The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-17
Opinion of the Well
Known Expert.
CoRRoBoRATED BY TURNER
LEES WITH THE DEFENSE IN
THE PENDING SUIT.
Letter Is Also Held Which Bears Out
Assertions That L. S. Meggin-
son Was the Prime Mover
to Collect 100000.

The deposition of j. F.: Turner, in which
he charges one L. S. Megginson with nay :
ing forged the big note now amouhtlns
to 100000 against the estate or the lale
millionaire and rancher, william Mul-
dock, was signed yesterday ana is. no"
part of the suit in which the genuine
ness of the note is to be determines.
Turner's deposition, telling how the Dig
forgery, or alleged forgery, was executed
has been published: In addition TO TINS
invaluable evidence placed in the possess
sion of the defense in the action by Iur-
ner, there are other points held by Chiet
Lees, which, together with the OPINION Oh
Expert Theodore Kytka, who Is conjldent
that the instrument is a forgery, VIII
doubtless prevent the collection OF the
note, which stands without precedent,
if it is a forgery, as alleged, for amount
and clever execution. The only trouoie
with the note is that it is too cleVerly exc
Cuted. 1t bears too much resemblance 10
the handwriting of Mary Helen Murdoch,
from which the body of the note, 1t is
commended, was copied, and the signature
has been declared by Kytka. as alleged
by Turner. to have been trace1 IN part
and copied in part by a clever hand.
. Chief Lees has long been in possession
of many Of the facts testified to by Tur-
ner When the existence of the famou3
note first became known Lees vas taken
into the case by Attorney Lusk of Chico.
who is associated with, h. >. R1llSDucV 20
prosecute the interests of the dead mil
Honalre's estate against the holders OF
the instrument. Lees Immediately de-
tailed Byram and EsoIa to interview Tur-
ner, who gave the officers a portion Of the
facts and placed In their possession a let
ter written by Megginson substantiating
held by counsel for the estate, will prove
Megginson's completely in the alleged for
gerry and will win them their case. The
letter reads:
Oakland, Cal, Sept. 20, 1892.
Friend Turner: After thinking matters
over l have come to the conclusion that
we, must look out fer the note and the
collection of the same, and do not wish
to be placed in position that would lead
10 perjury in any way. Now one thing.
When my brother comes back, why not
let him, assign to Mrs. Murdoch and count
on all the past as borrowed money and all
paid back? After a while we VIII buy
the same and put it in good shape. Cali
ping at sos Washington, Sacramento
House. VIII come over Tomorrow exc
Gail at your office Yours.
L.. ). MEGGINSON"
AS stated by Turner, Megginson. in or
oer 70 make 1t appear that he had paid
e consideration of $4,000, to Mary Helen
brother, William Meggihson who resides
In Ohio, and procured several thousand
collars which, he paid Mary Helen Muir
qQeKt taking her receipt therefor. Mary
HeIen+ would then return the money L.
D. Meggfnson would return it to his
brother and when the time for another
payment came the money would again
be shipped to this city and another pay
mont made " In this way it was made
to appear that a consideration was being
PAID tor the note, but finally Megginson
lost. heart and determined that this course
would necessitate his committing per-
jury. HENCE he wrote the letter to Tur-
ner explaining his fears, and this letter,
II is contended, Will result in his down
fell It's being ,g closely, guarded and
VIII be until the end of the trial. as it
is a declaration from the nf
gtHson :confessing criminal connection in
the case, and with it the attorneys for
the defense are confident of saving for
the heirs of the late William Murdoch the
round sum of S500000
Turner, as stated, did not put all the
that time the Rad chief e Lees at
with j. P. Frenna, the Italian barber.
and they were scheming as to how Tur,
fused to tell the entire story at the time,
nor would be agree to give any further
Information until they promised him that
ne would not be called upon to give hts
Fought the charges they had made
against him to the end. Turner said he
Que or any newspaper until he had beaten
every charge they had made or could
make against him. At the time Turner
would have had Megginson and Frenna
arrested for perjury, but he knew that i
would be of no. use for him to have them
arrested at that time, as IN his opinion
miss any charges against them on the
ground that Turner was trying to destroy
and break down the peoples witnesses.
Turner now says his time has come, al
though it has taken him almost five
years to beat his enemies. He has lived
up to his former resolutions. and as the
lon.g waited he will bring his prosecutors
before the people and give them the hard
est fight they ever had to save them
selves from life in prison.