The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-25
TRIAL OF CALHOUN
= Detective In Employ of United Rail-
reads, Secretary of company's
legal Department and nm
Attorney Give Testimony.

san Francisco. May 24.--Francis j.
Eeney, prosecutor of Patrick Calhoun
President of the United Railroads on
a bribery charge, went into the camp
of the defense for several of its wit
nesses today.
II appeared that the state was APP
proaching the end Of its long roll OF
witnesses and hopes were expressed
that another fortnight would end the
trial which entered today on It's twen-
tiefh week.
This afternoons session was devoted
to the examination of Thomas b. Glib
son, q detective in the employ of the
United Railroads; of George r. Fran
els, Secretary of the company's legal
department and of Luther Brown. a
Los Angeles attorney. active in behalf
Of the defense.
Mr.. Heney asked Gibson to explain
his part in the investigation OF the
dynamite explosion that wrecked the
Oakland home of James, l.. Gallagher,
one OF the chief witnesses OF the pros
ecution, and imperilled the lives OF
Gallagher and seven other inmates OF
the house
Mr.. Heney's questions carried many
charges that Gibson denied, but the
witness admitted that he had been d.
rected to look into the affair by Thorn
well Mulleley, assistant TO Mr.. Cal
houn. When asked what he dlscov-
cred. Gibson said:
Il found that two men were arrest
ed and held in Oakland for a couple of
weeks and that one had bought ten
pounds of dynamite. His name was
wilhelm and 1 suppose he was work
ing for William j. Burns"
what report of the matter did you
make to William NJ Abbott?" asked
Heney.
Il told him thought Burns and VIII
helm had hand in 1t, and that the
explosion was brought about to create
feeling against Mr.. Calhoun sale
the witness.
did you think Burns wanted to kill
Gallagher" asked the prosecutor.
II did not" replied Gibson. II had
reason to believe the people who lived
in the house were all in the back yard
by arrangement. when the explosion
occurred"
Mr.. Heney asked Gibson IL he had
not attempted to interfere with Burns
when the latter returned from the East
and began an investigation of the dy-
nAmlting The defense objected and
Mr. Heney declared4an attempt = was
made to silence Gallagher by assassi-
mating him, and that the agents Of the
United Railroads were Instrumental in
the effort to suppress evidence of
crime.
Stanley Moore. of the defense, char
acterized the charges as false as
hell" declaring that thef dynamiting
was stock issue of the prosecution, to
be plugged in against every defendant.
Secretary Francis, in HIS testimony,
admitted having received from John
Helms, formerly connected with the
United Railroads detective bureau. a
iling cabinet and quantity of docu-
ments, which Helms alleges were re-
ports on Jurors and other matter abb
stracted from Burns's Office.
He testified that he had received
money from Abbott to pay Helms and
other. men engaged in similar work.
Luther c.. Brown declared that heahad
never arranged for Alexander Latham.
once a chauffeur for Abraham Ruef. to
enter the employ OF bis (Brpwn's)
father-in-law, and that he never knew
Of such employment
This statement was regarded as an
Issue because Latham Is now awaiting
striai on a charge of perjury, alleged to
have been committed In the Ruef trial.
Brown admitted to certain activities
as detective for the United Rail
roads.