Evening star., 1908-12-21
MERR|MENT IN COURT
Patent Fraud Trial Witness
Causes Amusement.
JUSTICE GOULD SMILES
Mr.. Ermson Tells of Fearful Frown
and Terrific Manner"
AWED BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Says He Paced Floor, Trembling
With Fear. Feeling Like
Rat in Trap.

Testimony today by William G. Erm-
son in the patent fraud trial furnished
those in Criminal Court No. l a pleasant
half hour. Mr. Ermson gave his version
of how perfectly awful United States
Attorney Baker is and how terribly
frightened he was when Mr.. Baker sub
roenad him and brought him to Wash
ington last spring when the government
about through with the detective
work in the case.
Every one had a good 1augh-includ-
ing the presiding justice-and the court
crier forgot to call for order, because he
knew he couldn't get it.
Explains Interlineations.
DIR. William II. Easton of Scranton. Pa,
appeared this morning for the second time
during the trial and testified for the de-
fense that the interlineations now appear
ing in some of the patent papers were
suggested by him in so far as the SUBJ
ject matter was concerned That is.
after John Allen Heany the inventor. had
studied and had partially perfected a
method for making certain flaments for
electric lights, DIR. Easton, he said,
suggested further perfections.
Attorney Baker and Attorney Cuttings
had lively tilt over the cross-examina-
1ion of Mr. Ermson an ex.employe Of the
that Mr. Baker had threatened to indict
every one who offered manufactured
evidence" and went on to say he would
show who was manufacturing evidence" "
Justice Gould stopped the debate when it
was just beginning to glow with heat.
They got at it again a second later and
there was a little wOrdy war. in which Mr..
Baker was charged with intimidating the
witness.
Mention of Threat.
Mr.. Cuttings said Ermson was subpoe-
naed in reference to the case now on
trial. and then because he would not dis
cuss the case beyond certain limitations
was told by the United States attorney or
the iatters representatives that ''he would
have to talk even if it was necessary to
take him before the grand jury
After some argument the United States
attorney offered to show that his reason
for putting Ermson on the stand was to
show that Ermson mad made contradictory
statements and that he was biased.
Justice Gould said he regretted to have
TO so into side issue of that sort, but as
the United States attorney seemed to de-
sire IL the court permitted the cross-ex-
animation.
Mr. Baker Cross-Examines.
Thereupon Mr.. Baker questioned Erm-
son regarding testimony he had given be-
fore the grand jury in regard to the case.
At the close of the cross-eXamnation
Mr. Gettngs asked If Mr.. Baker would
give him the notes of the grand jury tes-
timony from which Mr.. Baker had been
questioning the witness He received a
we'll rounded decisive "No,' for an an
swer.
Mr.. Gettinss asked Mr.. Ermson what
the United States attorney had told him
and how Mr.. Baker had acted when
Ermson was first examined.
He was very boisterous and indca-
tive and intimated something about per-
jury and contempt of court" was the
reply.
Fearful Frown-Terrific Manner.
The witness had so much to say about
Mr.. Bakers fearful frown and simply
terrific manner that Justice Gould's hand
moved to his mouth to hide smile that
made a merry Christmas countenance
of the stern front of justice
Mr.. Ermson must have had an unpleas-
ant hour In the United States attorney S
office. for he said he and two other per-
sons who had been subpoenaed paced the
moor OF Mr.. Bakers anteroom white and
trembling with fear and likening them
selves TO rats in trap.
Substance of Testimony.
MIR. Ermsons testimony was to the eff
feet that any contradictory statements he
might have made were caused by the fact
that his knees quaked and his heart,
which was in his throat, interfered with
his speech.
William r. Ramsay, the right of way
man @: the Pennsylvania railroad, and
secretary of the Teeter- Heany Company,
h2r ha int orIi
patent papers which the government has
cited as bearing on the charge of fraud
were in the papers when the notary's seal
was placed thereon
End of Trial in Sight.
Henry r. Enerdins, one of the de
iehdants charged with conspiracy 10 de-
fraud the United States government, was
called TO the witness stand late this
afternoon. His testimony Will proba blv
'lose Inc defense. and Il verdict is ex.
pected before next Thursday.