The San Francisco call., 1909-03-10
JORDAN SAYS DRINK
MADE MIND BLANK
Soldier on Trial for Murder of
Policeman Noting Denies
knowledge Of Shooting
Defendant Pleads Injury to
Head and Sunstroke as
Causes of Weakness

That he drank himself into a state
OF oblivion and now has no remem-
brance OF the shooting Of Police Ser
geant Antoine J. F. Noting is the de-
tense raised by Thomas Jefferson Tor
dan, the soldier on trial in Judge ca
baniss' court for murder. He took
the witness stand yesterday afternoon
and so testified.
Jordan said his memory was a blank
from shortly after j o'clock until IL
clock on the morning OF January s.
Wnen ne woke up 10 find himself be-
ing photographed in the city prison.
a long cross examination by Special
PROSECUTOR Hiram ". johnson failed
10 shake his story.
Jordan told in detail OF his visits to
various Barbary coast saloons and
olyes during the five or six hours pre-
ceding the killing of Noting.
Jordan told OF his upbringing on an
OHIO farm, and said that he did not
know the taste Of intoxicating liquor
in his young days. lie said that he
once had sunstrOke and on another
occasion was hit on the head with a
-oS- Ia very hot weather he always
felt dizzy
An affidavit by Jordan. which was
not read 70 the jury, stated that II his
acQuaintances in Ohio could be called
as witnesses they would state that he
was a man OF good habits.
Frank L Green. the city toxicologist.
caLleo as an expert witness. stated
mat consumed ia great quantities.
alcohol was a poison.
Charles H. Fairan. counsel for Jor-
can, SAID that medical witness would
oe called this morning TO testify as to
tne result on the human system Of
large quantities Of whisky.
"a fn1
number OF oned officers
and privates Of the One Hundred and
Forty eighth artillery testified that
Jordan's reputation for peace and
Quietness was good.
Anna Smith, girl in one Of the
resorts Jordan visited the night Of
the shooting. said he was not as drunk
as some Of the other soldiers.
Thomas Young on Trial
The taking Of testimony in the sec
ond trial Of Thomas o. Young, charged
with the murder of Policeman William
Helms, began in Judge DUNES court
yesterday. Young is Jointly accused
of the crime with his brother. James
o. Young. His first trial resulted in
disagreement
The shooting Of Helms took place
outside the o * saloon. in Pacific street
ON the night OF June Z. 1908. The
Young brothers had been turned out
If The place, and there was a dis
turbauce on the sidewalk when Helms
appeared on the scene. The prOsecu-
zion says James Young handed Thomas
Young a revolver and that, while
lying on the Sidewalk Thomas Young
shot Helms
May Beckwith, waitress, testified
that she saw Thomas Young flourish
ing a pistol She struck It down and
il exploded, burning YOUng's trousers.
The revolver was taken from him.
Phoebe Emery. another waitress. tes-
uihed that James Young passed a re
Volver to Thomas Young.
The deposition Of James Wexler, a
sailor. was read. He said that he
saw the man lying on the sidewalk
Ere the shot that killed Helms. The
man who fred the shot wore red
necktie and his trousers had been
burned, Wexler stated. The prosecu-
ton has proved that Thomas Young
wore a red necZtie.
The trial viii be resumed this
morning.