The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-20
[|MEL|GHT TURNED
upon DETECTIVES
Secret Service Man Paid by Cal
hOun Testities for the
District Attorney.
TRAITORS IN EMPLOY or
PROSECUTION WERE USED
Copies of Letters and kilograms
Received by Burns Delivered
to Defendant.


the trial of Patrick Calhoun, president
Of the United Railroads. there was in
lectcd late today an extraordinary
chapter dealing with the uses and meth
DDS of detectives. John Helms, for
mcrly connected with the United States
secret service and at one time the head
of private detective bureau in this
city. narrated i'll detail, as witness
for tho prosecution, the secrets he
claims TO have learned during his term
Of employment as an agent Of the
United Railroads Ills testimony which
relates TO an carly period in the his
tory Of the graft prosecution, already
involves the names cf several persons
more or less prominently identified with
the defense, and there is n promise OF
revelations more sensational when he
resumes the stand tomorrow
Fierce Legal Battle.
Helms had scarcely started his mar
ration when there cnsued a legal
wrauglc that has had no parallel III
the five months that have elapsed since
the trial was commenced. Five of the
the admission Of Helms testimony. and
the spectators were hardly aware of
ihc important Issue involved when coun-
sci oil both sides. with flushed faces
and voices raised 10 angry pitch. were
engaged in legal battle that was
wagcd for nearly an hour. Judge Law
lor finally ruled that the evidence was
admissible, and Helms gave his testi-
mouv under objection until the session
Ii i..,,s \ l,...iT
hour beyond the usual hour Of adjourn
meDt.
Helms testified that he had come TO
the city in response to request by
Attorney Louis NJ Hoeffer early IN
May. 1907. ut which time the first trial
of frey l.. Ford. counsel for the United
Railroads, had been commenced. Hoef
hcr, he said. instructed him to watch
everything done by the prosecution and
report the information so gathered.
Assistant District Attorney Francis j.
Heney attempted 10 learn what persons
were shadowed by Helms, but the court
sustained m objection by the defense.
Plans Carefully Laid.
That the presentation Of Helms as
witness had been planned for some days
was evidenced by the fact that prose
cutiou and defense were equally we'll
prepared with authorities in support of
their respective contentious. Alexander
King of Georgia presented the legal
points for the defense. and when he had
finished, John j. Barrett and Earl Rog,
crs addressed The court.
in the course of AN argument \. A.
Moore declared that TO follow Burns
was no indication Of a guilty con-
science. as Mr.. Hcney alleged. but that
ii was a mark of common prudence.
Helms testified that he had come to
this city at the request Of Attorney
Louis NJ. Hoeffcr. who had directed
him to watch members of the prosecu
tion engaged in the first Ford trial
Later, he said. he had reported directly
10 William Abbott, general attorney for
the United Railroads. who authorized
HIM to engage assistants and paid him.
II was during the trial. he declared
that he spoke to Patrick Calhoun, who
authorized him 10 engage an automobile
30 follow Burns, motorcycles having
failed in the work.
Treachery Is Alleged
Helms said he had induced +. A. |
Platt, Burns employc, TO furnish him !
with copies and originals Of letters, telc |
grams and reports on jurors from |
Burns Office. Abbott, according 10 the |
witness. paid Platt 5000 month from !
the middle Of 1907 until August 81, I
1908. during which time. he alleged, |
Plat supplied the kilograms in code !
and otherwise from operatives who were |
following Eugene II, Smjtz, the former
mayor then i'm Europe. mud from the |
men who were seeking a. X. De!twclcr,
the indicted telephone maguatc. The |
witness said that Abbott offered TO give
Platt SO extra If he would secure a
copy of n letter from Burns 10 Frank
4. Leach superintendent Of tho mint.
who had supplied the prosecution with
information relative TO the payment of
$1,000 to the United Railroads in This
city.
Rudolph Sprcckels, after brief
cross examination today. was excused
until tomorrow. when he agreed 10 pro-
ducc the accounts of money he has cX-
pended in aid of the prosecution, as
requested by the defense.