The San Francisco call., 1904-06-22
SAYS COIN WAS
OFFERED HIM
James Deming Hints That
Prosecution in Eppinger
Case Tried to Bribe Him
HIS MEMORY IS POOR
Declares He Was Instructed
to Ship Books When Firm
Was About to Suspend

James Deming, formerly superintend-
ent for the Pacific Coast Warehouse
Company, gave some sensational testi-
mony in the Eppinger case yesterday
afternoon. On cross examination he
practically asserted that an attempt
had been made to win him over to the
side of the prosecution by the offer of
500 in cash and a salary of 500 a
month until the trial was concluded.
In his direct testimony Deming swore
that for about nine years he had been
superintendent of the Pacific Coast
! Warehouse at Crockett but did not
know who had employed him. He was
satisfied that it was through the firm
of Eppinger & Co., but could not make
any positive statement. He did know
on June that the firm was about TO
suspend, and helped to conceal the
books.
The sensation Of the day occurred
when, on cross examination, the wit
ness declared that he had been offered
money In Attorney Campbell's office
for the book containing the records of
the receipts and shipments of grain in
the warehouse.
The greater portion of the morning
session was taken UP in arguments re-
garding the admissibility of secondary
evidence The former bookkeepers at
the Crockett warehouse and in the local
office were placed on the stand and
questioned regarding the methods of
handling grain. After this Deming was
called as a witness for the prosecution.
| In answer to an Interrogation as TO
who had employed him Deming said he
did not know, and the reading of an
| affidavit by Attorney Campbell, in
which Deming had stated that Jacob
/ Eppinger had employed him, did not
serve to refresh the memory of the wit
ness.
| Who paid your salary?" was asked.
"Eppinger & Co." was the response.
ORDER OF SHIPMENT.
The witness next told of the nature
| of the books kept at the Crockett ware
house and of their disposition. He
swore that with Edwin Freund he had
prepared the books for shipment from
the warehouse.
Under whose direction was this
done?"
That Of Eppinger & Co."
who Of the firm gave you the direc-
tion?"
Il am not sure: 1 think it was
Josua Eppinger"
WAS the failure of the firm spoken
of to you at that time?"
II was told that the firm was going
! should be shipped to. San Francisco"
At this point the memory of the wit
| ness seemed to fail him. He knew that
a number of books had been packed,
but could not tell Just what books were
shipped and what were left at the
warehouse. According to his statement
the books were taken up indiscrim-
inately, although by some freak of
chance the verv ones wanted by the
! prosecution were among those shipped.
| His instructions regarding the destina-
tion of the books were equally indefi-
mite, he testified, saying:
Il was told to ship the books to San
Francisco. but received no address, so
| sent them to my fathers house. Later
met Josua Eppinger on the street
and told him where the books were. On
the Monday or Tuesday following the
failure they were taken away by a
teamster, accompanied by Josua Ep-
| pinger'
Regarding the manner in which the
packages were shipped. the witness
said they had simply been addressed,
e. & Co., S. F. and the marking
had been done by the bookkeeper.
The next question was the beginning
of series, the answers to which
showed that the witness has either a
very poor or a very convenient mem
ory Interrogated regarding the rec
ords kept of grain going In and out
of the warehouse, he said that as su-
perintendent he had kept a memOran-
dunn book showing the amounts on
hand at various times. This book he
left in his house, but had forgotten
where he put it.
who told you to forget?" asked Dis
| trict Attorney Byington.
The question was objected to as i'm
proper and ruled out.
Attorney Campbell then pointedly
asked the witness: Did you not, in my
office, tell me that you had a book in
your pocket which would show what
grain was in the warehouse?"
The question was objected to, the OBJ
lection sustained and the defense then
! took it's turn
ALLEGED OFFER OF CASH.
Attorney Ach, cross-examining the
witness, asked: "Have you ever been
offered any money for that book. by
whom, how much and in whose pres