Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-24
EXPECT ANOTHER
CRISIS TODAY IN
CALHOUN'S CASE
CLIMAX OF DRAMATIC BATTLE
APPEARS NEAR
REMARKABLE SERIES OF SCENES
cHARAcTERIzEs HEARINGS
Plot and counterpIot, Bribery and
Perjury All Are Charged-TriaI
Is in the Sixth
Month
1Rr Assoelatea Press.1

q AN FRANCISCO. May 23.--Revela-
tions of alleged conspiracies in
~ the San Francisco bribery graft
cases, plots and counterplots, double
dealing and diamond-cut- diamond"
methods OF opposing detectives in the
obtaining of evidence, that read like
a page from "Old Sleuth" or Mick
Carter; accusations of perjury by at
torneys for the Defense. charges that
efforts were made to bribe witnesses,
reference to the dynamiting of the
home of the prosecutions star witness,
and dramatic situations when half q.
dozen belligerent lawyers were on
their feet at the same time and spec
tators held their breath with expect
ancy which formed a sensational chap
ter last week in the trial of Patrick
Calhoun, president of the United Rail-
roads, charged with bribery gives
promise of still further sensations
when the case is resumed tomorrow
morning.
The trial, which is nearing the sixth
month of its progress, has been pro-
ductiVe of more sensational testimony
than any of the bribery-graft cases
tried since the exposure of municipal
corruption in San Francisco in the fall
of 1906, and promises to become the
longest criminal trial in the history of
the west. perhaps the longest ever
held in the United States.
Prosecution Well Provided
With practically unlimited financial
backing behind prosecution and de-
fense, the case has been bitterly fought,
rot only since January IL, the date
when the work of empanelling jury
began, but according to testimony
given last week, detectives for the two
sides began to match wits in prepara-
ton as far back as the spring of 1907,
when John Helms, the former United
States secret service agent, so he de-
clared, under direction of the defendy
ant organized flying squadron" of
detectives on motor cycles to shadow
William J. Burns, head of the secret
service forces of the prosecution.
When the trial is resumed tomorrow,
Judge William P. Lawlor will be called
upon to decide whether or not he has
authority, in defiance of two restrain
ing orders of other courts of similar
Jurisdiction, to break the seals on
package alleged to contain documents
stolen from Burns office and found in
the safe of William M. Abbott, general
attorney for the United Railroads, in
a raid under a search warrant on the
legal offices of the street railway corr
poration.
the prosecution were taken by one
of Burns agents, who had access to
them, and who, according to Helms
testimony, was in the pay of the
United Railroads. to Helms. who said
he turned them over to Abbott.
Got Money Both Ways
Helms, who, according to his own
testimony, later entered the employ OF
Burns and for a time was receiving
5000 a month from the United Railroads
and $40 a day and expenses from the
prosecution, will be recalled to the
stand to identify the documents should
Judge Lawlor hold that he can law
fully disregard the enjoining orders of
the two other superior judges, and
place the papers in evidence. Helms
will be followed by other detectives
who he testified were present when eff
forts were made to dissuade him from
appearing as a witness in the case FOR
the prosecution.
Foundation also was laid by Francis
]. Heney. the prosecutor, to make in
quiry into the dynamiting last spring
of the home of James l.. Gallagher,
the star witness for the prosecution in
all the bribery graft cases.
With the new turn in the case, 1T is
doubtful whether argument will be
reached before some time next week
even if the defense should not offer any
evidence.
So crowded has been the court room
the past week that the six bluecoats
and dozen detectives and bodyguards
on duty will be increased by still
stronger detail of police in uniform and
plain clothes.