New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-09
THE COURTS.
THE CHALLIs-wooDHULL SUITS.

| EXAMINATION or THE PLAINTIFF IN THE PRO-
CEEDNGs FOR LIDEL-A PRURIENT AUDI
ENCE.
The examination of witnesses at Jefferson
Market Police the libel suit OF Luther c. ChaIl
against Col James II. Blood for tho charges which sp-
pearod In WOodhuH aud OiGfin's Weekly two weeks
ago. has seldom been surpassed for Hthiness Of detail
Asi always 80 painfully noticeable the was not
half large enough TO contain tho immense crowd which
filed every seat. crammod the broad aisle. choked pu
the door, and quarreed for standing places with
profane ephets audible to every person In the Court
Mrs. Victoria O. Woodruff and Miss Tennie O. Claim en-
tered tho room promptly at p. No. pioted throuHn
the crowd which had already gathered by Counselor
owe, and followed by his partner, Hummel Wltnln
the bar the friends OF Mrs. Woodruff and Miss Cann
gathered around them Col. Blood camo In late, rev
minutes after George Francis Train had made his ap
pearance and then the examination proceeded
The first witness called was L. c. Chalis ana MI
Howe began his questioning descending at once INTO tho
personal matters. Tho effect OF Mr. Howes queS
lions upon tho mass OF spectators shamefully alb
sorblng. When particularly broad question was put
involving unless denied the degradation of the plaintiff
and one of the defendants and In any event calculated
TO bring blush to almost any woman's face' the
bysanders eagerly cranod their neks forward TO eaten
evoy syllable and TO witness what effect the uterance
OF such words might have upon her. Mrs. Woodruff ana
Miss Clafn bore the ordeal without nching frequently
leaning forward TO suggest questions Tho father
OF the two sat quiet and unnotced on the step behind
the witnesses chair paying close attention. with bis
hand to bis cor and his eyes bent upon the floor.
Mr. Howes questions cannot DO repeated even inI sub
stance 1t needed expression OF the eye no gesture
no infection Of the voice. and no suggestive laugh 10
indicate tho significance OF the queries yet these we're
by no means wanting and went make up disgust
ing sOene as Courtrooms have witnessed with
out these accomplishments tho examination was some
thing in this style:
O. Ia that your signature to the complaint, Mr. Chaiis
O. You examine 1t well before you'll subscribed to III
O. Where do you sidsi A. Hoffman House.
How long haye,oa resided 1 there r., Eight years
8 s Stead fg you a. We'll. have been to Kapsas
q Now Sir do you swear you are resident OF Ne"
@ We'll, are youi A. presume sO.'
q Don't presumo-presum ptions are dangerous. a. L
Q. Voting Is over now. Arc you m srriodi A. No.
| q. An Have you ever been a: NO ..o
Q. That Is indefinite, nowadays. A. Well, have
been merchant and banker and Spectator am Nv
8 That's your definition of gentlemani A. There
are other definitions; meant to say was not In any
Q. You wish to correct your answer that you
gentlemani lLaughter.l A, No. SIR
| q. Arc you gentleman lLaughter.l .
Here Mr.: sullivan called on Judge Fowler for inter
aries here Dir Howe" Mr. Howe here began q serious
Gprqd and nd made TO proceed with his Examination
q When and where did you hTst become acg9a
with Miss Clanlni A. Al tho French Ball. last Winter
Q. French Ball Indeed French Ball did you say,
| Siri BY whom were you introducedf A. by James E
Maxwell, u broker
Q. Who accompanied you to that baui A. Nobody 1
was alone. ........
"Well see about that" said Mr.. Howe. and he pro-
ceeded TO educe from the witness that lie had met about
Is ladies there whom no had met before but didn't know
their names was In the habit Of walking up Broadway,
and occasionally met them on the street The witness
said there two young girls the box at hch Mr.
Howe pricked his aud at Ocuary declared
that be had interest IN these girls He found out by
subsequent sODs that they in theatrical COS
the nselyes to The witness, announcement which
caused apparently good deal OF goodnatured surprise
TO the defendants counsel Mr.. Howe then asked "A
question I'm relation 10 tho Witness habits which br
suiy0R Indignantly characterized violation OF the
decency OF Court, To, every objection Mr.. Howe
would calculate, Why, it's In the HELL"
Continuing the witness admitted having seen Miss
CafB since the ball. having called at her ONCE and five
six times at her house He denied that be had ever
accOsted as "Dear TennIe" but Mr. Howe produced
letter which was addressed In those words. Some
thing asked about 800. and MI Chas said no re-
ceived letter from MISS Clain asking contribution OF
$500 for the expenses Of her lecture ee AcfdfDK H6
positively refused TO give IT, and she went of. few
days aferward he received proof copy OF the alleged
| libel on him, word for word.
VIM. A. Smith, press printer, at No. III Franklinst
williamson, his boOkkeeeper; Donyse, the storotyper
aud his SON. and Dir. Wood OF the firm OF Wood * Riley
examined In reference 10 their participation In the
publication OF the issue OF Woodruff Ctattns Weekly
which contained the alleged libel, and testified " C0
BoOd's action as the agent OF Woodruff Claiin.
The examination will be continued to-day at p. N.
Judge F9ncher granted new writ OF habeas corpus
yesterday, directing U. g. Marshal Sharpe to produce
Miss Tennie c. Cahn and Mrs. Victoria Woodruff In the
jefferson Market Police Court 20 the charge Of
| libel made against them by MI Chalis.