The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-21

ana the SubTerslOn OF truth he had
hired attorneys TO carry on the work
for him. The objections of the de-
Tense were overruled and the exam
ination was allowed to proceed.
PLATT AGREES TO SIGN
Helms said he called upon Plat as
suggested by Abbott and that Platt
told him he had continued to work for
Abbott after Burns and his assistants
were created public officials, and had
been paid by Abbott twice at McEner-
ney's ohlces in the Flood building.
Plat agreed. however. to sign the
false affidavit if Abbott wished it.
Helms reported the conversation to Alb
bolt, who said he didn't care what
Plat had said.' and Abbott drew up
the affidavit as suggested. Helms then
took Plat before notary public and
secured his signature.
Subsequent 10 that time did you
have any further conversation with
Abbott concerning Platt?, asked Heney.
Yes. responded Helms. "A few
days later Abbott told me he UNDER
stood the prosecution was still try
ing to get Plat to go before the grand
jury and asked me if / thought he
could be depended upon. / said that l
certainly thought he could not be.
Then Abbott said, Well. we will send
him away The next day he handed
me $500 which he still owed me on
my account. and asked me to give $3.50
of il to Platt and see that he got away.
He gave me TO understand that this
was expense money for expenses to be
incurred while Plat was out of the
city / saw Plat purchase a ticket for
Ukiah and board the train in Oakland
and l got a receipt from him which L
turned over to Abbott"
PLANS ARE FRUSTRATED
The contemplated trip to be taken
by Platt went awry. however. Helms
conducted Mrs. Platt to Willis, meet
ing Plat at Ukiah, and then returned
to the city. The following day he
received a telephone message from
Platt at Laytonville, where Mrs. Plat
had been taken i'll. The trip ended
there and a week or two later Plat
returned to San Francisco.
About this time Abbott told Helms
that he was not suited with the affi-
davit originally made by Platt, as he
himself had been mistaken about the
time when Burns department was Off
cially made a part Of the prosecution.
He drew up a different affidavit with
the dates changed to suit his purpose,
and asked Helms to have it signed as
a substitute for the other one. Helms
did as requested and Plat signed the
second document.
Helms left the employ of both Burns
and the United Railroads in February
and returned to Trinity county. where
he was traced by Charles Golf of the
local police department and William
Otis and II. Lawrenson of Burns staff.
When he was subpenaed as a witness
in the Handlon case in police court,
arising from the seizure of Burns pa
pers in william NJ Abbott's safe. Golf
served the warrant and accompanied
Helms to this city, but the latter was
not called in the Handlon case. He
remained here only four days, return
ing to Trinity county on Aprils IA in
company with Goff and Lawrenson. 1t
was after his return to his home that
the attempts to reach him were begun
by the agents of the defense
TRY TO GAG HELMS
Helms told how he was visited on
April II by John O'Neill, brother of
Attorney Hugh O'Neill of this city,
and 10 days later by wingfield S.
Lamb and Assemblyman John McClel-
Ian of Trinity county. but was not
allowed to repeat the conversations
had with these emfssaries. Then he
told of the receipt of telephone mes
sages, kilograms and verbal hints dur
ing a return trip to this city begun on
May s. This testimony closed Heney's
direct examination of the witness
On CROSS examination by Rogers,
Helms said that he first met Attorney
Louis Hoeher at the time of the Yoell
will contest and worked on that case
with several other men in Hoefier's
employ. May 3, 1906. he came to San
Francisco from Trinity county on sum
mons from Hoef1er and was engaged
for work in behalf of the United Rail
reads bribery defendants.
My first instructions from Hoefer in
May. 1906, We're to try to get into the
employment of Burns. il possible, and
to get all I could about the activities
of the defense and report to him. I was
also to see Supervisor Sanderson
and
I didn't ask you that broke in
Rogers. That is enough. Just an
swer my questions"
Rogers turned to an inquiry con-
corning the use OF motorcycles by the
witness and his employees in following
Burns. and in the course of his ques-
tioning subjected Burns name to a tor