The San Francisco call., 1909-05-07
LUTHER BROWN TAKES
WIFE ON EXPEDITION
Device of Gunnshoe Agent to Make Abduction
Appear Like Excursion Trip

Not only was proof furnished yes
terdsy that Luther G. Brown was the
chief buccaneer of the gang that kid
nsped Fremont Older September p,
1907. but the jury sitting on Browns
case before Judge Mahon in the su-
perior court heard read testimony
which showed that the same Brown
tried to cover his tracks by inducing
q chauffeur to commit perjury in the
case when il was before the grand
jury shortly after OIder's alleged il
legal arrest The first day Of testi-
rnony in the case did not dispose of
many witnesses. but it did open up a
great many points involved in the
Brown conspiracy
AIDED By HIS WIFE
II developed that Brown. when he
red his expedition against Fremont
Older, went so far as TO involve his
handsome wife in the movement. The
alhoun gumshoe man had Mrs. Brown
ride ia the pilot car which led the
way for the automobile containing the
prisoner Older when the speedy ride
was made from Van Ness avenue and
Geary street TO the Southern Pacific
station at Redwood City, San Mateo
county.
According TO the theory Of the prose-
cutfon. advanced by Assistant District
Attorney William Hof Cook in his
opening statement 10 the jury yester-
day morning Mrs. Brown had been
brought along by her husband TO make
tho sinister excursion look Ike
pleasure trip. Mrs. Brown was in
court yesterday when Cook explained
her part in the trip.
Three witnesses were examined yes
terday Fremont Older was the first,
and he told the story Of the arrest
and reputed kidnapping. w. W. Hale.
assistant to the chief clerk of the
transportation department of the
Southern Pacific, was called to explain
the running time Of the train which
carried Older and escort south from
Redwood City. George A. Wyman, the
chauffeur of the automobile in which
the prisoner rode, was on the stand
when court adjourned. The most inn
portant Developments of the day came
out when Cook asked permission to
read the testimony given by the wit
ness before the grand jury at the
time Brown and Porter Ashe were in
dicted. This testimony showed how
Brown tried to persuade Wyman TO
perjure himself.
CASE OF KIDNAPPING
Assistant District Attorney Cook de-
voted three quarters Of an hour to his
opening statement Of the case He de-
clared that under the law a person
arrested on q misdemeanor charge
must be given the opportunity of offer
ing bail IN the county in which he is
arrested. under section 207 of the penal
code. and that a violation of that
right is KIDNAPPING.
Attorney Best Schlesinger wanted to
devote his opening statement to a read
49, ff-r~ fr f1n TrI n
September .26, J 907, on which the war
"a ut for Olders arrest on a charge of
libel was based. Cook objected TO that
and the court sustained the objection.
Schlesinger tried sdroiuy TO get the
facts before the jury in spite of the
courts ruling and Judge Mahon took
him 10 task sharply.
OLDER on THE STAND
Older was called to the stand at II
o'clock He told his story briefly un-
Ger questions by Cook He said that
shortly after 4 O'Clock September %,
1907 he was in the Office Of Heney
& Cobb, ia Franklin street, near
Gesry. when he received a telephone
message asking him 10 90 down TO the
Hotel Savoy. He complied with the
request, walking from Franklin street
down Geary to Van Ness. Near the
corner Of the avenue and Gesry street
showed him a warrant Of arrest for
libel and had him step into an auto
mobile He said that he demanded
an opportunity to give bail and his
captors promised TO take him before
Judge Cook. Instead. they spirited
him away on the power Of gasoline to
Redwood City.
On the way / tried TO see an Off
Ger feeling that my life was imper-
fled" said the editor. One of the
men with me pressed an object against
my side and said that if ] made an
outcry he'd shoot me-
Constable Cohn yelled TO Brown in
the other automobile 10 STOP bat the
men in the front automobile. although
they were looking back. drove on. The
speed Of the cars was about 35 or 20
miles an hour-the car was going too
fast for me TO jump out
not FAIR FIGHT
on cross examination Schlesinger
trisd to bring from Older the admis-