Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-04-29


'how her how to load and fire the
weapon. He did 30 and she left
The etore, after putting the pistol in
her pocket.
Sheriff w. r. Rowland then took
The stand. He testified that the
pistol shown to him was the one
he got from Judge Kohler on the
day of the shooting of Forster.
John Traford testified that be-
tween three and half-past three
o'clock on the 18th of March the
defendant came to his Office, say
ing that che desired to give herself
up for the shooting of Forster. He
would not receive her, as he was
not acting as Justice. Defendant
was accompanied by her sister and
a man, unknown to him, who gave
him q pistol, which he gave to
Judge Kohler. The witness could
not identify the pistol already
shown in Court.
DR.. Nadeau (recalled) testified to
finding a ball in the head of Fors-
ter, and produced the ball, which
was passed around among the jury
and examined as though it were a
rare specimen of some collopterous
insect.
john Lever (recalled) testified
that the ball was such as would be
fired from the pistol shown.
A. Kohler testified that on March
18th he was at Trafiord's office
when the defendant visited it, and
that he received from the man who
accompanied her a pistol like the
one shown, which he subsequently
gave to Sheriff Rowland.
The prosecution here offered the
pistol in evidence.
At ten minutes past four the gen.
tlemen acting as counsel for the de-
tense asked permission to retire for
aud the request was
granted by the Court. The jury
were also given permission to re-
tire for q few minutes. In five
minutes the names of the jurymen n
were again called and the trial pro-
ceeded.
Col. Godfrey, for the defense,
stated to the jury that, at the time
of the shooting, the mind of the de-
fendant was Incapable of judging
between right and wrong. The
of the relations existing
between the defendant and Forster
will be fully brought out. A year
or so before the shooting Forster
began to visit her, under pretence
of honorable marriage. When alb
sent from the city he wrote to her.
On his return from Mexico he re-
newed his proposals. Her mother
discountenanced Forster's suit,
wishing her daughter to marry an
other. Forster finally persuaded
the defendant to leave her mothers
house, for the purpose, az he avow-
ed, of marrying him. He caused
her to be driven all about the city
under pretenee of seeking room
In which to be married. He final
ly took her to the Moiso Mansion
and obtained a room under pre-
tence of desiring to be married
there. He desired to remain with
her,as her husband, that night, but,
foiled in his purpose, went away.
The defendant remained alone at
the Moiso house all the next day,
in the course of which she told her
story to the landlady. The
next night Forster returned,
and, using threats and prom.
ises. prevailed upon her to
grant him the privileges OF we'd
ho Oh hnf J., N
did occupy the same bed With him,
and abundant evidence will be ad.
duced to prove that she was an in
pocent girl. He wished her to go
to Arizona, but she refused to DO
SO, and the next day went to her
home, and told her mother of what
had occurred. She bought the
pistol IN order to take her
own life, She looked for
Forster; and, when found, he
promised to marry her if she would
return to the Moi.o Mansion. He
promised to meet her at Trafford's
office in order to be married there
and he did not Eeep his appoint
ment. She then sought him once
more and again he promised to
marry her. He told tho hackman
to drive to the Church, but, chang.
ing his intention, told him to drive
elsewhere. She had no thought OF
killing Forster; the pistol was dis.
charged accidentally. From that
time until she found herself in
affords Office she remembers
nothing OF what occurred. 1t will
also be shown that the defendant
is subject to hysteris at certain
times Of the month and is then
subject to great physical end men-
tai perturbation.
The defendant was then called to
the stand and moved slowly and
composedly to- the Witness box,
where she was sworn to tell the
truth. Mr.. Ealogio de Cells was
sworn as interpreter and the exam.
ipatiou Of the witness was com.
menced as follows.
My name is Lastenia Abarta;
my age is IS; was born in Los An
gelos; my father is dead; my
mother resides in Los Angeles; my
father died four years ago; ! knew
y. F. Forster Ia his lifetime; be.
came acquainted with Mr.. Forster
September 10th (the Mexican inde
pendence), thrse years ago; Intro
duced by Mr.. Guirado; Mr.. Forster
on the same day asked me to sit fol
my picture for him and with him
I told him could not permit M y
picture to be taken with him
without my mothers consent; the
next day L went to the gallery aud
there met Mr.. Forster aud Mr.. Gui
RADIO; Mr.. Barker, proprietor of the
gallery, was my brother-in-lawi
then Forster asked me if / woulo
have the picture taken with him
I said l could not; then Mr.. Fors
ter called at our house with Pancht
Pico, about q week after l saw hin
ut the gallery; Plco remained out
side In the buggy during Eorster's
call, he remained u few minutes
theu he called alone several tlmel