The San Francisco call., 1908-05-14
MRS. MARTIN HELD
IN DYNAMITE CASE

OAKLAND, May 13.-Mrs. Isabella j.
Martin was held in $50 900 bail for trial
in the superior court by Police Judge
Mortimer Smith this afternoon at the
conclusion of her preliminary exam
ination on the charge of dynamiting
the home of Superior Judge Ogden.
Judge Frick, attorney for the de-
fense, finished his examination OF
Baby John" Martin at o'clock and
said that he would rest his case, and
Prosecuting Attorney Brown, after one
or two perfunctory questions, did like
wise.
without an instant's hesitation Judge
Smith announced that the evidence had
convinced him that the prisoner was
guilty of the crime charged and that he
would Immediately place her in the
custody of the sheriff of Alameda county
to await the action of the superior
court. There was some wrangling be-
TWEEN the attorneys before the amount
of the bail was finally fixed, Frick
claiming that $4,000, which was sug-
gested by the district attorney, was un-
reasonably large. The court. however.
decided to abide by Browns sugges-
tion.
This was the thirteenth day of Mrs.
Martins preliminary examination.
which has been one of the longest and
most severe in the history of Alameda
county police court proceedings.
With the exception Of few hours,
Baby John" Martin occupied the wit
ness chair throughout the entire trial,
and he has stood the long and merciless
inquistion to which he has been sub
mitted by Judge Frick in manner
that stamps him as one of the most re-
markab1e witnesses Of his age ever seen
in courtroom. He has been cool and
deliberate throughout, weighing each
question carefully and showing abso-
lutely no disposition to become ratified
or to deviate from his original story,
despite the constant attempts of Frick,
one of the keenest criminal lawyers in
the state, to entrap him. Not once has
the boy been drawn into hasty angwer
and frequently he has caused the court
reporter to read Frick's involved ques-
tions over several times before he
would reply.
Mrs. Martin showed no unusual emo
tion when the commitment was an
nounced, although during the day she
had exhibited a peevish temper, which
led her into frequent outbreaks, and
several times she was cautioned to
be silent.
Early in the morning Mrs. Martin
announced that abe was not satisfied
with the conduct of the examination by
Judge Flick and appealed TO District
Attorney Brown for permission to
cross examine the witness herself.
II advise you to leave things in the
hands of Judge Frick," said Brown
HE will do all that is possible for
you.'
IF you won't let me question him
here / can assure you that I will take
charge of things when the case goes to
the superior court, and then 1 will
make this boy tell the truth" Mrs
Martin snapped. Whats more, I'm
going to talk when I feel like it."
Madam, shut up" thundered Frick
You will not talk while am conduct
ing this case" Mrs. Martin subsided.
The latter part of the examination
was taken up with questions designed
to shake, Baby Johns statements that
he had volunteered his testimony
against Mrs. Martin. The boy acknowl-
edged that he had been taken to
theaters and a prize fight by the police
while Mrs. Martin was awaiting trial
in the police court, and that the officers
of the law had done many things to
make his life pleasant while he was
held as a witness against his reputed
mother and while the grand jury was
considering the charges against her
He denied absolutely. however, that
any conversations had ever been held
with him by any one connected with
the police or prosecution In an attempt
to influence him to testify.