The San Francisco call., 1908-12-08
BLAKE UNShAkENIN
JURY FIXING STORY
Attempt to Drag Sudden Mar
riage Into Case Reacts on
the Defense
Wife of Defendant, Mrs. Frank
Murphy, Unexpectedly Is
Mentioned in Trial

charged with attempting 10 DriDe JOHH
Martin Kelly, a Ruef talesman, the
lawyers representing the defendants
found themselves unable to trap E. A
6. Blake or shake him from his original
testimony. although the confessed jury
fixer underwent cruel grilling at
the hands of Attorney Bert Schlesinger.
Schlesinger had exhausted almost
every chance to discredit the witness
in the eyes of the jurors, when he
attempted to probe into the domestic
affairs Of Blake by referring to the
witness recent marriage to Pearl Ben
nett. which took place last Friday in
San Rafael.
Schlesinger went into the details of
this clandestine affair at the cost of
bringing the name of Mrs. Frank ].
Murphy into the case
KELLY NEXT WITNESS
Assistant District Attorney William
Hoff Cook will take up the redirect
examination of Blake this morning.
John Martin Kelly, the prospective
Ruef Juror who was approached, will
probably be placed on the stand when
Blake is excused Martin Stevens, who
as Blake's confdant and lifelong
friend is said to nave knoWleuge Oh
Illegal transactions. may be called, al
though he refused to testify before the
grand Jury unless a court order di-
recting him to tell his story was OBJ
tanned by the prosecution.
Two important witnesses were found
by the prosecutions special agents
esterday-witnesse who will add
their confederation to the testimony
given by Blake. They are two wait
ers. one employed in Marchands and
the other in the Poodle Dog. Both,
If was asserted last night, attended
Murphy and Blake upon different oc-
casions when the pair visited the res
taurants and there worked out the
details of their bribery plot.
Within half an hour after court con-
vened in the morning Schlesinger ex-
posed his hand in vain effort to as
sociate Blake with Brick Mcpherson.
said TO be an ex-convict. In a casual
wav Blake mentioned Mcpherson, a
former employe while Blake was
contractor, Schlesinger grasped at
this thread hoping to show that Blake
had established record OF frlenasnip
with a man of low character Despite
much pickering on Schlesinger's part.
Blake managed to explain the circum-
stances under which he employed Nc
| Pherson.
"I had advertised for several solic-
! itors." explained Blake, and among
those who responded was MCPHERSON
knew nOtllQS ABOUT sliS uldh- 11S
appeared to be well fitted for the
position and l engaged him to solicit
contracts on a commission basis. He
had been in my employ for short
time when Barclay Henley informed
me that Mcpherson was an ex-convict
/ did not wait for veritication of this
information, but ended my dealings
with him abruptly.
MRS. MURPHY MENTIONED
IL. ,t,xrc
attorney referred to Blakes recent
wedding, questioning the witness about
the $4,000 note offered by Murphy as
| hush" money and the allowance of
! 500 a month that was to have been
! paid to Mrs. Blake, who was then Miss
Pearl Bennett.
Unknowingly Schlesinger connected
the name of Mrs. Frank j. Murphy with
! the case. This revelation was wholly
unexpected not only TO the prosecu-
tion. but to the defense. Mrs. Murphy
for the first time during her husbands
| trial appeared in court, accompanied
| by her cousin, Miss Murphy. The pair,
we'll dressed and interested, did not
converse frequently with the defendant
but peered directly and steadily at the
jurors.
When Blake declared that Murphy
had told him that Mrs. Murphy would
see that his wife got the $100 monthly
allowance he understood that Murphy
had taken his spouse into his conf
dence and that she knew of the il
| legal transactions that went on be-
tween the coterie of jury fixers Mrs.
Murphy manifested signs of great sur
prise, glancing first At her cousin and
then at her husbandS Murphy evinced
similar signs of astonishment.
you say you are married?" asked
Schlesinger of the witness.
Yes" replied Blake.
and whom did you marry?" in
quired the attorney.
Miss Pearl Bennett
'sThen whom did you marry last Fu :
day?n was asked.
why I married Miss Pearl Bennett.
4 We signed a contract to marry a year
ago and have had no divorce. The
contract was binding. Knowing the
methods of Mr.. Schlesinger, I realized
that it would be best for me to re-
marry. so as to clear my mind Of any
i1legality which he might claim ex-
! listed, and to prevent him from saying
anything against her 1 did Just what
any right minded man would have
DONE
MURPHY BADGERS BLAKE
| The witness did not evince signs of
material distress during this question
! ing Murphy, however. created quite a
scene and caused no little comment.
| by waving excitedly the marriage Ii
cense secured by Blake and his bride
prior to their marriage The former
Ruef attorney seemed to delight in ir-
ritating the witness by talking quite
1 loudly and jubilantly with his wife
about the clandestine wedding
For the first time in his checkered
court career, Blake gave his fun name.
1t is Emmons Arthur Shotwell Blake.
IN the early stage of his cross examina-
| ton he told of his business career and
/ his sudden change to that Of a Jury
| hxer. Then, going deeper into his
shameful story. he declared that when
he approached Kelly he thought it was
only a moral crime. At that time. he
said. he did not know of the penalty
attached to jury bribing.
Il approached Kelly, who was nv
friend" said Blake, because / wanted
to gain the favor of Murphy and New
burgh. Murphy had much work that
he could give me in the contracting
| line and said that he would recommend
me to his friends.
Schlesinger inquired If Blake had
| ever heard of hypnotisn, and asked
him whether he was influenced by any