The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-24
CALHOUN TRIAL IS
SENSAT|ON-MAKER
Revelations of the Past Give
Promise Of More Bitter
Contentious.
UNLIMITED RESOURCES
BEHIND BOTH SIDES
Question of Courts Right to
Open Sealed Documents Now
Important Issue.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23.-Reve-
lations Of alleged conspraeies in the
San Francisco bribery graft cases, plots
and counter-plots, double dealing and
diamond-cut-d diamond methods OF
opposing detectives in the obtaining of
evidence that read like page from
cold Sleuth'' or Chick Carter" ac-
cusations of perjury by attorneys for
the defense; countcr-charges that eff
fcSts were made TO bribe witnesses;
reference TO tho dynamiting of the home
Of the prosecution S star witness and
dramatic situations when half dozen
belligerent lawyers were on thor feet
at the same time, and spectators held
their breath with expectancy, which
formed sensational chapter last week
in the trial of Patrick Calhoun, prcsie
dent of the United Railroads, charged
with bribery. give promise Of still fur
ther sensations when the case is re-
sumed tomorrow morning.
Six Months of Work
The trial, which is nearing the sixth
month of It's progress, has been produc-
tive of more sensational testimony than
any Of the bribery graft eases tried
since the expose of municipal corruption
in Sau Francisco in the fall Of 1906 and
promises TO become the longest crimi-
nal trial in the west. perhaps the long
est ever held in the United States: With
practically unlimited financial backing
behind the prosecution and defense, the
case has been bitterly fought, not only
since January u, the date when the
work of empaneling a Jury began, but,
according to testimony given last week,
detectives for the two sides began to
match wits In preparation as far back
as the spring Of 1907, when John Helms,
the former United States secret service
agent. so be declared under direction
of the defendant, organized "fying
squadron of detectives on motorcy
| cles to shadow William J, Burns, head
OF the secret service forces of the pros,
ecution
When the trial is resumed tomorrow
Judge William B. Lawlor will be called
upon 10 decide whether or not he has
authority in defiance of two restrain
| ing orders of other courts of similar
| jurisdiction, 10 break the seals on
| package alleged to contain documents
| stolen from, Burns IS Office and found in
| the safe of William Abbott, general at
| torney for the United Railroads, in a
raid under search warrant in the legal
Offices Of the street railway corpora.
| ton.
May Disregard Injunction.
These documents. 1t is alleged by the
| prosecution, were given by one OF
| Burns s agents. who had access to them,
| and who. according 10 Helms IS testi-
mony, was in the pay of the United
| Railroads. to Helms, who said he turned
them over to Abbott.
Helms. who. according to his own
testimony, later entered the employ of
Burns. and for a time was receiving
5000 month from fhe United Rail.
roads and $40 day and expenses from
the prosecution. will be recalled to the
Judge Lawlor hold that he can lawfully
disregard the cnioining orders of two
| other superior Judges. and place the pa.
pers in evidence. Helms Will be fol-
lowed by other detectives VINO, he testi-
fed. were present when efforts were
made to dissuade him from appearing
as witness in the case for the prose
cution, Foundation also was laid by
Francis j, Honey, the prosecutor. to
make inquiry into the dynamiting last
spring of the home of James l.. Gala
CHER. the star witness for the prosecu-
ton in all the bribery graft cases.
With the new turn in The case, it is
doubtful whether argument will be
even if the defense should not offer any
evidence.
SO crowded has been the courtroom
tho past week that the six bluecoats
and dozen detectives and bodyguards on
duty VIII he increased by still strong
er detail Of police IN uniform and plain
clothes.