The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-17

The panicl1y efforts of the combined
law and detective bureaus of the United
RAILROADS to secure safe. sound and
conservative" jury to try TREY L. Ford
on the charge of having bribed former
supervisor Coleman received a sudden
| JOLT Wnen they were directed rashly in
the case of Edward W. Putnam. a Juror
accepted professionally by both sides.
Either at the time or directly after
putnam had been passed, George Fran
CTS, an employee in the Office of William
NJ. ABBOTT, codefendant with and attor-
ney for Ford, undertook an investira-
ton into Putnams state of mind to-
ward the accused general counsel.
FRANCIS went to the law Office of Sid
ney M. Van Wyck ,Jr., who is partner
OF osgood Putnam, brother of the tales
man. The latter's Office is in the same
building, 1914 Webster street. Francis
was known to Van Wyck and lost no
time in declaring his mission.
Il am from Mr. Abbott's Office" he
said. Mr.. Putnam has been summoned
on the Ford jury and Mr.. Abbott would
like to know of his views"
Iwill have to ask you TO leave the
mouse. declared Van Wyck, incensed at
what he considered an attempt on the
part or the United Railroads improperly
TO reach and influence the juror
FRANCIS made a quick exit calling
pack apologetically over his shoulder:
That was all ] wanted to know"
van Wyck made a complete memo
randum of the occurrence and made a
fuii report to District Attorney Lang
don yesterday morning Assistant Dis
trict Attorney John O,Gara Is conduct
Ing the case for the people against
ford. but he was reluctant yesterday
TO discuss the matter, nor would he
say what further steps might be taken.
In discussing the expedition OF Fran
els yesterday, Van Wyck declared that
he considered the methods of the United
Railroads highly improper and of such
nature that they should be considered
by the district attorney.
George francis was about Judge
Lawlor's courtroom all of yesterday.
save when he was performing his du-
ties for the detective bureau. He re-
fused to discuss the visit to Van Wyck
and Putnam's offices. referring all in
Quiries to Abbott
At first Ford's codefendant would not
consider the questioning at all.
1t is all a fake he said
But it is not denied that Francis
went to Van Wyck."
Who doesn't deny it?' asked Abbott,
cautiously
ou nave L IL was suggested.
1t is all a fake that we are making
an effort to tamper with jurynen."
Abbott said, more explicitly. 1T is all
a lie. We are investigating every
juror in manner of which the court
approves and which is always DONE
But we are doing nothing improper
and we desire particularly that we shall
not be charged with illegal or improper
conduct"
During the day Detective Tom Glib
son was busy denying TO his employers
that he had divulged the fact that the
defense was sure of two jurors in the
case.
No mention was made OF the Francis
incident during the short session Of
court yesterday. Sixteen veniremen
were examined and all were excused
for cause. Then the panel was ex-
hausted and a new list of so names
was drawn, to be brought into court
this morning. The personnel OF the
jury box last evening remained the
same as at shutdown Wednesday,
That the United Railroads is using
every angle of its vast enterprise to
create favorable sentiment for its ac-
cused officials was indicated by one of
its employees In court yesterday at the
conclusion of the examination of Will
lam c. Myself, printer and president
of the Myself Rollins company.
Myself is one of the jurors addicted to
the peculiar ethical theory that an at
torney can commit no crime If his acts
are done under instructions from his
client.
Tn response to a question by Stanley
Moore regarding his point of view, N.Y.
sell said:
While I think that the defendant