Gilpin observer., 1901-05-02
WITNESSES TESTIFY AGAINSTI
STONG in THE DAMAGE SUIT

Denver, Colo, April 29.-After the
close 70 Miss Lewis testimony in the
Strong case last Friday the plaintiffs
introduced Charles B. Ferguson, whom
the reporters describe as 3 man OF
rather low intelligence.
Ferguson testified that Will, he was
working in a repair shop 1t Colorado
Springs Strong came to see him. In
reply to the question: What did he
say to you during that timer" Fer
gusoq answered.:
He said that he was the owner of
the Strong mine and asked me If l had
ever worked on ii. He said that those
-- were trying to do him
out of his mine and that he was going
to get even with them some way. He
said that he would give any man $500
to blow up the mine. He said that a
man who was hard up would do the
job and that If he needed the money
he would do the job. He then said
that he would get some one to blow up
the mine all right. When he went out
1 said he was talking through his
hat"
During a lengthy crOss-examination
Ferguson got pretty badly mixed up
but adhered to his original story,
though varying n good deal in de-
tails.
John ]. O'Brien was the next wit
ness called. He said that he was in
business at Independence. in Cripple
Greek district; stated that he had lived
in the district for a great many years
and was well acquainted; was work
ing for a telephone company in 1898;
started saloon in 1894 and ran it for
several years.
O'Brien testified to conversation
with Sam Strong in George Strong s
saloon. He said:
Il met Sam and we had n drink or
two in Georges saloon. He asked me
II 1 had anybody around my place who
was good man and n miner. lie
said that he wanted a good man; a
fellow that could handle powder well.
1 sent him to Jim Gilmore. l ran
across Gilmore at eight o'clock that
night"
Witness further stated that he had a
conversation with Strong later about
Gilmore. Strong stated that he could
not do any business with Gilmore.
Attorney Waldron conducted the
cross examination:
"What was the name of your sa-
loon?" asked Waldron.
(which one do you mean? / had
two"
"A magnate among saloon men, are
you? Well. my dear sir. did one of
them bear the fascinating name of the
Dirty Dog'?"
The witness said that he never heard
of that name before. He was next
asked if he knew man by the name
of Cockney Jim. He said that he had
af Sai ho
the first man he talked to about his
story was mick" Tully. He thought
carefully for few minutes and then
he made a statement to the effect that
he believed he also told man by the
name of Rhodes. Stated that he made
an affidavit before a magistrate-a
justice Of the peace; was informed by
Tully that he wanted the instrument
for lawsuit.
Did 1'ully pay you anything for
making this affidavit?'
mo"
"You expected something, of course"
mo"
"You are pretty handy man at
making out affidavits, are you not?"
"Oh. l don't know"
"Did you ever make another beside
this one?"
"Yes; made an affidavit about see-
ing Tully on the street car after he
got his pardon"
"You helped get Tully out of the
penitentiary, did you?"
You might call it that"
'Did you say anything about Sam
Strong then"
II had forgotten all about that mat
ter"
You came all the way to Denver to
make an affidavit to help Tully get ont