The San Francisco call., 1909-01-19

Adolph S. Newburgh, accused of an
attempt to purchase the vote of John
Martin Kelly, a former venireman on
the Ruef jury, yesterday faced the IL
jurors who will determine his fate
within few days. Before Judge Mu-
rasky the charges against Newburgh
will be heard during the next two days,
the real trial having begun yesterday.
The most dramatic incident that has
occurred during the trials growing out
of overzealous attempt to fix a
prospective juror in the Ruef case, oc-
CURED last night when e. A. S. Blake,
confessed jury briber, who is now atom
ing his crime with a four years SEN
tence related the story of his shame.
1t was identical with the story that he
told at the trial of Murphy, with added
dramatic features.
1t was at the close of a busy days
session of the court, which lasted un-
til past 10 o'clock last night. The
states witness had connected New
burgh in various transactions in the
attempted jury fixing plot. and under
the sting of incriminating circum-
stances the defendant quailed notice
ably
And you have been convicted of an
attempt to bribe Kelly?" asked William
Hoff Cook, the assistant district attor-
ecution.
Scarcely audibly Blake murmured.
yes" and every juror peered at the
witness.
And you have been sentenced to
four years in the states prison, have
you?" concludeds Cook.
Yes, L was sentenced to four years
in the states prison." came the reply,
less audibly than the former answer.
Rlaka CT var ot ba
room floor and then suddenly raised his
eyes and shot q quick glance at the
jurors who were paying the closest at
tention. 1t appeared for moment as
though Blake would break down, but
in the next instant the prosecution an
nounced, That's ALL" and Blake was
excused until this morning.
The short but impressive story of
Blake's downfall was listened to with
eagerness by large audience of spec
tators and several women in the room
were visibly affected by the pathetic
recital.
BLAKE LINKS NEWBURGH
In more than one transaction in the
Ruef attorneys engaged prior to the
actual attempt to lbribe Kelly, New
burgh was connected last night by
Blake. From his testimony it de-
veloped that Newburgh had almost as
much to do with the plot as Murphy.
The acquaintanceship between Murphy
and Blake resulted from Blake's intro
duction to Murphy, which was sug-
gested and carried out by Newburgh
Blake also testified that Newburgh
assisted in the securing of attorneys
and bondsmen for him after his arrest
and 1t was these men whom Blake had
never met, yet they sprung up at the
critical time when the witness was In
the midst of troub bIe-whence Blake did
not know
Again Blake related how William III.
Schooler one of the mysteriously hired
attorneys, conveyed him in an automo-
bile from the county Jail to the Pup
Restaurant in Golden Gate avenue, where
the confessed jury briber met and con-
suited with Newburgh and Murphy
This meeting was marked by much ex-
citement, but Blake was pacified. This
happened before the trial of Blake. and
at that time Murphy and Newburgh,
according to the evidence, appeared to
be chummy with Blake. When the con-
fession was made by Blake these
friends" suddenly disappeared.
The attempt was made by the Ruef
lawyers to thwart the Investigations
being made at the time of the arrest of
Blake by William J. Burns was exposed
Dy the WlLueSS, WuO OHCt more related
how acting under Newburgh and Muir
phys advice, he had sworn to a false
affidavit which, if true, would have
placed John Martin Kelly in the light
of solicitor of bribes.
USE TWO PEREMPTORIES
At noon two peremptory challenges
were exercised. one by each side. r.
Landa and c. p. Wells, the two last men
to be called from the special venire
were examined, after which the district
attorney announced that the people
were satisfied. Schlesinger raised no
objection and the jury was sworn.
Following the usual preliminary court
procedure the indictment against New
burgh was read by Clerk Horace Jack
son. Assistant District Attorney Will
liam Hoff Cook made the opening state
ment, in which he declared that the
prosecution would show that Newburgh
authorized the alleged bribe and that
the Ruef attorney had promised to give
Blake several large contracts as a re-
ward for his work in dealing with Kelly
and persuading that venireman to vote
for Ruefs acquittal. The statement
differ ed but slightly from that made
prior to the taking of testimony in the
trial of Frank J. Murphy on the same
charge. The prosecution, aims to show
definitely that Newburgh aided and
abetted or encouraged and advised" r.
A. S. Blake in an attempt to influence
John Martin Kelly.
John Martin Kelly. the Ruef venire-
man who first brought the bribery plot
to the attention of the district attorney.
was the first witness called by the prose
cution and he again related the details
of Blake's numerous visits to his office
and his offers of $500 and $1,000, for
Keilys vote of aequittal
The defense asked few short oues-
tions as to whether Kelly had ever
dealt with Newburgh in the various
Blake transactions. Kelly replied thar
he had not.
BURGLAR GOES TO PRISON
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call