The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-21
HELMS IS firm
UNDER ROGERS
GRILLING FIRE
Defense VainIy Tries TO Dis
credit banning Evidence OF
Prosecutions Witness
SIeuth on Stand Weayes Fur
Their Web of Testimony About
Patrick Calhoun

Frank II. Dunno was visitor at the
7norning session. The Latter stopped
and shook hands warmly with Honey
as he passed his desk and then occu-
pied chair by the side Of Judge Law
lor during a portion Of the cross eX-
animation Of Helms.
Heney reopened the direct examina-
ton Of the witness by inquiring con-
corning the payments of money to f.
A. Plat. who was hired TO steal re-
ports from Burns office. and was in
formed that most Of the payments
were made by Helms himself in vari-
Gus saloons. where he would meet
Platt by appointment IN his reports
10 Abbott, Helms said that he referred
10 Plat as No. 81
TRAILS BURNS CONSTANTLY
Following his conversation with
Patrick Calhoun during the first Ford
trial, when he was instructed by Cal
houn 10 have men constantly on the
trail Of William J. Burns. Helms hired
an automobile for which he paid an
avera ge rental OF $1,000 a month. Sub
sequentIy he purchased a machine HIM
self and rented il TO the United rail-
roads for the shadow" work. The
first men sent out in the automobile
were Nelson. Hayes, Middlemiss and
ZObler who were afterward arrested
for interfering with the work of Spe-
cial Agent Burns.
Did all four men go in the machine
together" asked Heney.
No answered the witness. There
were two at a time at first, but then
] had to put relays into the machine
when they began to arrest them. I
put new men in as fast as the old ones
Were arrested
Where did you meet Abbott to give
him your reports" Heney inquired.
Sometimes at the Oak and Brod-
erick streets car barn." said Helms,
and sometimes at Garrett McEnerney's
office on the twelfth floor of the Flood
building. or at any other place / was
instructed to meet him
After resigning from the United
Railroads Helms went to Trinity
county on September 1 Of last wear
and did not return TO San Francisco
until November 10. up to which time
he had never met William J. Burns per-
sonally. Upon his arrival here. how
ever, he sought Burns, and after con-
Nersation with Burns and District At
torney LangdOn at the latter's home
entered Burns employ. A week later
on November l.. acting with the
knowledge Of Burns. the witness pre-
scented himself TO William NJ Abbott
and was again put on the payroll of
the United Railroads at a salary of
5000 month and expenses, while at the
same time he drew q salary from Burns
and made fun reports TO the latter
WANTED AFFIDAVIT FROM PLATT
What conversation did you have
with Abbott at the time YOU took up
this employment" inquired Heney.
He told me that the prosecution.
was trying TO get Plat before the
grand jury and he wanted to try TO
get Platt, If possible, TO make an aft
davit that he had left the employment
OF the United Railroads before Burns
Office was officially made a part Of the
district attorneys department"
NOciferous objections by Calhoun's
attorneys caused an Interruption in
this line Of testimony and won a Sc
we're reprimand for Lewis r. Byington
who had the temerity TO suggest that
the admission of such evidence
amounted TO throwing the law to the
winds"
We'll. you are certainly throwing
the ethics Of your profession to the
winds when YOU address the court in
such a manner" retorted Judge LawIor
sharply. i warn you not TO do it
again.
King argued that the testimony re-
lated 10 time when Calhoun was not
in San Francisco, but O'Gara answered
with the declaration that it made no
difference where Calhoun was, as after
beginning the obstruction of justice