The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-05-24
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN
CALHOUN BRIBERY GRAFT
TRIAL ANTICIPATED.
HELMS MAY Be RECALLED
Judge Wal Be Called Upon to Decide
Whether tteney May Disregard Order
of Court Of Equal Jurisdiction and
Open Alleged Stolen Papers Taken
From Burns. -. tt -.

III San Francisco, May 2S-nevelations
Francisco bribery-graft cases, plots
and counterplots, double dealing and
diamond -cut-diamond" methods of
opposing detectives in the obtaining
of evidence, that read like page
from "Old Sleuth'''~or Mick Carter;
accusations of perjury by attorneys
for the defense, charges that efforts
were made to bribe witnesses, refer
ence to the dynamiting of the home
of the prosecutions star witness, and
dramatic situations when half a
dozen belligerent lawyers We're on
their feet at the same time and spec
tators held their breath with expec-
fancy, which formed a sensational
chapter last week in the trial of Pat
rick Calhoun, president of the United
railroads, charged with bribery, gives
promise of still further sensations
when the case is resumed tomorrow
morning.
The trial, which is nearing the sixth
month of it's progress, has been pro-
ductive of more sensational testimony
than any of the bribery graft cases
tried since the exposure of municipal
corruption in San Francisco in the
fall of 1906 and promises to become
the longest criminal trial in the his
tory of the west, perhaps the longest
in the United States. With practi
cally unlimited financial backing be-
hind prosecution and defense, the
case has been bitterly fought, not
only since January 10, the date when
the work of empanelIing a jury be-
gan, 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 he de-
clared, under direction of the defend
ant, organized a flying squadron of
detectives on motor cycles, to shadow
William ]. Burns, head of the secret
service forces of the prosecution.
Must Decide.
When the trial is resumed tomor-
row, Judge William p. LaWlor will be
called upon to decide whether or not
he has authority, in defiance of two
restraining orders of other courts of
similar jurisdiction, to break the seals
on a package alleged to contain docu-
ments stolen from Burns office and
found in the safe of William M. Abb
bott, general attorney for the United
railroads, in raid under a search war;
rant on the legal offices of the street
railway corporation.
These d0rumentS if ia q a1lao,ad 1,v
the prosecution, were taken by one
of Burns agents, who had access to
them, and who, according to Helms
testimony, was in the employ of the
United railroads, to Helms, who said
he turned them over to Abbott |
Helms, who, according to his own tes-
timony, later entered the employ of |
Burns and for a time was receiving |
5000 a month from the United rail-
roads and $40 and expenses from the
prosecution, will be recalled to the
stand to identify the documents
should Judge Lawlor hold that he can
lawfully disregard the enjoining or
ders of two other superior judges and |
place the papers in evidence.
Other Detectives.
Helms will be followed by other de-.
tectives who, he testified We're pres
ent when efforts We're made to dis
suade him from appearing as a wit
ness in the case for the prosecution.
Foundation also was laid by Francis
j. Heney, the prosecutor, to make in
quiries into the dynamiting last
spring of the home of James l.. Gall
lagher, the star witness for the prose-
cution. in all the brbery-graft cases.
With the new turn in the case, it
is doubtful whether argument will be
reached before some time next week
even if the defense should not offer
any evidence.
So crowded has been the court room
the past week that the six blue coats
and dozen detectives and bodyguards
on duty will be increased by still
stronger detail of police in uniform
and plain. clothes.