The San Francisco call., 1909-06-05
PROSECUTION
HURLS BOMB IN
CALHOUN CASE
Former EmpIOye of United Rail-
roads Tells Story of Alleged
DOctOred Evidence
Samuel F. Scott Testifies to
Plot, He Says, Was Planned
by Claims Agent
By w. RUSSELL COLE

Pickering activity in the Calhoun
trial was Jared suddenly into fresh
flame yesterday afternoon by the ex-
plosion of a veritable bomb of testi-
mony. hurled fun into the ranks of
the defense by Samuel F. Scott. a wit
ness called by the prosecution.
Scott. who was formerly an enploye
Of the United Railroads. but who has
been secretly in the service of the
district attorneys Office for several
weeks. related the history of an in
tIigue which has brought charge Of
fabricating evidence directly TO the
door Of Joseph H. Handlon. claims
agent of the United Railroads. and has
involved the names of Patrick Cal
houn and Attorney Garret W. Nc
Enerney in a tangle of serious -accu-
sation
The new secret Of the Calhoun de-
fense laid bare by Scott is the his
tory of a plot hatched early in 1907
Tor the alleged purpose of discrediting
Special Agent Williams J. Burns and
cOntradicting the facts concerning the
trapping OF the supervisors who were
FIRST caught in criminal acts and forced
TO confess their guilt. In short. Scott
testified that he was induced TO sub
scribe 10 a story manufactured out
Of whole cloth by Handlon and pur-
porting to be a description of a fake
trapping of supervisors which never
occurred.
FLUT-TER IN CALHOUN CAMP
The calling Of Scott to the witness
stand just after the noon recess yes
terday caused "A ffutter that was akin
TO CONSERVATION in the corner occupied
by Patrick Calhoun and his attorneys.
Your business is what?" asked
Beney. when the witness was sworn.
Il am a detective"
And where have you been recently
employer.
i went 10 work for the United Rail-
roads in 1905 and remained until 1907,
when I went 20 work for the Southern
Pacific for a time. Then ] returned 10
the United Railroads and remained un-
I'll 1893, when I resigned. / was de-
tective for Weinstock. Lubin &, Co. for
a short while and was with the Pin
kertOn agency until April Of this year.
when L was employed by William J.
Burns"
The witness said that while in the
employ OF the United Railroads he
l.
Handlon. who was then chief of the
asr detective department. and that
during 1907 he had several talks with
HandlOn regarding Burns
Did you have any talk with Patrick
Calhoun on the same subject" asked
aeney.
Yes" answered Scott In the latter
part Of September or the first part of
October. 1907, l had a talk with Mr.
Calhoun in Gsrret McEnerneys Office
n the Flood building. Mr.. Hsndlon was
present"
What was the talk? State all that
vas said. demanded Heney.
MEETING WITH CALHOUN
4 had never met Mr.. Calhoun per-
sonally- until that tine" began the wit
1ess. Mr.. Hsndlon introduced us and
said that Mr.. Calhoun mad brought me
- there to have me repeat a statement
hat / had supposedly made to HandIon /
The story ] was to tell was to the effect
hat had gone to work for Mr. Burns 4
i Hsndlon's instigation and was work |
ng for Burns early in April 1907 |
Ianolon said, Tell Mr. Calhoun the
tory about Burns trapping Supervisors 4
3oxton and Lonergan. ] then told him 1
he story that early in April, 1907. !
lad met Burns one night at the Golden I
Pheasant restaurant and that Rudolph /
spreckels met us there and that we
vent TO q certain house where Spreck- /
is and went into a room with
ransom over door into another room: 1
hat this room was dark and that 4
aper was pasted over the transom and I
hat three cornered hole was torn
n it: that Spreckels mounted a sofa
nd watched through this hole: that 1
wo men came into the other room and 1
hat couldn't hear what was said: and /
hat later Spreckels opened the door |
nd called Heney and Burns and we
ll went away in an automobile.
Mr.. Calhoun cross questioned me
nd asked il ] could locate the house
nd I told him that I thought l could. f
ut had been unable 10 do SO up 10 that 1
ine. He remarked that il was strange /
hat I didn't know where it was.
old him / had gone there in the dark
nd hadn't paid any attention to the
3cstion."
AS matter of fact had you ever
5Orked> for Mr.. Burns at any time
rlor to this year?7 demanded Heney.
Il never had" was the response.
Had you ever met Rudolph Spreck- /
Is2g
4 never had and ! was never in any
ouse with him"
Had you ever met either Mr.. Burns
q
Never"
Then why did you tell this story |
Mr.. Calhoun on that occasion2"
Because Mr.. HandlOn told me to-"
A storm of objections from the at
orneys for the defense broke on the /
eels Of the witness last answer, and |
emands were made that all his tesu-
sony should be ruled out of the rec
rd. Heney arose quickly to respond. I
we intend TO show" he declared. /
that a deliberate attempt was made I
fabricate evidence and that Mr.. CAL i
oun was a party TO il: that an effort /
as made by Handlon TO get this wit
ess to swear TO a false story and that /
andlon himself had made up this /
sorry out Of whole cloth"
such talk is the veriest midsummer /
badness" cried Attorney King. in 4
bis case and in the present situation |
looks like an effort to put up a trap
Mr.. Calhoun
Aes, retorted Heney with a laugh. /
a trap by Handlon who has since /
cen promoted TO the position OF claims
gent"
The principal objections of the de-
nse 10 the admission Of the testimony
ere overruled, but still Heney was
reed to draw out the story piecemeal /
ON the witness. The sensational mar