The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-19

He battle royal of the Calhoun
trial took place yesterday in
Judge Lawlor's courtroom be-
tween Rudolph Spreckcls. called as a
witness Monday by the prosecu-
ton, and Earl Rogers of the
defense, who conducted vitriolic
cross examination. Nearly all the
judicial day the struggle waged
without cessation. while the prosecut-
ing attorneys held aloof from inter
ruptions and the jury listened with an
obvious degree of attention and inter-
est that has not been accorded any
other part of the testimony since the
case began.
1t was a battle royal because from
the outset it was evident that no quar-
ter would be asked or given. Rogers
fought shrewdly and even viciously to
discredit the testimony given by
Spreckels on direct examination and
to substantiate in whole or part the
charges and insinuations that have
been so persistently made for three
years concerning the motives and pur-
poses OF the graft prosecution.
Answers All Questions
Spreckels answered questions with
the same directness with which they
were asked, growing vehement at
times as his questioner allowed bitter
ness to become apparent in voice or
manner. and again smiling and facing
the ordeal with calmness. True to the
promise of Assistant District Attorney
Heney the witness made no attempt to
avoid any inquiry to which Rogers
turned. He went into the minute de-
tails of his connection with the munici
pal street railway organized TO compete
with the United Railroads. told of his
part in the graft prosecution from the
time of it's inception. admitted the pay
ment of large sums of money to keep
the work under way. and finally agreed
to produce today an itemized statement
showing all receipts and disbursements
of the fund gathered By private sub
seription to aid the prosecution.
Naturally the character of the cross
in which the witness as wen as the
lawyers participated. Stiasing state
ments were made time and time again
by the attorney. and once Spreckeis
snapped back sharply at Rogers when
the latter sought to so into his per-
z-r - fo~.ff,- aFe,irs Tbero vxaS
decided general interest in the pro-
ceedings and not once during the day
was a seat vacant in the courtroom
crowd fingered all day outside the
doors unable to gain admission. When
Spreckels was temporarily excused
from the stand an hour before ad-
iournment the room emptied as quick
Iy as it had fIIed during the early
morning hour The wife of Patrick
Calhoun was a spectator during part
of the morning session and his daugh
ter remained in the courtroom ali day.
First Clash of Day
The first conflicts developed during
the direct examination of SDreckeIs.
which ran over from Monday into the
morning session yesterday. 0bjec-
tions from the defense caused Heney
to declare that he should be allowed
to go fully into any matter he chose, as
the invitation had been given and he
had agreed TO interpose no obstacle
He asserted that he was framing his
questions so that the defense might
go into every detail OF any subject
You are not doing it. however said
Earl Rogers
yes. we are" retorted Heney, facing
Rogers squareIy DO you think.
though. that we are going to be limited
by your dirty insinuations2
II don't know why you should refer
to dirty insinuations' unless it is due
to your consciousness interjeeted
Alex c. King.
Here Judge Lawlor took hand and
queIled the threatening disturbance.
Then Spreckels. in answer to Heney's
Inquiries. denied that he had ever In
spected the route of the proposed mu-
nieipaI street railroad with Abe Ruef:
that he had ever suggested the indiet-
ment of any person connected with the
graft cases, or that he had ever inti- :