners of his 1nten- tion. B. s. Pillsbury, his attorney in the suit of J. R. Robinson against the South ern Pacific Company, now pending before the Commissioners, also professes that he was not aware of the magnate's inten- tions until yesterday morning.
 The result of Huntington's hurried de- parture Is complication in the proceed ings before the Commissioners. He had been summoned as witness in the Rob- inson suit, but was excused from attend ance on the board until the question of jurisdiction had been argued and decided. The arguments were made on Thursday, and 10 o'clock yesterday morning was the hour set for giving the decision. In the meantime, Huntington quietly folded his tent and departed beyond the confines of the State.
 When the board met yesterday morning Chairman La Rue announced the decision that the Commissioners have proper Jur- isdiction to hear the Robinson case He also said that he had just been informed that Huntington had left the State in spite of the fact that he was under orders from the board to appear and give his testimony. He asked Attorney PlllSbury to explain.
 II have no knowledge of MT. Hunting tons absence from the city," said the attorney, but 1t is quite likely that such is the case If he has left the State, do not see just how the fact affects this case, for it has been our intention all along to test this question of Jurisdiction in the courts, and until such test has been made there is no need of my cli- ents presence here"
 "The question of your intentions does not enter into this matter, replied La Rue, with some asperity; and 1t appears to me that this board has been made the victim of sharp practice"
 Tt was my understanding" said Pills bury, that MT. Huntington was excused from attendance here until the question of Jurisdiction was finally settled. As you knew it to be our intention to take the question into the courts, 1t follows that the witness was excused until the courts had passed on 1t. '.
 There was no such understanding, re- piled La Rue; "and l repeat that there seems to have been some sharp practice here.'
 q see no occasion to get up contro- versy here for outside purposes" protest ed the attorney.
 'I resent any such insnuation,'' put in Commissioner Hinton, and will ask you not to repeat it.
 Attorney Monteith, who appeared for Robinson, called for the reading of the stenographic report of the. previous meet ings. This developed the fact that at the meeting at which Huntington was ex- cused from immediate attendance Attor- ney Pillsbury had, in an aside to the
  be made to show that Huntington was ex- cused from attendance until the queS- ton of Jurisdiction was finally disposed of The stenographer testified that as soon as Pillsbury had made this request he left the room. In order to protect him. self the stenographer had read the entry made at the request of the attorney to the Commissioners, and they had ordered 1t changed to read until the question of Jurisdiction is finally disposed of by the board" The record shows that this cor rection was made.
 ''I wish to inform the board" said Pills bury that MT. Huntington declines to appear here as a witness in the Robinson caSe.'
 ''Is he within the reach of the orders of this board?" asked La Rue.
 1T do not know"
 ''Is he in this State?
 "I do not know.
 Attorney Monteith asked that a recess of an hour be taken in order to afford him time to prepare an order for the arrest of Huntington and Pillsbury for contempt. This was granted. When the board again read It set forth the. allegation that Huntington has left the State in direct violation of the orders Of the Conmls- sioners, and that he did so by the advice and with the conniVance Of his attorney, E. s. Pillsbury. For these and other req sons a request was made for the issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of both men and that they be given an oppor- tunity to show why they should not De punished for contempt On account of some minor errors Tn the order it was presented It was agreed to postpone action in the matter until l next. Tuesday afternoon, at which time | a new order will be submitted and the board will decide as to what course II will pursue.
 Thursday morning by special train Ills 1 immediate destination Is said to nave been Portland, Or.