The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22

occurred
William NJ Abbott rushed over to
I Oakland the morning after the dy-
s namiting occurred and rendered his
form you that the railroad people viii
not pay you SO 900 for your testimony.
1 said, 'O'Neill, 1 want you to under
stand that l am not asking you for
$4,000 for my testimony. You call Mr..
Nelson TO the phone ONeill did as
1 asked and when Nelson answered 1
said, Mr.. Metson, ! am not asking you
for $4,000 for my testimony. l am go
ing to tell the truth, and l. want to say
right now for the benefit of you and
your listeners that L have been APP
preached three times-twice at my
home and l received a telegram.
also told him that when I got on the
stand 1 would tell the truth and only
the truth, and that is what / am try
ing to do
Heney tried at once to go into other
conversations which Helms had re-
ferred to with visitors sent to his home
in Trinity county, but a strenuous eff
fort was made by the defense to keep
more testimony OF the sort out of the
record. In the midst of the objections
Helms asked for permission TO answer
the attack made upon him by explain
ing how he had been approached and
what had been said to him.
There are certain witnesses whose
testimony is discredited by the history
Of the world" interposed Lewis f.
Byington in response to the sugges-
ton.
COURT REBUKES BYINGTON
Mr.. Byington." responded the court,
''you seem to sit back there for the
purpose of formulating attacks on wit
neSses and on the court from time to
time. In view of the fact that you
have served as district attorney of this
city and county it might be we'll for
you to know that this court does not
commend your conduct.
How have l made an attack" asked
Byington.
You have done so by taking ex-
eeption to certain remarks of the
court, and you should keep in mind
from now on that the court has
reached about the limit of its toler-
ance so far as you are concerned"
If your honor please began
Heney. in replying to the objections in
terposed, we think we are entitled to
show now what attempts, if any, were
made to bride this witness not to
appear here. We think the connection
has been sufficiently made to entitle us
Trinity county and who sent him there,
what took Frank Murphy to San Ra-
fael and who sent him there. what took
Hugh O'Neill up to Trinity county
and who sent him there, what took
Hugh O'Neill down to the ferry to
meet this witness when he arrived and
who sent him there, what led Hugh
O'Neill TO go to Mr.. Nelson's office and
have this witness telephone him, who
sent men out to shadow the house of
Mr.. Golf all the time this witness was
there. who hired Mr.. Nelson
Heney got no further. There were
more exceptions and more objections.
An extended argument on the admis-
sibility of the proposed testimony fol-
lowed, and Judge Lawlor ruled that It
could not be heard without further
foundation being laid. Heney turned
to another subject. stating that he
would revert to the inquiry after lay
ing a further basis for the testimony.
REFUTEs ASPERsIoNs
At the very outset of his examination
Helms answered one of the aspersions
cast upon his testimony of the pre-
vious day by declaring that during all
the time he was working for William
NJ. Abbott while really in the employ
Of Special Agent Burns, he never gave
10 the latter "A single item Of informa-
tion lawfully in the possession of the
United Railroads attorney. He turned
over no reports on jurors or other
legitimate matter. he said, and told
Burns only those things relating to
criminal activities and concerning men
in Burns employ who were giving aid
to the opposition.
During the inquiry regarding the
identity of the men whom Helms had
sent out in the automobile to follow
Burns Heney called upon Detective
Zobler of the United Railroads, who
was in the courtroom. TO stand up for
Identification. Though John j. Barrett
of the defense objected to the proceed
ing as a spectacular method" Zobler-
was put under the orders of the court
as a witness. Detective Laurentzen.
the Banjo Eyed Kid" who was also
in the courtroom when Zobfer was
called. made a sudden exit before any
further questions could be asked con-
corning other automobile sleuths.
Helms said that he turned over to
William NJ. Abbott all copies of reports
stolen from Burns Office which he had
in his possession about a month be-
fore he actually left the employ of the
United Railroads. This, he said was
because he had learned that subpenas
had been issued for himself and sew
eral of his subordinates. When he told
Abbott of this the latter instructed him
TO go into hiding and to have all his
men get under cover. Helms obeved
orders by taking two weeks vacation
in Santa Cruz.
TELLS OF FALSE AFFIDAyITs
Helms was finally allowed to leave
the witness stand. but not for good. as
his examination is TO be resumed the
first OF next week. He was followed on
the stand by William A. Brace. the
notary public before whom Z. A. Plat
sworc TO tho false affidsvits declaring
that he had not been in the employ o.