Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-06-06
FORD is MADE TO TESTIFY
HE is ASKED QUESTIONS REGARD
ING CONFESSION OF DETEc-
TIVE FRANKLIN
MANUFACTURERS INVOLVED
THEIR ASSOCIATION SAID TO BE
BACK OF MOVEMENT AGAINST
THE DEFENDANT

Los Angeles, June 6.--Chief Counsel
Rogers of the defense in the trial of
Clarence S. Darrow, for alleged jury
bribery, caused sensation at today's
session of the trial by placing Assist
ant District Attorney w. ]. Ford on
the stand and subjecting him to ra-
pid-fire examination. The sudden
move of the defense apparently was
inspired by desire to show co-opera-
ton between federal and state govern
ments in the Darrow prosecution.
Bert H, Franklin had short time
previously testified under cross exam
ination that his statement of guilt to
Ford was made at the office of Oscar
Lawler and in the latter's presence.
Lawler then was special government
prosecutor in the special investigation
of the alleged nationwide dyanimte
conspiracy, of which the blowing up
of the Times building was said to be
part. Ford objected to questions
asked the witness as to LAWYERS oc-
cupation on the ground that proper
ofundation had not been lai0.
Very we'll. replied Rogers, -well
place Mr.. Ford on the stand to lay
the foundation. Mr.. Ford, please be
sworn"
Franklin left the witness stand and
the prosecutor occupied it. Asked
whether Lawler did not occupy the po-
sition of special federal prosecutor,
Mr.. Ford replied that he knew it only
by hearsay.
Judge Hutton said the court world
take judicial notice of the fact that
Mr. Lawler did occupy the position
mentioned. The prosecution objected
to the court doing so. Mr.. Ford was
asked by Rogers if it was not true he
took Franklin to LAWYERS office be-
cause of the official position of the lat
ter
~The reason l selected Mr.. LAWYERS
Office Ford replied, was because
wanted his assistance as to the law
and fact in the case.'
Franklin then was recalled to the
stand for further cross-examination as
N his to relations with the Merchants
and Manufacturers association, the
ayowed object of this line of question
ing being to show alleged inducements
offered Franklin to testify for the pro-
seoution in the Darrow case.
Bert H. Franklin's probable rela-
tions with the district attorneys Of
flee and the Merchants and Manu-
facturers association comprised the
subject of searching cross-examina-
/ tion of the witness when Franklin
resumed the stand today at the trial
of Clarence S. Darrow for alleged
/ jury bribery.
Franklin testified that about two
weeks before he entered the employ
Of the Mcnamara defense, he had ap-
piled to Assistant District Attorney
w J. Ford for employment. Since
his arrest for jury bribery. Franklin
said he had visited the officers OF
the Merchants and Manufacturers
association on two occasions.
/ District Attorney Fredericks object
ed to the injection of the Merchants
and Manufacturers association into
4 the case. He declared that the or
ganization had nothing to do with
the prosecution of Darrow or the tes'
timony. of the witness. The new line
of attack on Franklin by the DarroW
defense was construed as an attempt
to show that Franklin had close rela
tions with those who were said tc
be most deeply inter -sted in the pros
ecution Of the Mcnamara brothers.
Rogers referred to the half dozer
men present at the associations of