The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1909-05-25
Detectiue Tells of In
Oestigation ofGal-
lagher Affair
INTENT TO KILL
Heney Attempts to Show That De-
tense Sought to Suppress Evidence
by Means of Assassination and In
ferential Charge Is Branded "FaIse
as Help by Defendants Attorney.

GAN FRANCISCO, May 24.-Francis
j. Heney, prosecutor in the trial of
Patrick Calhoun, president of the
United Railroads, went into the camp
of the defense for several CT his wit
nesses today, and in consequence the
proceedings were embittered by strife
between counsel and continual skir-
mishes between Mr.. Heney and the re-
luctant and hostile subjects of inter
rogation. From the manner in which
the case was conducted today it ap-
peared that the state was approaching
the end of it's long roll of witnesses
and hopes were expressed that an
other fortnight would end the trial,
which entered today upon it's twen-
tieth week.
This afternoons session which pro-
duced virtually all it's important tes-
timony of the day, was devoted to the
examination of Thomas Gibson, a de-
tective in the employ of the United
Railroads, and Luther Brown, a Los
Angeles attorney who had been active
in the defense. Mr.. Heney asked Glib
son to explain his part in the investi-
cation of the dynamite explosion
which wrecked the Oakland home of
James L. Gallagher, one of the chief
witnesses for the prosecution and i'm
periled the lives of Gallagher and
seven other inmates of the house. Mr.
Heney's questions carried many
charges that Gibson denied, but the
witness admitted that he had been
directed to look into the affair by
Thornwall Mutually, assistant to Mr..
Calhoun. When asked what he dis
covered, Gibson said:
Il discovered that two men were
arrested and held in Oakland for a
couple of weeks and that one of these
men had bought 10 pounds of dyna-
mite. His name was Wilhelm, and l
supposed he was working for William
j. Burns"
What report of the matter did you
make to William Abbott?" asked Mr..
Heney.
Il told him that l thought Burns
and Wilhelm had a hand in it and
that the explosion was brought about
to create a feeling against Mr.. CAL
houn in his trial." said the witness.
Did you think Burns wanted to
kill Gallagher" asked the prosecutor.
Il did not" replied Gibson. Il had
reason to believe that the people who
lived in the house were all in the
back yard by arrangement when the
explosion occurred"
Mr.. Heney then asked Gibson if he
had not attempted to interfere with
Burns when the latter returned from
the east and began an investigation OF
the dynamiting. The defense inter-
posed an objection and Mr.. Heney
charged that an attempt was made to
silence Gallagher by assassinating
him and that the agents of the United
Railroads were instrumental in the
effort to suppress evidence OF the
crime.
Stanley Moore of the defense char
acterized the charges as False as
hell" declaring that dynamiting was
a stock issue of the prosecution to be
lugged in against every defendant.
Secretary Francis, who followed Glib
son on the stand, admitted having re-
ceived from Helms, formerly connect
ed with the United Railroads detect
i've bureau, a filing cabinet and
quantity of documents which Helms
alleged were reports on jurors and
other matters distracted from the Of
flee of Burns. He testified that he
had received money from Abbott to
pay Helms and other men engaged in
similar work.
Luther G. Browns appearance as
a witness aroused the interest of the
crowded courtroom.
The witness declared that he had
never arranged for Alexander Latham,
once a chauffeur for Abraham Ruef,
to enter the employ of his father-in
law and that he never knew of such
employment, which was regarded as
an important issue because of the
fact that Latham now is awaiting trial
on a charge of perjury alleged to have
been committed in the Ruef trial.
Brown admitted his activities as a
detective for the United Railroads. His
examination had just got we'll under
way when the hour for adjournment
came.
OPENING GREAT TTTNNET.