The San Francisco call., 1909-02-26
WITNESSES HAVE
ELUSIVE MEMORIES
Testimony in the Bullock Case
Fails in important
Details

REDWOOD CITY, Feb. 25.-The i'm
perfect dovetailing of the testimony
offered by the elusive memoried wit
nesses in defense of District Attorney
J. ]. Bullock was a startling feature
OF the testimony at the second days
trial of that official for malfeasance in
Office. Memories strong on many points
failed woefully respecting important
details.
George c. Ross OF Bullocks legal
battery, made his opening address TO
the jury at the commencement Of the
proceedings and in brief stated that they
would attempt to show that all the
members OF the board of supervisors
voted for the s2,992 contract and that
the document in question was signed
in the presence of the supervisors and
audience at a regular meeting OF the
board by Chairman J. II. Coleman and
J. J. O'Brien of the construction COM
pany. J. II. Coleman, former chairman
of the supervisors. was called by the
defense.
Coleman identified the contested con-
tract, further stating that he first
saw the instrument in the supervisors s
ROOM u handed the contract to Su-
pervisor McBain on September for
him TO look over, and at the meeting
on the 21st 1 asked him If it was all
right, and he said, Yes, letter go
Coleman further stated that all of the
supervisors voted for the contract, in
cluding McBain.
HAD COPIES OF 1T
Il never told Nash that I wanted my
= -.
reason for my so wishing. Nash told
me that the contract had been stolen.
but 1 didn't think that made any diff
ference, as we had copies of It,"
On cross examination It developed
that, although Coleman's memory sur
rounding the contract was positive, he
was extremely hazy as to what else
occurred before the supervisors.
Former Supervisor Debenedetti stated
that he made the motion for passing
the contract on direct examination and
further added that he first saw it on
September 81. When asked, why did
you tell the grand jury that you were
not sure whether you voted for the
contract or not, while you're positive
now that you did," he replied: We'll,
since I've been accused I've been think
ing it over and l know 1 did"
NONE VOTED AGAINST
Supervisor D. Z. Blackburn gave vir-
tually the same testimony as Coleman
and Debenedetti, except as to voting
on the contract, in which he stated
that he was certain none of the super
visors voted against it.
J. J. O'Brien was called and further
involved the position of Bullock at the
meeting. claiming that he was only
there a few moments before the con-
tract came up, while previous testi-
mony had that official present for a
period extending from half an hour
to an hour. O'Brien stated that he
signed the contract and saw Coleman
sign it, but, though he was present at
the meeting. heard no motion made to
award it. Here arose one Of the most
peculiar phases of the case thus far in
that the bid of O'Brien for 1892. and
inclosing envelope, addressed to the
board of supervisors, both identified by
O'Brien, had never been seen by Clerk
Nash or his deputy, to whom all those
documents go until today. In discuss
ing this tonight the county clerk said.
That's where the joke comes in No
papers, either bids, specifications or
anything else was ever fled with me-"
District Attorney Bullock gave the
direct lie to former Supervisor Nc
Balm by stating on the witness stand.
regarding the voting on the contract.
that Not only did none of the super
visors vote no, but they were all ave.
The trial will be continued tomorrow
with the further examination of Bull
lock.