The San Francisco call., 1910-07-24
WITNESSESARE
BANE Of CHICO
NORMAL TRIAL
Some Refuse to Answer, While
Others Fail to Appear at
the Hearing
Railroad Detective in Charge
of Collecting Evidence
for Prosecution

tiOn unless you discontinued your Wis
. its to her residence?'
The girl told me that Doctor Van
Lew had threatened to write such
+. letter. but she did not discontinue go
ing with me on that account"
Ranker stoutly denied that he was
actuated by any motives of revenge in
testifying against Doctor Van Liew,
saying that despite the troubles with
him he held the old professor in genial
. regard and esteem.
.. During the taking of Ranker's testi-
: mony Attorney General Webb and Trus-
tee +. A Warren locked horns. A ques-
.tion came up as to the advisability of
allowing as evidence statements writ
ten out by the witness.
What is it?" asked Warren "Testi-
lnony along the line we have been hear
. ing? If so We might as well kill time
. and listen TO it"
!: If any member Of this board said
Webb angrily, thinks we are killing
; aime I refuse TO ask another question
-+or bring another witness on the stand.
= i object to such remarks from any one"
!. Warren Stands Ground
M Webb" said Warren. when
referred 10 killing time 1 had in mind
that this trial was set for $3.50 O'Clock
this morning. and you did not put in an
. appearance until within FIVE minutes
of 10. say we have been wasting and
+cklling time by such tactics
:. The clash over. Ranker, in continu-
- ing his testimony, said he saw DR.. Van
LEV emerging from a place which he
> knew to his positive knowledge to be
. rear Of saloon. He admitted, how
ever. that his only reason for think
ing that the rear room was q gambling
house was on account of hearing voices
there which gave him the impression
that the persons inside were gambling.
What the words were he could not
recollect Asked by Attorney Seymour
as TO the truth of the report that he
had been thrown out of the saloon
:. short time ago., on appearing there in
an intoxicated condition, Ranker de-
MED il emphatically.
On Ranker's leaving the stand there
was a halt in the proceedings on ac-
= count Of the lack Of witnesses for the
prosecution.
Webb Alleges Deterrent
There seems to be some deterrent
endeavor,' said Webb. Many Of the
witnesses who were willing to testify
yesterday seemed to have changed their
minds today. Others can not be found.
j do not know why they have changed
their opinions over night, but they evil
IDENTIFY seem TO have done So
After a delay J. W. Jewell. a furni-
ture dealer was put on the stand and
testified TO Van Lew having bad rep
utatiOn. He became exceedingly peeV-
ish during the cross examination. II
don't see what the dickens have to do
with this case" he stormed.
Charles Baker, a resident of Chico
for 32 years testified to the same effect.
A sensation was caused by the evidence
of J. G. Martein, janitor of the school
for il years.
Il have never seen Doctor Van Lew
take drink in my life he said, but
there have been occasions when
thought him under the influence OF
liquor. I have often ca ught the odor
of liquor about his person. On a grad
uatiOn day he asked me to get him a
bottle Of whisky telling me he was not
feeling well, and certainly he didzlook
very sick and worn-out."
Witnesses Are Tardy
Biggs testimony followed and then
came another halt brought about by
d. the appearance of witnesses. Webb
endeavOred TO have the defense bring
in its witnesses TO tide over the laps.
but the latter refused, saying that they
would not know how to answer the
charges until they had been presented
Sn a proper manner.
We raise no technical objections"
said eymOur, we but demand what is
right and just We waived aside from