The San Francisco call., 1908-12-16
LAWYERS CLASH
IN HATCH TRIAL
Attorney for Accused Man
Strikes at Assistant Prosecu-
tor When Court Adjourns
Attack Is Conclusion of Hardest
Contested Day Since Be-
ginning of Case
Especial Dispatch to The CALI

SAN JOSE, Dec. ia free for all
fight was narrowly averted today in
Judge Welch's court Immediately after
the night adjournment of the trial of
jackson Hatch, when Attorney Walter
Linforth of San Francisco arose and
struck wildly at Special Prosecutor
William Beasley, who is assisting the
district attorney. Bailiff Pixley and
others who were in the group at the
time acted quickly and further trouble
between the pair was prevented.
The attack came at the conclusion
or bitterly fought day in the Hatch
case, during which the most damaging
evidence yet adduced against the ac-
cused clubman was placed before the
jury. The opposing attorneys were at
swords points throughout the proceed
ings. and at the conclusion it seemed
that anger was smoldering in the
breasts of more than one of the op-
posing forces.
HARMLESS REMARK
The remark which brought forth the
trouble was made by Linforth and was
seemingly harmless.
How much longer will you be in get
ting in your evidence?' he asked As
slstant District Attorney Sex.
Beasley answer sarcastically, THAT
depends on the length of your cross ex-
aminations"
Il am not talking TO a hoodlum, but
TO gentleman" Linforth replied. and
then he arose and struck savagely at
Beasiey The latter received the blow
on the chest. but held himself in check,
and other attorneys and the bailiff in
terceded
sensational climax occurred during
the afternoon of the trial in an at
tempt on the part of the defense to
show in their cross examination of bank
witnesses that the accounts placed in
evidence by the people of financial
transactions in the Hatch case are in
correct
In cross examination George Ruther-
ford of the Commercial bank said that
deposits made by Mrs. Sage in the saw
lngs bank We're correctly entered in her
pass Eook. Linforth then asked him to
find an item of $50 deposited on Janu-
ary ., 1902, showing the witness a de-
posit tag TO that effect The witness
could not find such an entry. The
prosecution then tried to show that the
apparent mistake was nothing but a
clerical error, a similar item was
entered for 1908 on the pass book.
DEFENSE'S EFFORT FAILS
l.. M. Pinard, another bank clerk, was
then placed on the stand, but could not
leaving the stand District Attorney
Free discovered that January 5. 1902
fell on Sunday, and as the bank is
not open on that date Hatch's attempt
to impugn the verify of the prosecu-
tions exhibits fell fiat
L. A Sage, Mrs. Sage's son. was placed
on the stand during the afternoon and
.oia OF the manner in which he says he
discovered that Hatch had been recre-
ant TO his trust He declared that his
mother had desired him to manage her
affairs. and told how he had demanded
that her property be placed in his
hands after he had been given power
OF attorney He said that Jackson
Hatch had put him off on some pretext
OF other and had at last declared that
the money was all gone, that he had re-
.ce1ved no benefit from it and that he
was Keeping silent for fear of incrim-
mating others.