The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-23
MANY WITNESSES
DECRY NEWBURGH
Attorney Schlesingef Attempts
Sarcasm, but Is Checked
by Langdon
District Attorney Asserts Ach
Hired Murphy to Bride
Jurors

fSelylng a1loSelner upon the EVIL
dence adduced in the case, District
Attorney William H. Langdon made
a forceful opening argument for the
prosecution at the trial of A. S. New
burgh yesterday morning. The case
Will be submitted to the jury at noon
today Langdon spoke for an hour.
citing innunerable instances where
Newburgh and Murphy in testifying
contradicted themselves.
Bert Schlesinger and Robert Fer
raj, attorneys for Newburgh. pursued
the same course adopted by them in
arging at the trial of Frank ]. Muir
ply. Both arguments made by these
attorneys were confined to personal
abuse and vilifcation Of the graft
prosecutors.
1t was the same old story-a trial
of f. A. S. Blake, who has already
been sentenced for jury bribing, by
the defense attorneys, who painted the
convict as the meanest of men and
the vilest. Schlesinger evaded the
issue as to Newburgh's guilt or limo
cence-and when he was not attack
ing the prosecution he was bent on
blackening the character of Blake
Schlesinger charged Langdon with all
sorts of misconduct, and Newburgh, the
defendant, was pictured as sinless
person, a talented lawyer and an in
nocent man.
The defense was dealt a severe blow
during the morning session of the
court. when additional witnesses were
called by the prosecution to shed light
upon the past misdeeds of Murphy
and Newburgh. In a brief spell about
20 citizens took the stand, some of
them despoiling badly the alleged vir-
tuous reputation of both Murphy and
his friend Newburgh. Schlesinger be-
came angry at this point and, turn
ing to Langdon; he threatened to
| show the latter up"
Go ahead and try to show me up, !"
| replied the district attorney. You
can't. I think we have shown you in
! your true colors. You at one time de-
! Tended the terrible Blake in a trial
and at that time he was all right. Now,
because he has brought a despicable
| trick home to your friends and clients,
he is the most despised man on the
face of the EARTH
Referring to Murphy, Newburgh and
Blake, Langdon termed them trio of
| unconScionable scoundrels'' and the
name grated on the ears Of the defend
ant, although Mrs. Newburgh was on
hand to comfort her spouse.
Il am not going to paint Blake as a
paragon of virtue" said Langdon. but
men of the Newburgh caliber do not
| hire honest men to bride jurors.
| The district attorney, reading aloud
| from transcripts of testimony, paused
for moment, and, without hesitancy,
declared that Henry Ach. chief OBJ
jector for Ruef. had hired Murphy for
| the express purpose of bribing jurors.
A. n. Judd, a prominent jacksonville
orchardist and Grand Army veteran.
whose past experiences with Murphy
proved the latter to be untruthful, was
asked by Schlesinger if he had ever
engaged in political difficulty with
Warren r. Porter, lieutenant governor
Of this state. He replied that he did,
but that Murphy had nothing to do
with those matters.
Among other witnesses who testified
as to the bad reputation of Murphy and
Newburgh and Blake's early career
were Richard Nugent of Nugent &
Cowen. carriage builders; C. A. Ma
comber. architect; E. S. Hutchins, real
estate; S. w. Hall, state officer of the
Maccabees; William III. Hazel; John H.
Speck, real estate man; w. H. R. Mar
tin, attorney; a. hardness of Watson
Vile; William A. Tafton, former mayor
| of Watsonville; Charles f. Jacobsen,
W. B. Floyd James N Valentine, H J.
Wood and Fred w. johnson.
Robert Ferral, one of the defend
ants attorneys, will close the -Argu-
ment in behalf of the defense this
morning, and he will be followed by
Assistant District Attorney William
Hoff Cook.