The San Francisco call., 1908-05-02

L.
said But now I am convinced that
John did manufacture and f1re the
bomb which wrecked the Ogden home
The realization of this awful truth is
what overcame me-"
The trial today was again conducted
behind closed doors Baby John oc-
the exception of a few minutes in the
afternoon. when Detective St Clair
Hodgkins was called to describe the
discovery of the box of dynamite which
the Martins had buried.
In the morning the witness testified
to the enmity which Mrs Martin bore
TO Judge F. B. Ogden and his family.
and described in detail how she con-
ceived the plot to destroy their home
and forced him 10 execute her plans.
PLOT HATCHED NEAR NINE
The plot was first Matched in Weav-
erville. he said. in January, 1901 Fre-
quent conversations We're held be-
tween the witness and Mrs. Martin as
TO the feasibility of dynamiting the
ogden residence while they were living
in Trinity county. In February. 1907.
they returned to Oakland and took up
their residence In Brush street. While
they were there. he asserted. Mrs Mar
tin finally made up her mind that the
dynamiting plot must be accomplished.
Baby John said that she compelled
him TO make a careful study Of the To-
cation of the Ogden residence. the
easiest way to reach 1t and the best
avenue of escape. During his cross
examination he said that on the night
of the explosion Mrs. Martin had in
structed him to place the bomb close.
to the door. where it would blow out
the whole side OF the house and do the
most possible damage. -
SAVES FAMILY FROM DEATH
When he arrived at the house he
looked through the windows and saw
Mrs. Ogden and her children in a front
room, and he declared that he did not
have the heart to carry out her COM
mands. So he placed the bomb where
it would injure the house only slightly
Then he leaped upon his bicycle. and
rode home as quickly as he could. hnd-
ing Mrs. Martin awaiting him. Soon
after his arrival he heard the expIo-
sion. although the detonation was rath-
er faint at that distance
I'm all OF these wicked things that
Mrs. Martin made you do, you were act
ing against your will, were you notrs'
inquired Judge Frick. you never did
anything bad unless she forced YOU
couched in such soft and sympathetic
tones that the underlying vein of. sar-
casm was almost completely concealed.
and the boy for moment was enticed
from behind his habituaI mask of re-
serve.
SEES SARCASTIC SMILE
"Oh, no. sir" he began, ingenuously.
when a glance at the smiling face Of
the prosecuting attorney placed him on
his guard again. He flushed for a mo-
ment. then smiled at his own eagerness
and finished his answer with the utmost
composure.
The only bad thing 1 ever did VOL
unfairly was TO steal $3.50 from the de-
pot at Redding.'' he said. Mrs Martin
did not tell me to do that and she had
nothing to do with It,"
The first bad thing she ever made
me do he continued in response to an
other question from Judge Frick. was
to break up Testy's ditch above her
( home near WeavervflIe."
TELLS OF MANY CRIMES
Then he recounted the various crimes
the woman had made him commit in
Guiding numerous acts OF vandalism
which were planned to satisfy her spite
against various people. the ineendiary
plots in which she forced him TO par
ticipate and the various attempts which
had been made to dynamite the Dingee
residence in San Francisco, and finally
the destruction of the ogden residence.
She told me that IL 1 did not obey
her she would take me to Trinity coun-
ty, hit me over the head with a sl4dge
hammer and blow me up with dyna-
mite. She said every one would think
it an accident"
A sensat ationaI feature OF the testi-.
mony was brought out during the wit
ness description of the trip to the east
which he made with Mrs. Martin dur
ing the summer of 1907. While they
were on the train going east, he said,
Mrs. Martin bought magazine con-
tanning portion of the confession of
Harry Orchard. the confessed dyna-
miter.
READS ORCHARDS RECORD
She read the story with the greatest
interest and obtained later copies OF the
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