The San Francisco call., 1909-06-10
CLOSE OF BIG
GRAFT TRIAL
NEAR AT HAND
Sensational Evidence Brought
Out in Testimony of
New Witnesses

United Railroads Treasurer
on the Stand
United Railroads had ever delivered TO
him any large sum OF currency, and
said that he never knew that s200. 600
had been telegrsphed 10 the local mint
on MAY %, 1906 at Calhoun's order.
In regard 10 the entry in his books
covering the money sent from the east
the witness stated that Calhoun asked
him 10 credit the United Railroads in
vestment company with $20O.000 on the
books of the United Railroads, explain
ing that this was money he had bor-
rowed OF the holding concern The
entry was made on August %. on which
day TREY /. Ford drew the final in
stallment Of 100000 from the mint.
In order TO balance this credit on
his books. Starr declared that he had
taken a receipt for 100000 from Ford
and that 10 the best Of his recollection
Ford had later given vouchers covering
part OF the amount. The witness,
however. could not state the amount
Of any OF the vouchers or the account
inE made Of the money. nor could he
say " nat DdQ become OF lAC vouchers.
Asked concerning his sudden transfer
10 New York after he had refused, on
instruction Of William NJ. Abbott. TO
testify before the grand jury. the wit
ness said he had been ordered east by
Calhoun himself.
Calhoun Sent Me East"
ABOUT June Is. 1907. Calhoun called
me into his private ONCE and told me
clared Starr. He said it was neces-
ssry to- have some one in the east who
was familiar with conditions here.
expected at that time to remain only
about so days. but the panic and the
failure Of the Knickerbocker trust
company caused me to remain"
do you remember whether your talk
with Calhoun occurred the day follow
ing the conviction of Eugene Z.
Schmitz?" inquired Heney.
II don't remember" answered the
witness
Starr said it was not on instructions
from Calhoun but because OF the ill
ness OF his wife that he returned TO
san Francisco two weeks ago. He said
he had applied for the transfer in
April, as he considered his work in
the east finished at that time, but had
received no response to the suggestion.
asked the witness II il We're not true
that large sums of money had been
paid in 1905 to James Farley, who had
charge OF the company's strike break
ers. Heney objected at once to the
inference that any part of the $500. 600
drawn by Ford from the mint had been
devoted TO such a use
Would Call Farley
He declared that if this was the
purpose or contention of the defense
he would call Farley himself TO the
stand and would show that all money
paid 70 him was put through the regu-
lar banking channels. He also asked
permission to refute such an inference
by producing IN court all vouchers in
the company's possession signed by
Ford. The defense. without denying
the purpose OF the testimony sought
objected strenuOusly TO the proposal to
bring these vouchers into court. and
after an extended and bitter argument
the matter was taken under advise
ment by Judge Lawlor until this morn
ing.
Another important witness examined
yesterday was Mrs. Alex Latham, wife
Of Ruefs former cha uffeur, who was
put upon the stand after her husband
had been called and had refused 10
testify on the ground that he might in
criminate himself. From Mrs. Dathan's
lips fell the story of how herself and
husband had been taken on two long
eastern trips by H. H. Clark, Luther
9. Browns father in law, in order to
prevent Latham from being called as
a witness in the graft cases. The pur-
pose OF the trip was not admitted by
the witness, but she testified that when
she and her husband left with Mr. and
Mrs. Clark in the automobile in July
1907. Luther Brown was at Clarks
home IN San Lesndro at the time of
their departure.
On the first trip the party went TO
salt Lake City and ogden. and later
10 Denver. Latham remained in
Clark's employ until December of that
year when he returned to San Fran
cisco Later, on the second trip, her
husband went alone. but she Joined him
in Denver. They went from there TO
New York and then returned to Port
land. from which city Latham was ex-
trsdited. On all the trips with the
Clsrks Mr.. and Mrs. Latham lived at
the same hotels with them.
And while your husband was work
ing as chauffeur for Mr. Clark did the
latter furnish both you and him with
board and lodging" asked Heney.
Yes. sir" replied the witness
DO you know what your husbands
SslsrN was.
Yes. IL was $3.50 a month"
Alexander Latham Sr.. father of the
chauffeur. corroborated all the essen
tials OF Mrs. Lathan's testimony, and
Frank NJ. Ish, from whom Clark pur-
chased the automobile used on the
eastern trips. added a strong bit OF tes-
timony. Latham was his chauffeur at
the time the first hurried trip was de-
termined upon, and when the car
passed into Clark's hands Latham went
with it,
Wanted Car in Hurry
TT was not exactly a purchase, but
q trade" declared Ish. CLARK was
anxious TO get the car and wanted it
IN a hurry. He proposed that I turn
II over 10 him at once and agreed to
replace IL with g new one Of the same
make. model and horsepower. He car
ried out his agreement and ] got the
new car for the old one"
DO you know what his purpose
was and why he was in such a hurry?"
oueried Heney. The question was OBJ
Jected TO and stricken out before the
witness could answer
An interesting line Of testimony was
given by Charles F. Cordes, a former