The record-union., 1899-05-05
Counsel for Defense AssaiIs Testimony Of
the Plaintiffs Witnesses.
The Reading of a Deposition of
Samuel Lewis of Red Bluff,
Showing q Purpose to Impeach
the Reputation of Cam Ashurst,
Brother of the Plaintiff, Was
Stopped on Objection of the
Latter's Counsel.

WILLOWS, May An the Murdoch
case to-day the defense assailed the
testimony of the plaintiffs witnesses,
and the case is growing interesting.
The first witness to-day was Jack
Powers, who yesterday testified in de-
tail that William Murdoch was at the
Murdoch ranch during the State Fair
of 1890. Grove l.. Johnson called Pow
ers to-day and cross-examined him as
to the dates of the occurrences on the
Murdoch ranch, where the witness was
employed during that time. His form
er testimony was not shaken.
Adam and Ira Compton, two nephewS
of William Murdoch, and the former a
defendant executor, We're called by the
defense to disprove that William Muir
dock was at the State Fair of 1887 and
1890. Each testified that their uncle
took trip to Modoc County with Ira
Compton during the fall of 1887, start
ing in the middle of August, but the
witnesses We're not exactly certain as
to dates and a family diary was not
allowed to be placed in evidence.
Charles r. Mayhem, who was the
Treasurer and Tax Collector of Tehama
County in 1876 and 1871 was called.
and many transcripts from the county
records were allowed in evidence, all
tending to show the amount of money
in the hands of Jackson Eby, the AS
SCISSOR of Tehama County in 1887.
Cam Ashurst, an important witness
for the plaintiff, had sworn that he paid
Samuel Murdoch a large sum of money
in 1877 shortly before the note was
dated, and that he borrowed the money
of Eby, and it came from the county
funds.
Attorney Lusk for the defense, says
he will show that Eby had but a few
hundred dollars during all that time.
Mrs. Mary Compton, an aged sister
of William Murdoch, was not allowed
to state what her brother had told her
about this note on his deathbed in Jam
uary. 1894.
This afternoon Attorney Lusk offered
in evidence ten cancelled notes given by
William Murdoch, some for large
amounts. The attorney explained they
We're offered to show William Murdock's
habit of keeping all such papers.
The defense then offered in evidence
two mortgages made to G.. w. Murdoch,
husband of the plaintiff, in 1879. and
an assignment of these, dated Septem-
Der 3, 1877, to Samuel Murdoch. his
father.
Then was shown a mortgage to Sam
uel Murdoch for 81 800. and finally a
deed dated October, 1879, to Samuel
Murdoch from the mortgager of these
three mortgages, conveying all the land
mentioned in the documents
This evidence is in rebuttal of that
of GAVIN Murdoch, who testified that
he made a settlement with his father,
Samuel, at Chico, a few days before
the big note was made, and that he
paid him large amount in cash. The
defense will claim that no money was
paid, but that these assignments OF
mortgages constituted the settlement.
Attorney Lusk, for the defense, COM
menced reading the deposition of Sam
uel Lewis of Red Bluff. taken last
month, and the first question read
showed that the purpose was to inn
peach the reputation of witness Cam
Ashurst, brother of the plaintiff, and
an important witness on her behalf.
An objection from Grove L. Johnson
stopped the reading of it, and at this
point the court adjourned.