The San Francisco call., 1899-12-06
Story of How Turner
Robbed Him.
TOOK ALL OF HIS SAVINGS
BARRIER SAYS BE WAS FOR
YEARS HIS VICTIMS DUPE.
remarkable Statement of the Events
Which Are Alleged TO Have
Unbalanced Defendants
Mind.

-oseph P. FrennR went on the stand in
Jnaee Cooks court yesterday and pro
Seeoea 10 tell the jury the story OF how he
had become mentally unbalanced as the
result OF The peculiar business methods Of
James j. Turner as practiced in the lat
ter dealings with the defendant, extend
lAs over number OF years He declared
that Turner had by his trfckery and bald
Iaceo deception succeeded IN robbing him
OF al he possessed and then deliberately
threw him over, refusing 10 make even a
partial restitution or give his dupe any
satisfaction whatever.
Frenna's testimony was all concerning
nls nnancial dealings with the dead man.
lie began his recital shortly after the
3peMng or court In the morning J. H
Nlse!, an unimportant witness, preceding
MN on the stand for q brief session and
NNen court adjourned in the afternoon he
Was sun answering questions and volun-
lseIlng information concerning the finan-
MN, 10 his utter ruin.
- Lhe barber testified that he hrst met
& --tHsr l IN lasl, being introduced 10 him by
one McANoy, an eN-policeman Turner let
no grass grow under his feet for on jan
4atl 10 OF that year he borrowed 5000 OF
Ithna, giving as security a piece OF
properly IN Oakland. He kept coming
pack Tor more, and soon owed Frenna
stNN men ne proposed 10 bunch the en-
- S5.e Indebtedness IN one note. Afterward
fIenna received 5000 and a piece OF prop
cry IN Lassen County IN lieu Of the other
l-p 10 this stage Of the proceedings Dis
Ilct Attorney Murphy had remained a
silent listener, but when Attorney Hosmer
produced deed 10 apiece OF property
mar nae been given 10 Frenna by Turner
A. security Tor a loan and offered IL in
evidence ne made a decided objection. Mr.
hosmer contended that IL formed a por-
lgn or The proof OF certain transactions
MAlch II was claimed had caused the de-
iendant 70 become temporarily insane at
The time he had inadvertently put an end
- The existence Of the much discussed
Turner. Judge Cook decided that under
Lne ruling of the Supreme Court in the
Shattuck case all testimony OF whatever
character tending 10 establish insanity Of
me defendant was admissible and he
flefore oYerruled the objection
he bars were down, and then followed
"a heHloering mass Of testimony of such
an intricate character that II the Jury
can unraNel IL without succumbing TO
nervous prostration miracle will have
ne'n accomplished Deeds. mortgages. re-
leases supulations. notes. telegrams
atfeefnents, tax receipts and all manner
~ papers were produced in rapid success
SION, an of course tending 10 prove that
lrner was crook and Frenna an IN
LNcent dupe, who was justified in becom-
ing insane. But the most remarkable de-
epment 81 frenna.s testimony. II n Is
o. oe believed. was the childish suscepti-
W-iA or the defendant IN his dealings
WIN urner Of which the documents Of
fered in evidence purp0rt 10 be The ma
terial proof
According 10 this testimony T,ranns
Dc had loaned him few thousand dollars.
ANA yet although hc stOrmed and threat
cfea, turner. instead of redeemfng spuri-
0ls deeds and sQuaring matters. simply
MADE fresh promises and then induced
na 10 advance additional sums on
'. ally worthless security. Not once only
te this done, but repeatedly. until Fren-
Pea had loaned Turner Sl7.500. secured nv
Two notes and lot Of worthless property.
lrenna said on the stand that ar one time
De- had deeds TO about half OF California
rlNcn him by Turner Theu-this was in
lss5-he had Turner arrested for forgery.
'rit although convicted ia the Superior
Court the Supreme Court reversed the
lecision and nothing came OF IL Even
while the case was pending Turner con-
unued 10 pull the wool over the eyes OF
tle man who claims he was being robbed.
and after the trial Frenna was induced 10
buy still another Eilded brick
Frenna has a great deal more 70 tell the
rury. and VIII probably be on the stand
several days, and II there Is much more
~ this kind of testimony the trial Will be
prolonged Indefinitely.
The attorneys for the defense Yesterday
occurred an order for the appearance OF
Sheriff Rouse OF San Bernardino as A Wit
ness 20 impeach the testimony OF Willie
Walsh. The trial goes on to-day.