The San Francisco call., 1909-06-03
WOMAN KEEPS
WITNESS FROM
CALHOUN TRIAL
Wife of Detective Formerly Em-
pIOyed by Defense Admits She
Baked Process Servers
StenOgraphers Admit Copying
Papers for Helms, but Ham
lin Refuses to Testify
By w. RUSSELL COLE

Ladies day was celebrated at the
calhoun trial yesterday. five women
witnesses being among those examined
during two choppy sessions.
OF the five women two. at least,
made statements which bordered on
the sensational Miss Helen +. Hitch
ings:sa charming young school teacher
Of Harris. Humboldt county. corrobo-
rated. John H. Helms testimony con-
cerning the telephone conversation
which he held with wingield S. Lamb
while. stopping over in Harris on his
way. t6 this city recently, and added
that AN attempt had been made 10 Sc
cure her signature to an affidavit con-
tanning a distorted account Of what
she had seen and heard.
WITNESS KEPT OUT OF CITY
Mrs. Minnie Morgan. wife of Mike"
Morgan. a former Calhoun detective
who has successfully evaded a subpoena
issued more than a week ago TO Sc
cure his attendance as witness, ad-
mitted that she was doing everything
in her power TO keep her husband out
OF reach Of the subpoena servers and
that she had sent him money with
~ MlGA 10 AEdNG LlAt NlEAl44Le u san
Francisco.
The subject of the stolen jury re-
ports was uppermost throughout the
day and caused heated scene between
Attorney Earl Rogers Of the defense
and John II. Helms The latter was
on the witness stand. having finished
his examination Of the bundle Of re-
ports taken from Abbott's safe under
search warrant and identified a num-
Der OF the sheets as copies made under
his direction OF reports stolen from
Burns office.
Did you ever see any of these re-
ports in the courtroom during the i'm
parchment Of the juries in any Of the
Ford trials?" asked Heney
Yes. sir answered Helms. Il saw
several OF those sheets in the hands
OF the defendants attorneys and saw
them being Used in the examination of
jurors. I also saw Mr.. Calhoun look
ing over some OF them
Don't YOU know that the attorneys
Cor the defense had no reports on
jurors and used no reports in examin-
ing talesmen during the Ford trials ?'
was Rogers frst question TO the wit
ness on cross examination.
Il have testified to the contrary and
I stend by it," retorted Helms. Il
know that you did use those very re-
lJAl - nAAANil YOU nave now ana YOU
know IL just as well as 1 do
Don't you know that you perjured
yourself when you gave that testi-
mony?" demanded Rogers. glaring at
the witness.
LAWLOR REBUKES ROGERS
No. ] doTt / know that what /
said is true" shouted Helms, spring.
ing TO his feet and shaking his finger
al Rogers. Moreover. I'm getting
tired Of these charges of perjury
You've called me that before. and
won't take ii from you any longer. If
you think you can prove me guilty of
perjury, try il, but don't you use that
word again until you have"
Heney interrupted the storm with a
demand that unless Rogers modified his
tone and manner toward the witness
the court punish him for contempt.
Judge Lawlor ordered Helms to take
his seat, and stopping another outburst
from Rogers. said:
The witness must be protected in
his rights, and il such language is
used again while I am presiding here
somebody viii go TO Jail"
on direct examination Helms testi-
FED that Eugene A. Platt. who was
stealing reports from Burns office. had
told him he needed some skeleton kevs
10 open the safe compartments and
taDlnFNs III NHlch the reports were
kept in Burns Office. The witness said
he reported this 10 william NJ. Ahbott
and that the latter told him that he
wanted the papers badly and wanted
Platt to get everything he could. The
keys were secured and Abbott paid
the bill
Rogers questioned Helms closely
concerning his Masonic affiliations un-
I'll this line Of inquiry was brought to
a halt by the court.
OBJECTION TO AFFIDAVIT
Miss Helen F. Hitchings told of see
ing Helms with Policemen Gon and
Lorentzen at Harris, Mendocino coun-
ty, May 9, and remembered seeine,
Helms go TO the telephone at tbe
hotel in response TO a call received
during lunch She could hear the CON
versation, she said, but paid no ar
tention to il.
About week later, Mss Hitch
ings said. a. J. Monroe the E,rel-s
attorney who sent Wingfield s. Lamb to
negotiate with Helms. drove TO HarriS
in an automobile and had conversa-
tion with her. He asked her what bsd
occurred at the hotel who were with
Helms. whether the latter was dr,,nL
whether he was quarreling with his
companions and If the latter could baTe
heard the conversation which he had
over the telephone.
Mrs. Minnie Morgan. wife of Nike
Morgan, the missing witness. said thai
she had received money from Detec-
tive Melrose of Calhouns stan. but did
not remember how much Asked IL
she knew where her husband was ar
the present time. she said that she did
not. but that she had heard from him
last Friday. at which time he was on
his ranch at San Martin. She said that
She had burned tho Iafter f-oy,, - -