The San Francisco call., 1909-02-27

mer Supervisor Fred P Nicholas, named
as the official who received the bribe
from the defendant in the case on trial,
and also for Alex Latham, the witness
for the state. who twice fed in order
to escape giving his testimony and
who is now under indictment for per-
jury.
Despite this statement Attorney Earl
Rogers asked but few perfunctory
questions and passed the Juror to
Heney. Rogers last question brought
an answer from Messer that if he were
in Calhoun's position he would be will
ing to accept Il jurors having his own
views and state of mind
Yes, and you'd be mighty glad of
the chance to do So wouldn't you?"
asked Heney as a starter.
Messer replied in the Affirmative,
but when Heney attempted to probe
his true feelings concerning the prose
cution of the graft cases he found it a
difficult task. Messer admitted that he
believed most of the bribery cases
were holdups. and had never heard any
contrary views expressed. He par
ried Heney's questions and. although
the examination became furious for a
moment or two. definite admissions on
which a challenge might be submitted
were not Forthcoming. This was the
status of the matter when adjourn
ment was taken
Aaron Miller. one of the talesmen
examined yesterday morning created
a breath of passing interest when he
told Of a conversation that he had held
with former Supervisor Andrew Will
son at the time the Home telephone
franchise matter was pending before
the board Of supervisors. Miller was a
stock holder in the Pacific States tele-
phone and telegraph company and
asked Wilson IL the Home franchise
was going to be awarded.
Wilson answered sme," said Miller
that the company was tight and |
told him that If / had the say about it
I'd give the supervisors $4,000 apiece
He said that 1 would be surprised If
knew how little the members of the
board. would be satisfied with"
CALLS 1T PERSECUTION
HeHey stopped a relation Of further
particulars of the incident by object
ing that it had nothing to do with the
matter in hand. He suggested that
Miller might be needed some time as
a character witness.
The old argument over the extent.
to which the graft prosecutions should
be carried was hauled out of its hole
and busted during the inquiry that
was put to Christian o. G. Miller OF
2O01 Pacific avenue, president of the
Paclrc nSntlnS corporation. Miller
was passed by Rogers as soon as he
expressed himself as having strong
sympathy for Calhoun. Heney took
the talesman to task on his views, and
a previous converse ton which they
had held was gone into. Miller was OF
the opinion that the trial of Calhoun
amounted to "a persecution rather
than a prosecution and after long
examination, which developed storm
signals between @the attorneys at
times, was excused.
= other talesmen who were examined
yesterday and excused for cause were
Cassius a. Hutton, Nathan Lauter.
Frank c. lie Bono. Charles Huyck.
Henry j. Mahoney, Frank r. Martel.
Clarence M. Mann. Donald McRaes
Fred X. Houston. Frank NJ. Maroon.
Louis Raimers, Frank Z. Mayhem.
James Teggert. William b. McGerry.
Harvey A. Marvin. John NJ. Mallon. Lee
c. Marshall B. L. Meininger f. Ather-'
ton Macondray. Joseph NJ Loewe,
Emanuel MandeI. Augustus H Loeb
baum. August f. Meyer and Daniel w.
Mason.
There VIII be no session Of the trial
today, continuance having been
taken until Monday morning.