The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-03
MRS. MARTIN GIVES
WAY UNDER STRAIN
Damaging Links of Evidence
Forged by ''Baby John" Shat
ter Woman's Nerve
Throughout Night She Weeps
and S0bs Rack Frame
in Court

OAKLAND, May Mrs. Isabella ],
Martin is breaking down under the
strain of the terrible accusations that
have been heaped upon her by her fos-
ter son. Baby John" during the first
three days of her preliminary examina-
ton on the charge of dynamiting the
home of Superior Judge F. B. Ogden.
Throughout the hearing this morning
the woman sobbed nervously and the
authorities at the county Jail stated
that she had spent the entire night in
hysterical weeping. AS the boy con-
tinued his discriminating narrative to-
day she trembled pitifully and several
times appeared to be on the verge of
physical collapse. Her condition was a
topic of general discussion in the
courtroom and much speculation was
INDUCED in concerning her ability to
bear up through the remainder of the
examination.
Baby john" too. is showing the eff
feet of his long siege on the witness
stand, and he looked haggard and worn
when he took the chair this morning.
At the conclusion of last nights ses-
sion he complained of difficulty with
his heart and 1t was feared that he
might find it necessary to take a rest
over Sunday but he expressed a desire
to go ahead with the trial today.
REsENTs QUESTIONING
The boys demeanor had changed.
however, and he appeared to resent the
attempt of Judge Frick. the attorney
for the defense, TO confuse him and
place him in the light of voluntary
accomplice in the crimes which he had
described. Several times he replied
angrily to the queries and repeatedly
announced that he had answered coun-.
sells questions before.
Tricks questions today were de-
signed to impeach the boys testimony
and portray him as moral degenerate
who from his earliest childhood had
exhibited criminal instincts and had
voluntarily violated almost every law
of the land. He succeeded in forcing
the boy to admit that on numerous oc-
casions he had committed thefts which
were not instigated by Mrs. Martin.
Baby John" persisted, however. that
the majority of his misdeeds were
planned by the woman and that she had
forced him to execute her evil schemes.
Among other establishments he named
the Emporium of San Francisco and
Taft &c Pennoyer's store in Oakland as
the victims of his offerings He said
that Mrs. Martin had accompanied him
to these places ans pointed out various
laces. ornaments and articles of attire
which she desired him to appropriate.
MORAL VIEWS WARPED
The peculiar warped moral attitude
which the boy had acquired through
his unnatural early training was Illus
trated by his answer to q question
from Prick concerning the motive
which impelled him to steal sum of
money from the railroad depot at
Reddlng.
Why" answered the lad. the money
was lying right before me and there
was nobody around. Almost any boy
of my age would have taken it under
the same circumstances"
Some CONSERVATION was caused
among the police this morning when
Judge Frick demanded that the infer
nal machine that was unearthed in De
Fremery park be brought into court
The uneasiness which the presence of
the deadly bomb in the office of the
chief of police caused among various
members of the department induced
the heads of the force to remove the
dynamite from the machine some time
go and send it to the Blake 81 Bilger
quarry al Piedmont park, where 1t was
used in the city blasting. Detective ST.
Clair Hodgkins and Deputy Superin-
tendent of Streets William Blair made
affidavits at the time to the fact that
the dynamite had been disposed of in
this manner, but there seems to be
some uncertainty as to whether Frick
will be willing to admit the internal
machine, minus it's Internal power, as
evidence. Judge Smith ended the dis
cussion this morning by announcing
that Prick could examine the machine
whenever he desired and that the mat
ter of its presentation could be debated
later. Court adjourned at noon to con-
vene at o'clock Monday morning.