The San Francisco call., 1908-12-04
MRS. MARTIN CRIES
FORGERY ON STAND
Accused Woman Dynamiter Re-
fuses to Identify Handwriting
Exhibits in Case
Creates Scene in Court With
Bitter DennnciatiOn of
the Prosecution

OAKLAND, Dec. 5.-Mrs. Isabella J..
Martin refused today on the witness
stand in Judge Wells court to identify
exhibits of her handwriting used by
the prosecution in her trial for prompt
Ing the dynamiting of Judge f. B. Og-
den's home. She created something Of
a scene when sheNdeclared:
Il will swear to mo handwriting that
has ever been in your hands. Mr.. Hynes.
l will not answer yes or no to any
question about handwriting that has
been in your possession or in the pos
session of Mr.. Donahue or of Carl Els
enschimmel."
Mrs. Martin explained her remarks
by saying that a certain letter purport-
ed to have been written by her had five
small ink marks on it-one in each cor
ner, and a dot in the center of the
page. The missive introduced in court
did not have these marks, and there
fore must have been forged by the
prosecution, so the woman declared.
She told the jury that when Expert Eli
senschimmel was employed by her in
the Martin Will case in San Francisco
he told her he could forge any
signature or writing she wanted him
to and that she believed that in this
case he had made use Of his pen for
the benefit of the prosecution. Eisen-
schimmel said that the woman's utter
ances were preposterous.
When shown the examplars of the
name Judge T. B. Ogden, Oakland,
CAL said to have been written by her
when first arrested at Weaverville.
Mrs. Martin would not state that they
were in her handwriting. She said she
made several notes on paper for Dis
trict Attorney Donahue and Detective
st. Clair Hodgkins, but that in view Of
the fact that Eisenschimmel was in the
case, she said she could not tell wheth-
er or not the writing was her own.
She lodged and evaded question after
question. finally continuing her ex-
traordinary statements about the court
officials.
Judge Wells instructed Mrs Martin
to answer questions asked of her by
Assistant District Attorney Hynes con-
cerning her intimatiOn that Hynes had
caused forged letters to be produced
against her.
Il can not. Judge" said the defendant
Il do not want TO disobey you. but
can not swear to any writing that has
been In the hands of these men,"
DO you mean to tell this jury that
Mr.. Donahue and myself forged these
exemplars? shouted Hynes. handing
her long list of exhibits of her hand
writing taken at Weaverville. An
swer that by yes or no."
Mrs. Martin evaded the answer by
offering reasons for doubling the au-
thenticity of the documents and finally
came out with the declaration that for
geries could exist in the case. She
added that she had already found fall
sification in the testimony of the prose-
cutting witnesses. This part of the an
swer was ordered stricken out by
Judge Wells.
Cant 1 tell what I know of Judge
Hall of Trinity county," asked the de-
fendant, but Judge Wells denied the
request
Hall is assisting the prosecution in
this case, and is declared by Mrs. Mar
tin to be her deadly enemy.
Mrs. Martin accounted for Baby
Johns lack OF schooling today because
she said he stole and that il she per-
mitted him to go TO school he would
disgrace her. She said she could not
take time to accompany John TO school
and back every day to keep him out of