The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-09-24
MERRIAM IS
OPPOSED BY
COLONEL
Officer Comes to the Defense
of Character of Woman;
Brands Talk Lies

sWeethearts, with special reference TO
their given names
%hSt." asked Linferth. was the
givsn name of your mother? Your
s first Sweetheart? Your dearest girl
friend2 Your sisters2"
Linforth invoked the process of
elimination. He dismissed each per-
son in turn whose first name was not
Bessie" Gradually the list grew
smaller until only Mrs. Merriam's
name remained.
Now isn't it true that you wrote
this song and the accompanying mu-
sic and dedicated them to Mrs Mer-
'1-iam?~ shouted Linforth. walking to
the stand and thrusting the love
document toward the discounted
colonel
The crowd Uttered as the words
of the song rippled from the
lips Of the colonel. All that was
lacking TO make the Louisiana Plan
tation Paean," as Colonel Murphy
calls his love song. bowling success
from the outset was a chorus of
"coon shonters" That The Grindin'
OF the Cane" win be popular was evil
denced. however. by the evident relish
displayed by the city halls unsteady
inclined. who left the courtroom hum
ming. Drip, Drip, Drip; Oh. the Juice
Was Sweet to Sip.
WOMEN IN CANE BRAKE TOGs
The picture on the face of the song
is that of a woman standing clothed
in cane brake, her dark hair ripping
in the imaginary southern breeze, her
rosy leanfn' lips" upturned for the
sip" There Is an unmistakable re-
Semblance between the picture on the
piece Of music and Mrs. Merriam
At the conclusion or the reading
Judge Graham said. there Is no
doubt in my mind that il Colonel
Murphy sang that before Martin
Beck Of the Orpheum circuit he would
be offered an engagement at 1880
q week
Colonel Murphy admitted that he
composed music for a pastime, and
that the ''Grindin' of the Cane" WIS
written just prior to the time that the
Merriams left Jackson barracks. He
was not sure whether his song had
been sung by Mrs. Merriam at the
afternoon parties at her home, at
which he admitted Mrs Merriam had
entertained him with music and song.
Colonel Murphy testified that he
had been married. but that he had
obtained divorce He said ne was
IS years old
Have you any affection for Mrs.
Merriam2"
Il like her as a friend. but have
no affection of the heart for her"
replied Colonel Murphy
He denied that he had advanced any
money to Mrs. Merriam with which
to fight the case or that he had re-
ceived any money for coming here
from Paris to testify in her behalf
At the beginning of this mornings
session. Attorney LIaforth asked
Colonel Murphy whether his title was
colonel, major or captain.
1T is colonel but l prefer Mr." he
replied. and thenceforth the attor-
neys addressed him as Mr.. Murphy.
With the expressed intention of
''rufiing the coloneTs bangs" Attor-
ney Walter H Linforth resumed the
cross examination OF Colonel Clarence
Wainwright Murphy. star witness in
the Merriam divorce scandal, which
is being staged IN Judge Graharn's
department of the superior court. this
morning.
Colonel Murphy. Immediately CARRIED
in a blue serge suit set on by a white
stock collar and q blue nosegay took
the witness stand with the air OF one
primed for battle. He measured his
ary-LtnSerth-aa allowed a
satisfied smile to disturb the tran
guilty of his features. The smile
faded as Attorney Linforth bombarded
him with questions pertinent TO
Colonel Murphy's relations with Mrs.
Bessie c. Merriam at Jackson bar
racks. near New Orleans. while Cap
tain Henry c. Merriam. plaintiff in the
case, was on duty in Texas In 1911.
DENIED IMPROPER RELATIONS
ColonsI Murphy ernphaticaIfy denied
that his relations with the captains
wife were anything but courteous
eonsiderate and gentlemanly. He ad-
mitted nothing that would In the
least way reflect upon the character
Of Mrs. Merriam. Disdainfully he
dismissed the testimony given by the
Jackson barracks telephone operators
who stated that Colonel Murphy and
Mrs. Merriam talked of baths and
bath robes over the phone.
''RidiculousT smiled the colonel
when Attorney Linfor4h persisted Ia
his inquiry about that particular con-
versation.
Occasionally Colonel Murphy glanced
at Mrs. Merriam. who sat with her
, her forehead. His responses were
terse and deliberate. He appeared at
ease.
When Mrs Merriam left the stand
yesterday Colonel Murphy compii-
mented her, saying:
you did finer
did I really2 1 was so nervous"
she returned.
The defense intImated at the open
ing of the session that Mrs A. D.
Day, mother OF the defendant. and
Charlotte, the daughter. will be called
70 testify later In the day
The Merriam child is an exceeding
" bright girl for one or her age. She
is conversant with many Of the things
that transpired at Jackson barracks
which have been discussed at the
trial 1t is believed that she could
give important testimony concerning
the biehloride of mercury which II is
alleged Mrs Merriam gave her while
at the southern post.
Judge Graham's courtroom was
crowded to the doors when Colonel
Murphy took the stand. Members OF
the fair sex predominated. Obviously
they were disappointed when Attorney
Barclay Henley read In a low tone the
contents OF a letter which Mrs. Mer-
eeriam wrote to her husband late In
1911, and which laid bare things OF an
intimate nature regarding the do
nestle relations Of the Merriams 1t
was during the reading OF this letter
that Mrs, Merriam broke down before
the gaze of the crowd and sobbed con-
vulsively.
I'm so tired and weary" said Mrs
Merriam as she left the stand II
have been under such a terrific strain
during the last two years. I would
give up the fight were 1t not that a
cloud hovers over my name"