The San Francisco call., 1908-10-21
BABY JOHN KEEPS
STORY CONSISTENT
Mrs. Isabella Martins Foster
Son Holds His Own On
Cross Examination
Sheriff Barnet Identifies Plaster
Boy Says He Used in
Bomb

OAKLAND. Oct 20.-"Baby John
Martin entered upon his cross exami-
nation at the hands Of Attorney A. L.
Frick today at the trial of Isabella
Martin and ali day long he picked
his way carefully through snares set
with the subtlest shades of meaning
in the language. At night it was
conceded that he had held his own,
Lad evaded every trap, and gave no
sign Of confusion or WEAKNESS.
Vague memories Of his boyhood,
startling experiences OF his later days
and the twists and turns OF Mrs Mar
tins rapid moves about the country
were employed by Attorney Frick to
test the boys memory and to discredit
his tale in the minds Of the jury. In
every instance John met his adversary
with eouanimity, parried his thrusts
and even assisted in recalling doubtful
names.
on direct examination John had tes-
titled that he had been guilty of arson
at Mrs. Martins direction in 1901, and
told OF thefts from stores and public
Libraries in San Francisco, the prepara-
tion and explosion of dynamite bomb
against Superior Judge Ogden's house
and the preparation of other bombs
for William Dingee Of San Francisco
and Police Judge Samuels OF Oakland.
1ie confessed TO another case of arson
at Weaverville. where he said he had
poisoned a spring and barrel Of sugar
in grocery and only refused to
obey the woman when she urged him to
poison the drinking water supply of
the town.
BOY BEATEN BY WOMAN
For a time Frick devoted his efforts
10 showing that Mrs. Martin had never
beaten John for refusing to do a wrong
act
There was one instance in January
of this year." said John, when she
came near it. She started TO beat me
with oak bar used TO fasten the
door Of her cabin, but she was inter
rupted before she got at it. had
refused TO burn a barn at Weaverville."
He said Mrs. Martin had beaten him
with whips for hiding articles when
later il developed that she had mis-
laid them. On one such occasion, John
said, she grudgingly admitted that the
beating was nndeserved. For the last
three years, the boy testified, the
woman had added TO her choice of
weapons and used any article which
came TO hand. as well as her faVorfte
poker and whips. He said she kicked
him downstairs. and sat upon him at
times. This testimony caused a litter
from the lobby.
JOHN DENIES HE SwORE
John said he did not remember
swearing at Mrs. Martin, but recalled
distinctly that she always asked him
why he swore at her when she was
beating him. He said she threw stones
al him in the tunnel to her mine at
Weaver~ille and hurled a pickax in
his direction. He did not know why
she whacked his knuckles with her
table knife. but maintained that she
seldom failed to do so at meals.
He said he was first punished by her
for stealing SL50 when he was G
years old. He conceded that punish
ment was proper then. John testified
that she cut his head open with blow
and then carefully dressed the wound
herself
Sheriff Barnet identified a package
OF plaster which John said had been
used in the Samuels bomb. Small bot
ties Of acid recovered from the Martin
home were also placed in evidence.
Henry Hoffman. Mrs. Martins son,
sat beside his mother during the pro-
ceedings.