The San Francisco call., 1899-09-18

The Call people that / do not want to
try this case any more. l will not OBJ
ject to having 1t transferred to any
other court. l don't like it any more
no, really 1 don't. Tell them-tell
them that i will not feel put out bit
If they ask for a change of venue. Do
me the justice TO tell them that" The
pleadings of the aged Judge, caught at
last in his prostitution of justice, was
pitiful. He fairly whined himself into
tears, but steadfastly refused to allow
d photograph to be taken of the docu-
ment.
L might do this for any one else but
The Call" he continued, but that pa
per has not treated me right. 1t has
printed things about me that l did not
like and l do not think that l owe it
any courtesies."
Again the Judge showed by his own
words and actions that his personal
feelings were the only power that
moved the machinery of his court. 1t
was explained to him that The Call
did not ask for any special favors or
anything that the law did not give it a
right to demand.
While this conversation was going on
the Judge spread the complaint before
him, and carefully ran his pencil
through the writing that was by this
time giving him so much uneasiness.
Even though it was Sunday and his
court closed, according to his idea, he
did not hesitate to alter the records.
There, now" said he, when he had
finished the job. that settles it. You
see have rubbed ii out and that ought
to satisfy every one concerned" And
this with a look of innocence
that would have made an angel blush.
He thought that the faint waving
lines would obliterate his bias in the
eyes Of the public.
Rodden finally spared for a little
time TO catch his breath. Rumor in
San Rafael has it that the Judge ad-
mires and fears the clans Cochrane,
and visions of their displeasure prob
ably fitted across his troubled mind.
II will consult an attorney" said he,
"and in two hours L will let you know
sf the document can be photographed" ]"
This was the first surrender, but be
fore the day was done the Judge had
made many.
Jumping into his buggy Rodden
drove out on to the Petaluma road in
the direction of the Cochrane domi-
cile. One Of the clan lis an attorney.
His brother is the complaining wit
ness in the libel case against Perkins.
If any further explanation is necessary
The Call is ready to make it.
The Judge returned to his office be-
fore the appointed time. He improved
Ine OCCASION D6IOle lUe newspaper lleu
arrived to still further mutilate the
complaint. The faint pencil lines were
increased to huge black marks that al
most blotted out the entire writing
With the writing hidden beneath his
inartistic daubing the Judge felt that
he had baff1ed the camera.
Willingly he permitted the photo
grapher to get a focus on the front of
the document. When the camera was
turned on the Judges inscription his
heart failed and he ran a mighty and a
desperate bluff. He grabbed the paper
again.
You fellows can't bulldoze me-" and
he feigned anger while the tremor in
his voice indicated fear. You can't
photograph that. I have marked it out
and it is no longer a part of the record.
What do you want it for, any how?"
Judge" was the reply, I'VE charge
you with altering and mutilating a
public record. That is why we want
the photograph. You attempted TO de-
stroy evidence against yourself when
you ran your pencil through that writ
ing this morning. That is all we desire
TO say about the matter"
Rodden's surrender was complete. He
fell back in his chair and collapsed
Take it-take it," he groaned, as he
threw the complaint on the table and in
mute agony watched the camera COM
plete the evidence against him.
Citizens of Marin, is this your idea of
Justice?