The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-19
1t Began January IL and Has
Lasted 15S Days.
BREAKS ALL RECORDS
Transcript of Proceedings Makes
4,25O,OOO Words.
Expense Is Estimated at Over
$4,000.

San Francisco, June 19.-Concluding
the greatest issue of San Francisco's
graft campaign, the case of Patrick
Calhoun. millionaire president of the
United Railroads. charged with brib-
cry, was given to the jury shortly be-
fore noon today after trial that dates
back to January IL, 1909. Assistant
District Attorney Francis ]. Heney, in
a speech in court that opened an hour
before the usual time. added materially
10 an, argument that had already ex-
tended over period of fifteen hours
before Judge w. H. Lawler began his
charge to the jury a few minutes be-
tore IL o'clock. Every faction and eye
shade of bitter sentiment that has
arisen since the overthrow of Boss
Abraham Rueff was reported to the
overwhelming throng that stormed the
doors or Carpenters hall when court as
Sembled this morning. Mounted police
men charged into the crowds again
and again and a full company of pa
trolmen inside the building and out
was scarcely able to preserve order
and regulate admission to the court
room.
When Mr.. Heney faced the Jury for
the final installment of his address the
hall was packed to suffocation, men
and women prominent in railroad life
who had fought for entrance, counted
themselves fortunate to have the privil-
ege of standing in remotest corners,
while in the streets, hundreds were
marsha1led in line by the police or
stood patiently at the ends of the
block, denied even the privilege of re-
naming in the vicinity of the hall.
Trial Lasted 15s Days.
Not alone. because of exciting bitter
ness that has marked many of its stages
but because of it's length, has the trial
been a notable one in western history.
Between January IL of this year when
the attempt to secure the first jury
man was instituted. and today, when
the case was given to the IL men finally
selected, five months and a week elaps
ed and 15S days had interviewed. fOf
this period DO days had been devoted to
court sessions. In this respect the case
outstrips every record, including the
victed after rs days devoted to actual
court procedure.
thirteenth juror. Michael Murphy.
was added to the regular panel of IL
pectatfon that his services might be
required by emergency. Three months
and two days were necessary to uuali-
fly the 1S jurors. OF the 2,310 citizens
summoned by the sheriff, LAB were act
ually subjected to Interrogation by the
attorneys in the case, peremptory chal-
lenges were first exercised on March
3, and since that date six members of
the jury have been in custody of a
court bailiff, residing at the ST. Francis
hotel. Four other members of the panel
have been separated from their fani-
lies and business ever since March 81.
and the others since April IA. when the
thirteenth juror was qualified. The
typewriter record of the case amounted
to 2.500,000 words when the jury was
completed. Judge. attorney and wit
pesses have added another million and
three-quarters to the bulky transcript.
since that time, making a total of A.
ESQ 900 words.
The cost of the trial. including the
maintenance of jurors, a special police
detail, transcript and the usual expen-
ses of the court for so great a period
can only be conjectured, but 1t is esti-
mated that it will exceed $50, 600.
Mr.. Heney brought his agument to
a close three minutes ahead of the al
1otted time. A moment before he WAS
engaged in a review of the testimony
of supervisor. Judge Lawlor remind
ed that sthe remaining moments were
few and Mr.. Heney, throwing aside a
quantity of notes yet unreferred to,
said:
Gentlemen I thank you for your at
confident and expectant that San Fran
cisco will have no cause to question
the good faith of your verdict, what
ever it may be and that the state OF
California will learn from your conduct
that we do not have to bring before
a jury the men who saw a briber ia
pass the money to secure a couvtc
ton and that any amount of circum-
stantial evidence will not be treated
as insufficient when a wealthy man is
on trial, although a supervisor-Coffey
for instance-can be convicted in a
few minutes
After recess of five minutes the
doors were locked and the Judge be-
gan his instructions to the Jury.
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