The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
Jury LOCKED UP
IN RANKIN TRIAL
Hiram Johnson and WOrtE1ing-
ton Ames Nearly Come
to Blows
Broker Calls COrbet a Liar and
Johnson Brands Ames as
Periurer and Crook

TIE case of c. c. Rankin, the broker
charged with the embezzIement of 40
bonds of the Ocean Shore railroad
pledged with John J. Lynch as security
for loan of $4,000, reached the jury
Yesterday. The jury retired at > O'Clock
bur had reached no verdict at IL O'CLOCK
when IL was locked up for the night.
There was a near fight between
worthington Ames. the well known
broker. and Attorney Hiram w john
son in Judge Conley's court yesterday
Just after the MONDAY adjournment
and while the jury impaneled to try
c c Rankin for the emDezzleHieHt "a
ocean Shore bonds was ming out ne
encounter. which escaped degeneratlhe z
sD+o an exchange of blows only through
the prompt Intervention OF balllA 1oilH
Klunder. followed a wordy row pc
tween Burke Corbet, Ames and Johh-
son bristling with such polite cpl
thets as 'perjurer." liar" and
crook"
Ames. one Of the witnesses for the
defense. started the trouble. BURKE
Corbet. who is head of the law depart
rnent Of the Ocean Shore company. tes-
tilted yesterday morning IN repuIIal oi
the evidence given by Ames. AS Cor
her took his chair beside Johnson, Ames
leaned over and whispered to him. II
IS admitted by both that Ames called
Corbet q liar and Corbet called Ames
a perjurer," but they contra
dicted each other as TO who nrst mace
the opprobrious remark.
Johnson, who was gathering up ms
papers. sprang to his feet anger IN
his eye and demesnor-
What does this mean by calling my
friend a Mary" he asked pointing his
finger at Ames. from whom he was
distant about six feet
Don't point your finger at me, MI.
Johnson" sharply commanded Ames.
Yes. I will point my finger at you,
retorted Johnson, continuing to do so.
RATTLE OF DIGITs
And thereupon Ames raised his finger,
and Tor some seconds a silent battle
Of pointed digits ensued.
s.Do YOU know what you are2" John
son called out. You are a - crook.
And YOU are a - liar" answered
Ames.
Instantly the lawyer advanced to-
ward Anles. The latter raised his
ns;s. Rankin. the defendant, sprang
70 his side and Johnson's son moved
Up to assist his father, if need be. A
general melee looked imminent IN
tense excitement prevailed in the court
room. the voices Of the disputants hav-
ing been raised TO a high pitch. The
promptitude of Bailif Klunder. how
ever. saved the situation. He jumped
between Ames and Johnson, and. hold
ing the latter round the waist, re-
strained him from striking Ames.
Most OF this took place in the pres
ence OF the jurors. who We're walking
out. Judge Conley was also in the
courtroom, but had left the bench He
reconvened court and lectured the par
ticipants in the affair. telling them they
had escaped committing contempt only
from the fact that court had ad-
5ourned.
johnson afterward had this to say
OF the encounter: "Ames. whose tes-
timony had been shown TO be untrue
called my friend. Burke Corbet. who is
a much older man, a liar. Telling my
son 10 protect Corbet If Games should
attack him. jumped up and told Ames
he was a crook. He then said I was
liar, and I attempted to chastise him.
but was prevented"
Ames. IN a statement admitted call
ing Corbet a liar, but said he did SO
only after being called a perjurer
CASE is ARGUED
The proceedings yesterday consisted
OF the Introduction Of evidence by the
people IN rebuttal Of that offered by the
defense and the delivering of addresses
to the jury. W. W Sweet who was as
ISOLATED with Lynch IN the brokerage
business, was one Of the witnesses. He
denied the statement made on the wit
ness stand by Rankin that he (Sweet)
took the books Of the Office out Of the
jurisdiction Of the state and left them
with an aunt in Illinois. He denied
also that he told Rankin that he had
done So Burke COrbet Of the Ocean
Shore company contradicted testimony
given by WOrthington Ames, one Of the
witnesses for the defense
Assistant District Attorney Hanlev
and Special Prosecutor Hiram w. John
son addressed the jury for the people
while Frank Drew and T c. West spoke
on behalf OF Rankin. Both Johnson and
Hanley insisted that Rankin was the
archconspirator and was more guilty.
than Lynch, who had already been CON
victed OF the theft of the bonds. Tbev
said that IL was Rankin who devised
the scheme to steal the securities from
the railroad and that he was the brains
Of the combination.