The San Francisco call., 1910-11-26
PATIENCE OF JOB
NEEDED IN TRIAL
Mrs. Isabella Martin Taxes
Court to the Point of
Evaporation
Wrathfully Calls BABY John"
a Liar on Failing to Under
mine Testimony
By MARY AsHE MILLER

life an unhappy thing yesterday for
Mrs. Isabella Martin, whose second
trial for dynamiting Judge Ogdens
house is going on in Oakland. Mrs.
Martin does not impress the casual
observer as being remarkable for dis
erection in the minor things of life.
She went rather decidedly too far yes
terday morning when she told Judge
! Wells fatty that she would not when
he ordered her to be quiet.
He has heretofore displayed a for
bearance which would have done credit
to Job, but that was too much. Leav-
ing the bench he faced Mrs Martin
and said:
Mrs. Martin. if you do not obey me
and keep still l will find way to
silence you. I want you to understand
that you are subject to the same rules
in this court as any attorney. and
when the court speaks you will main
tain silence"
During the noon recess Judge Wells
had private talk with Mrs. Martin,
In which he warned her that while
he was giving her every possible OPP
portunity to defend herself there were
certain rules of the court which she
must obey and that she was injuring
her case by failing to do so. During
the afternoon she was more subdued
although her habit of making audible
asides for the benefit of the jurors
brought down the judicial wrath sew
eral times.
At one time Mrs. Martin began in
wandering way, John, did you ever
at any time to any one ever say" when
Judge Wells interrupted her.
Now,Mrs. Martin, you are beginning
to get into deep water. Make your
questions based on something definite"
Now, Judge Wells, you let Judge
Frisk ask that question more'n a hum
dred times" pouted Mrs Martin.
We'll" said Judge Wells grimly, as
he blotted his signature on some docu-
ment, IF we let Judge Frick ask that
a hundred times we won't do it any
more
Mrs Martin tried all through the
day to prove John untruthful or make
him contradict himself Finally. fail
ing utterly and exasperated beyond
endurance by the boys calm unfalter-
ing replies, she faced him wrathfully
and said:
John, you are a liarl-
Something of a sensation followed in
the courtroom and Assistant District
Attorney Hynes, who watches over
Baby John like the proverbial hen,
made a strenuous objection to so flag
rant a breach of the ethics of pro-
cedure. Judge Wells wearIy repri-
manded Mrs. Martin for the some hun
drdth time.
Mrs. Martin and John get the first.
second and third persons badly mixed
in the game of former mother and son,
witness, defendant and attorney which
they are carrying on. Although they
are apparently trying to conduct them
selves as casual acquaintances, there
creeps into Mrs. Martins manner of
questioning and extracting answers
cn = - GT1I - l., 1,-sI1
spank attitude. John evidently has a
personal satisfaction which could be
the outgrowth of no recent acquaint-
ance in being aggravating in his ans
wers.
The boys cIeverness in answering is
remarkable and is the cause of the
greatest amount of comment among
those who hear the case. Mrs. Martin
follows closely the transcript of appeal
up and make him contradict former
statements. There is in Johns rather
deep, scornful voice bad effect on the
Martin nerves.
In the afternoon she tried to make
him acknowledge that the % pounds
of powder brought down from Weaver
Vile in 1903 and used in 1907 to blow
up Judge Ogden's house, according to
his testimony, was powder which he
had secured and was hiding from her.
The powder was divided, part being
under the Martin house in West street
and the rest in De Fremery park,
where it was found after Johns con-
fession.
This division, John says, was that
Mrs. Martin might blow up Judge
George Samuels' house and then have
no powder near her house as incrimin-
ating evidence.
Now, John Martin" she said, isn't
it a fact that you were hiding that
powder from Mrs. Martin and you were
afraid she would find it?" On top of
this she accused him ofshaving hidden
a box of dynamite caps in the pantry
which she discovered later.
For the first time during the day
John began to show signs of temper.
His eyes glared sullenly, his cheeks
flushed, and his voice took on a deeper
note
said, you knew the caps were there,
that the fuse was there, and you knew
what they were there for
Mrs. Martin changed the subject.
She said a little later: John, if you
were the goody goody boy you claim
you are, why didn't you go and ring the
bell at Judge Ogden's house and tell
him about the bomb you blew up his
house with?"
Again Johns temper was aroused a
trffle, but he controlled himself to say:
Because | was afraid of you. You
know that you told me if l ever told
on you I'd be shot on the witness stand
by you or Henry Hoffman, or if L ever
told on you you'd bring hundreds of
people to prove / was liar and a de-
generate"
why did you tell then?" demanded
Mrs. Martin. Isn't Henry Hoffman
still at larger"
Yes said John, 4but I thought it I
over and decided that Henry Hoffman I
had more manliness than you had
and he would not do any |
such thing"
Mrs. Martin asked sneeringly if the 7
reward of $1,000 had nothing to do with /
his confession.
YOU know well enough" said the /
boy, that / had no thought of reward /
except getting away from you and lead /
ing an honest life"
Twenty-Five pounds of giant powder. |
some intimate details as to a set of I
Oxford china, more personal abuse Of
the witness the introduction of some of |
Johns letters. and the vigorous use of
a brillian pink silk handkerchief, as the I
result of her cold. were the main feat
ures of the rest of the afternoon.
Mrs Martin would be tiresome in the /
extreme if 1t were not for her Illogical
vagaries and breaking of court rules, /
and the diversion of her attempts to
get the better of John.