The record-union., 1899-04-19
MURDOCH NOTE SUIT.
EVIDENCE FOR DEFENSE BEING
HEARD.
Judge Pirkey Charges the Jury to
Discard the Testimony Given
by DR.. w. A. Sehorn.

WILLOWS, April 1S.4The jury were
promptly in the box at 10 o'clock for
the Murdock note case this morning.
Judge Pirkey announced that he had
erred in allowing evidence of DR.. w. A.
Sehorn. After careful examination he
had found that the objections Of coun-
sci We're well taken and should have
been sustained. He therefore charged
the jury to discard the testimony of the
witness and not to- consider it at all.
After this Morrison Bryan was called
for the defense He stated that he
lived in the State ilof Washington in
1894 and was acquainted with William
Murdoch during his lifetime. Then he
resided in this State. He was acquaint-
ed with Witness Skiff when he resided
in the State of Washington in 1894, and
also knew him in this State, when he
resided in the town of Orland. This
question was asked by Mr.. Lusk:
Mr.. Bryan, at your ranch in the
State of Washington, in the month of
February, 1894, did Mr.. Skiff tell you
that he had to go to California to testify
in 100000 suit, and that he was to
get $4,000 for his testimony"
Objected to and objection overruled.
The answer was, Yes sir, he did,
did he tell you that if he were sue
cessful in winning the suit he would
not have to work any more?"
Objected to and objection sustained
Cross examinations:
Did you make any writings or keep
any written account of anything said
to you by Skiff in regard to this mat
ter?''
Il did not"
did you come to California solely
for the purpose of being a witness in
this case?''
II did"
Redirect:
mir. Bryan, Skiff stated on the stand
that you said to him that if he came
to California as a witness in the Muir
dock case he ought to have $4,000 for
his testimony"
Objected to, objection sustained and
witness excused
The next witness was Expert Kytka.
He stated that he was a native of Aus
tralia and had been in California six
years. He said that his occupation was
that of a microscopic and that he was
prepared with instruments and magni-
flying lenses to enlarge and examine
handwritings He explained to the jury
his method of work, after which num-
Der of notes that had been signed By
William Murdock and enlarged by the
expert We're offered in evidence. and,
after a spirited controversy by the at
torneys, We're allowed by the court
At the afternoon session Expert Kyt-
ka was again on the stand, and photo
graphs of checks and drafts signed by
William Murdoch. additional negatives
from which photographs were printed,
were introduced and he was asked to
identify each.
Quite a wordy war ensued when
Barnes offered in evidence Photographic
transparencies of the WIN" in the
deed of 1885, which is held by GAVIN
Murdock husband of the plaintiff, and
the VIM in the famous 100000 note.
These were first shown separately then
placed together, one over the other so
that the exactness of the two might
be seen by the jury. This is the de-
fendant's principal point, that the name
of William Murdock on the deed was
traced on the note.
PLAINTIFFS objected to this being shown
to the jury, and arguments as to wheth-
er or not it should be admitted will be
continued at to-morrowS s session
Hikok, another noted handwriting ex-
pert, arrived to-day, and will testify
+ for the defense. The exhibits of the
Defense are stacked all over the court
room. and an armed man will guard
these tonight.