The San Francisco call., 1904-04-23

Henry P. Dimond, one of the defend
| ants in the land frauds case, was yes
terday driven by Government cross
examination to contradict important
testimony given byshim the day before.
1t is agreed by experts and conceded
by Dimond that these anonymous let
ters were written on a Blickensderfer
serted that the last machine of this
make he ever owned had been sold-he
could not recall to whom-prior to his
going to Washington for Hyde in the
summer of 1901. Yesterday this state
ment gave place to the admission that
! he had owned, kept in his Office and
used such a machine during the very
time the anonymous letters were sent
through the mails, namely, between
August, 1908. and January, 1904.
The question, who wrote the
anonymous letters?'' now overshadows
all others raised ir the preliminary ex-
animation of Hyde and Dimond.
The atmosphere Of the case has be-
come so laden with electricity that a
storm is liable at any moment to break
out openly between Dimond and Hyde.
Persons in the courtroom yesterday
after the session closed had sugges-
ton Of what might occur when they
saw Dimond attempt a conversation
with the millionaire land speculator.
With clenched fist Hyde waved the
lawyer away and refused to hear a
word from him.
The anonymous letters occupied
much of yesterdays session. The sec
ond communication sent to Government
Detective Burns was read in evidence,
and its authorship duly denied by Di-
mond. Besides canvassing this preg-
nant subject thoroughly Heney took up
once more the witness attempts to
shield Hyde from Government investi-
cation, even after he had refused long
er to act as Hyde's attorney. The aim
of the prosecution was to force admis-
sions that Dimond then knew Hyde
was guilty of unlawful practices. To
this end Dimond's letter of January p,
1903, one of the most important docu-
ments in the Government case, was
used as the basis of an extended exam
'ination, under which the witness mani
tested great distress.
DIMOND'S ENHANCEMENT.
The main achievement of the day
was, of course, the forcing of Dimond's
admission that he owned a typewriter
of the style used in writing the
anonymous letters. The witness battled
long and stubbornly with Heney over
this subject and changed his declara-
tions several times. When first interro-
gated upon the matter, on Thursday
morning. the following testimony had
been given.
Question by Mr.. Heney-what make OF type
writer. have you? A.--Remington.
How long have you had a Remington
Have you only one typewriting machine?
One.
Have you none at your home?
None. I used an Oliver in Washington. My
girl used Oliver and Mr.. Browne clerk
used Blickensderfer. Do you mean TO say,
my office?
Heney said he certainly did, and Di-
mond passionately repudiated the pos
sibility of such a thing. For a time
the watchful Government lawyer per-
mitted Dimond to forget the uncom-
Portable topic, but later in the day
he brought him back to it with an in
nocent looking question about his stay
in Washington, where he had desk
room in the office of Britton & Gray.
Here is what was said:
Mr. Heney-what kind of machine did you
have when you were in Britton & Grays Of
fee?
l had an Oliver and the clerk had a Blick-
ersderfer l think the last time l
there they had a Blickensderfer In the office
that I personally used once or twice and die
tated to.
When was that?
December. 1902.
JUST A LITTLE ONE.
Did you purchase machine while you were
in Washington?
/ got one down on street. rented 1t
first and then they said they would let the