Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-16
JOHNSON TRIES TO PROVE HIM
A PERJURER
WITNESS RECEIVES GRILLING
According to Statement Yeste rday, He
Had Told Truth or FaIsehood at
Trial, Whichever Was Most
Advantageous
BY Associated Press.

mons bribery trial continued to be a
drawing card in the superior court
today.
The proceedings at the morning ses-
sion were not so lively as those Of the
two preceding days. Attorney Grove
l.. johnson took up most Of the time
reading the transcript of the testimony
given by Bunkers at his trial last
spring and asking Bunkers, who re-
sumed his place on the stand when
court opened, whether the statements
made then were true or false 1t was
somewhat of medley. According to
Bunkers' statement today his testimony
at his trial had been variegated; where
he thought the truth would do him
good, Bunkers had told 1t; where he
thought it would harm, he had testi-
fled falsely. 1t was hit or a miss
proposition, apparently, so far as We
racity was concerned. To one question
he would reply that he had testified cor
rectly; to the next he would frankly
admit that he had lied.
But Bunkers did not finch when
pointed questions as to his veracity
were propounded. Evidently he was
getting used to them, and they did not
hurt so badly as at his first appear
ance in the role of witness for the
prosecution. OCCASIONALLY his face
would flush and at one time when
pressed by Mr.. Johnson as to the
truth of something he had testified to
during the progress of his trial, he
grew angry and shouted back at the
attorney:
| Yes, sir; it's true, every word of it."
Seymour and johnson Clash
One of the enlivening Incidents in
the morning session was a passage at
arms between District Attorney A. M.
Seymour and Grove L. Johnson of
counsel for the defense. 1t Was all as
polite and as polished as duel with
rapiers, and that no serious results
followed the sharp thrusts is due to
the fact that cutting words make no
wounds calling for the surgeons needle.
| So regular and systematic was the
method employed by Mr.. Johnson in
his cross-examination of Bunkers that
the spectators in the court room today
knew beforehand just the form of the
question about to be propounded. They
became wearied of it's monotonous
repetition during the first hour and
the crowd dwindled away before noon,
until the seating capacity of the court
room alone was filed.
| The testimony o5 Grr1ers himself,
given under dire and CROSS 1amina-
tion while he w ta alaad in his
own trial last p funi ned Mr.
Johnson with t SIS of lls long as
sault upon the nee 1a6 endurance
of the witness giorc 1Ir. Johnson
was the trans ariu ostir1ony given
by Bunkers in hi l sue The v1gilant
eye of the cro 's-eSc c.r!lcr G'as quick to
note any dis hatween the two.
1t was ev -t .e object of
this prolon uanj3i-al is the de-
sire of Mr.. rGnFgr 10 prove Bunkers
e. perjurer 0 as many instances as
possible in ne h5 testimony at
this trial ope1 to the widest
attack.
| District ateH mour seemed to
he recor impeachment Of
his first g.r he entered none
but gen Oh l-t5.
sur era G. lstIes Up
Bunl this morning re-
signed ,o re 5r8eol, but at times his
mann ge alr0 st defiant. Once,
when -1- Joansou asked him why he
had NOS. iVeu ne same reply to a
ques ou as ne y given to Mr.. Sey-
morr. 8uEera 1.urted out: II tried
to igs tha exact words. I could give
the Or YVES not all mixed up"
On se7a-d oc asions since the trial
col1fuercel IBIS riot Attorney Seymour
a-t Gtr john on have been on the
Iout Of l1akrlg horns. During the
see ora tt,s ,rning Mr. Seymour OBJ
actes 40 atr Iohnsons making use of
7uf alsstrou likely to mislead the wit
uoa9.
/ 15 hasIn stopped the cross-ex-
ar t.4 emoved his glasses and
7 r,.. District Attorney Seymour,
.f u.'ll .aIely'
su, o be perfectly polite and ini-
ru8l ut don't like to be accused
.atement of the testimony. l
G. ays succeed in controlling my
moor md when don't I am apt to
nfortable."
Or ael't intend any personal relec-
'g ron you or anyone else, Mr..
A." said the district attorney
oft suppose, either, that you In
/ to impugn my veracity when
laid no such testimony had been
/, Notwithstanding which it is In
Ue record"
his assurance of absence of personal
ant was like oil on troubled waters
the dove of peace again hovered
,ove the scene of the trial.
Mr.. Johnson in the afternoon session
GCcnttnued ON Page TwOA