Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-09

Another sensation was added to the
Imperial valley land fraud case yes
terday afternoon just before court ad-
1ourned. when District Attorney Nc
Cormick demanded that Charles h
Creal, who has been cited to appear De
fore Judge Wellborn this morning on
contempt charge, be given speedy
hearing. Mr.. Mccormick lnsistea Laat a.
he wanted Mr.. Crears case disposed OF
more as a lesson to others than as act
ual punishment for an alleged infrac-
ton of the law
Creal is accused of having approached
Fred M. Bevis, one of the government
chief witnesses, and of having asked
him to change his testimony so that II
would be favorable to the defense. Be-
Wis reported the alleged conversation TO
the district attorney and to Judge Wen
born. Bevis was placed on the stanu
and swore to the fact that ne hao peeH
apnroached. Creal was cited for con-
tempt, and the citation was mace re-
turnable this morning.
Because Judge Wellborn has some
other pressing business, he explained
that he probably will not be able TO
hear the contempt case until later
date. 1t was this that caused Mr.. Nc
Cormick to request that the hearing be
not postponed.
Wants Practice Stopped
''I would not insist on the hearing,
said Mr.. Mccormick, except that am
informed that there are other persons
in this building who are seeking TO tam
ner with witnesses. 1 want the prac-
tice stopped at once. We nave plenty
of information in the Creal case. AS tc
other attempts to approach witnesses
our information is rather indefinite
L. x,,iII 20 n
nicious efforts of some persons"
Mr.. Meserve Immediately showed UNI.
bra ge at Mr.. McCormick's words, ano
fatty denied every allegation and In
sinuation. Attorney Davis, another o.
counsel for the defense, protested
against trying Creal during. the prog
ress of the trial. as it might prejudice
the case of the endants-McPnefrlt
and the two Chaplin brothers. Judge
welIhorn finally ordered Creal to ap'
near with his attorney, Henry stephens
in court this morning and answer the
charge. It Is possible the hearing may
be set over until next week. Creal Is
the father-in-law of Bert Chaplin, sor
of Frank Chaplin, one of the defend
ants.
oscar 'Lawler, assistant district at
torney will not be in court next weeH
at all. He announced that he Will leave
for San Francisco to confer with Secre'
tary of the Interior Ballinger all neX'
week. What the nature of the confer
ence is Mr.. Lawler refused to state.
Pierce Cross-Examlned
Frank Pierce, one of the star wit
nesses for the prosecution, was on the
stand all yesterday mad underwent g
erueling cross-examination at the
hands of Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Meserve
According to the prosecution, Pierce's
direct testimony was in no way hurt by
the cross-examination. The defense
claims that several new facts, especial
lv in regard to the granting of right
of way across the land in question
were developed. The defense claims
that Pierce has admitted he took VI
the land for the purpose of giving the
Imperial Valley Land and Water com
pany a right of way across it, and moi
80 that he could transfer his desert
land claim. If this is true. it probably
will have a large bearing on the result
of the trial
No trial session of the United States
courts will be held until wednesday
morning. Adjournment will be taker
at noon today until wednesday, out OF
respect to President Taft.