Source: The Trial of Dan White by Kenneth W. Salter (1991)
DIRECT EXAMINATION by Mr. Norman:
Q Do you know if there was ever any time during his office as Supervisor for District No. 8 that Mr. Daniel White had tendered any written notice of his intention to resign that position?
A Yes. A letter was delivered to the Mayor's office tendering a resignation. . . .It is dated November 10th, 1978. Addressed to the Honorable George R. Moscone, Mayor, City and County of San Francisco. Room 200, City Hall, San Francisco
[Reading] "Dear Mayor Moscone: I have been proud to represent the people of San Francisco as their elected Supervisor from District Eight for the past ten months, but due to personal responsibilities which I feel must take precedent over my legislative duties, I am resigning my position effective today. I am sure that the next representative to the Board of Supervisors will receive as much support from the People of San Francisco as I have. Sincerely, Dan White."
It is so signed. . . .
Q Was George Moscone going to make a public announcement on November the 27th, 1978 of his appointment of Dan Horanzey to the Board of Supervisors District No. 8?
A Yes. That was our intention. . . .I believe it was scheduled for 11:00 o'clock, but I'm not sure. But I think that's correct.
Q Tell the members of the Jury just what you did at that time? What observations you made, if any?
A I approached the secretary's desk outside the Mayor's office and asked if it was possible for us to begin our appointment and was told, no, that Mayor was occupied and that then Supervisor White was in his office.
Q What did you do after you were informed that the Mayor was then occupied with Mr. White?. . .
A I told Mr. Kearney that we would begin the meeting without the Mayor. I left the Mayor's immediate office and walked down the hall to take him to a small ante room where I had intended to meet with him. It was at that point that I saw-it was then that I saw Supervisor White.
Q Where did you see Supervisor White exactly?
A It was-it was in the hall outside the Mayor's office. . . .
Q What was Mr. White doing at that time?
A He was running down the corridor and turned to his left as I was approaching. As I was approaching him. . . .
Q Apart from the fact that he was running, did you notice anything unusual about him?
A Just that he was running.
Q What did you do at that point after you made these observations?
A Well, I having seen Supervisor White leave, I then re-entered the Mayor's office hoping that we would be able to keep our appointment in fact very briefly before the other events scheduled for that morning.
Q Did you go into the Mayor's office? . . .
A Yes. The Mayor was not at his desk, and I then assumed that he was still in the-that he was in the bathroom, and I then entered the-what is identified-the smaller sitting room, and I there found
the Mayor. . . . .
Q What did you do when you saw the Mayor in that condition?
A I-I-I entered the room and at first did not-was surprised because I did not see the Mayor at all. I then glanced down and I saw his legs. I thought perhaps he had fainted, and I approached a little closer. Then I saw that there was some blood and I ran out into that small hall and screamed for an ambulance and screamed for the police.
Q Earlier at around 11:00 o'clock, or shortly thereto, when you had gone to investigate about your appointment that you and Mr. Philip Kearney had had with the Mayor, did you hear any noises or any sounds of an unusual nature coming from the vicinity of the Mayor's office?
A As I was standing awaiting at Miss Copertini's desk I heard raised voices, or a raised voice in the Mayor's office, oh, coming from the Mayor's office.
Q Could you tell or distinguish whose voice that was?
A No, I could not.
CROSS-EXAMINATION by Mr. Schmidt:
Q You mentioned that you spoke with Cyr Copertini and she told you that Dan White was in with the Mayor? . . .
A It was between the time I first approached her office, her desk, a few moments before 11:00, and while I was waiting there.
Q And at the time you heard the raised voices you were standing near Cyr Copertini's desk?
A That is my recollection, I was standing at her desk.
Q You were able to hear those raised voices or voice through the thoroughly heavy wooden door there, is that accurate?
A I was able to hear the raised voices, yes.
Q Did you at any time after hearing those raised voices or voice see Mayor Moscone?
A During the time I was waiting, and I do not know whether it was before or after I heard the voices, the Mayor stuck his head out of the office and I saw him then, yes.
Q All right. Did he do anything or say anything?
A He did not say anything to me. He may have said something to someone else. I don't recall. He winked at me and then withdrew back into his office.
Q All right. By winked, could you demonstrate for us what he did?
A He smiled and blinked his eye.
Q Winked his eye?
A Right. Because he knew--I shouldn't speculate.
MR. SCHMIDT: I have nothing further.