The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-20
CONFERENCE IS
HELD IN OFFICE
OF MCFNFRNEY
fieIms Tells How He Brought
Plat to Abbott and
Bribed Him
Burns Clerk Was Paid Bonus
to Steal Specified DOcu-
ments From Safe

sppeal that savored Of a summing up
such as might be made before the jtry
at the close Of the case
FIGHT TO STOP EVIDENCE
There was not single member of
CaIhoun's staff of attorneys. save By
ington. who did not arise TO protest
and argue for before the final deci-
sion of the court was given. A. A
Moore. Stanley Moore. Earl Rogers,
Alex C. King and John ]. Barrett took
turn about in the futile effort TO block
The INQUIRY one after another they
failed to convince the court of any
merit in their contentious, and then the
end came IT was nervous, flushed
crowd Of attorneys who surrounded the
defendant when the order Of the court
was finally given for the examination
TO proceed. Calhoun himself was trem-
bling when he leaned forward to con-
fer with his counselors.
Only one familiar face was absent
from Calhoun's table while the story
Of the witness was being told. That
was William NJ AbbOtt's. but Abbott
was not forgotten. His name figured
as one Of the most prominent features
Of Helms testimony. 1t was through
him that Helms conducted most of his
work for the United Railrods. and it
was from Abbott's hands that he re-
oehVed money for the salaries and
expenses Of himself and his assistants.
and The money with which to pay z.
A. Rlatt, Burns man, for the reports
and documents stolen from Burns
Office.
HELMS CALLED TO STAND
Helms was called to the stand at
the psychological moment when the
interest that has been sustained in
-, 90 1a1- va
Dropping Rudolph Spreckels. who was
the star witness Of Monday and Tues
dag. was temporarily excused after a
brief examination yesterday morning
in order that reports which he had
promised to provide could be secured
before hAs examination was finished.
.Several insurance men and street rail-
way officials We're called to give cor
roborative evidence on matters already
before the jury. and William u. San
derson, an attorney. had just finished
telling of a talk with Calhoun and Abe
Ruef Immediately prior 10 the passa ge
OF the overhead trolley ordinance after
the fire. Then Helms was called.
In addition te what Helms told while
on the witness stand his presence di-
vulged several secrets that have been
kept closely guarded One of these was
the reason behind The arrest Of Oper-
ative Burgin Of the Pinkerton detec-
tive agency week ago. Burgin was
Jailed on an order from the district
attorneys Office after being caught spy
ing on the home sof Policeman Charles
Goff. who is attached TO the district
attorneys Office. The cause of the
arrest was surrounded with mystery
at the time and neither Burgin. Chief
William II. Fields of the local Ptnker-
ton Office nor any one connected with
the district attorneys office would ven
ture an explanation
SHADoWED By PINKER-FONs
Yesterday 1t developed that Helms
al that time in hiding at Goff's
home. attempting to keep his presence
in the city a secret until such time as
he should be called to the witness
stand He had been Swallowed from his
home in Trinity county by two men.
and Burgin had been sent to watch his
movements at COTS residence. Thus
II was that Burgin was taken into Gus
todv and thus It was that the defense
knew OF the intentions of the prosecu-
ton 10 call Helms to the stand. What
efforts were taken TO prevent the actual
elimination Of the prosecution's s. plan
VIII form another chapter in the story
which Helms is yet 10 tell.
Helms walked calmly TO the stand
when his name was pronounced by He
nev yesterday afternoon and settled
himself comfortably in the witness
chair for the ordeal he knew was COM
ing. His face betrayed no emotion
and he answered all questions in an
even. quiet tone but quickly and dis
tinctly. His business for the last 10
years he said, had been that of a de-
tective and he had been engaged in
such work in San Francisco during the
wears 1906. 1907 and 1908, having come
20 this city from China. where he had
been doing government work as
member Of the United States secret ser
vice department.
.,pid You in 1907 go to work for the
United Railroads. asked Heney-
II did on May 3, 1907" was the re-
Helms tesuted that he had been in
Trinity county prior TO this time and
that Attorney Louis Hoeher Of this
city had telegraphed for him 90 come
TO San Francisco st once. IT was
10 work and K vas Hoefer who paid
him for three months. at the end Of
which time he was sent by Hoefier TO
William NJ Abbott, to whom he there
after reported direct. While under
Hooters Instructions Helms worked
alone and his duty consisted, princi-
paliy in shadowing members OF the
prosecution. Objections were made by
the defense TO questions regarding in
struction given the witness by Hoeier
and Heney announced that the latter
would be put upon the stand TO show
the connection.
Did you ever talk to the defendant,
Patrick Calhoun" inquired Heney.
Yes" answered the witness. The
first time I talked TO him was during
the first Ford trial He met me on
the sidewalk in front of the Temple
Israel and we had a talk together"
What was it2' demanded Heney.
SIGNAL FOR STORM
This was the signal for the first real
storm TO break, and 1t took on the
form OF numerous objections. There
was no theory of law under which such
evidence might be admitted. urged CAL
houn's attorneys. Judge Lawlor asked
Heney the purpose of his inquiry.
This evidence is offered as showing
the conduct OF the defendant and his
acts as denoting guilty consciousness"
responded Heney.
I object 10 that and assign IT as
misconduct" cried King.
Then I'll repeat II so that It will
be clear in the record returned Heney
Il say it is offered as evidence Of the