Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-04-30
Yos Aueeles Nerald.
Bsssud Dsy Of tho Abarta Trial.
MORNING 8 SESSION,


At 9 o'clock yesterday morning
Judge Sepulveda, with the modest
dignity 30 befitting his high sta
tion, took his seat upon the bench.
The jury, in charge Of a genial
Deputy Sheriff, and looking As
though . due sense Of their resp0n-
sibllity to the commonwealth had
neither dulled the edge Of their re.
spective appetites nor caused them
to lose q good nights rest, had al
ready fled into their box. The op.
roeinR counsel took their seats,
though somewhat late, at their ta-
bles, and the defendant, attended
- che WAS yesterday, was brough t
into Court and seated herself by
her counsel. She was attired with
the same careful plainness; and, as
then, was bien chdusSee, bien gau-
tee. Nor had the anxious night left
any traces, save . slightly deep.
ened shade under the large, full
eyes, on that impenetrable mask,
which is the face of girl, 1t is
true, but of one whose girlhood
was blotted out forever by the
events OF week 30 big with fate
to her and to the lover who fell by
hors hand.
Tbs 0rnt witness sworn was Hor.
t6uoia Abarta, who was examined
through the Interpreter, and is ak
teen years Of age. She said: MY
sister left home at 81 A. M. on the
Friday preceding the shooting
and returned on Monday
moruing. I admitted her and asked
IL she were married. She said no,
but that she was to be married.
She went away, and on Tuesday
came again and again left. went
to the depot with my other sister;
returning, I found Lastania in the
house, crying. She said all she
wished was to die. told her
I would seek Chico and
ask him to marry her. The
witness then detailed the events OF
the drive of Forster and the two
9irb in the hack. Forster said he
would marry her sister, and ordered
the hack to be driven to the church,
but changed the order. Lastania
became very pale. On reaching the
White House corner I had con.
versation with Forster, endeavor'
Ing to persuade him to marry my
sister, He said he would do &c
when he took her to Tucson. have
been with my sister during her in
CarceratiOn. She has complained
OF her head and has slept none.
have feared to leave her alone, ant
have been with her constantly
When the shot was fired I stood til,
nearest to Forster. 1 did not know
that she had O pistol. Mr.. Whit
here obiected to leading question
by the defense. Witness resumed
that che heard the shot.
Cross. examined by Mr.. White
witness said that she was not a
home on Friday when her siste
went away; of this she was in
formed by her mother. On Frida.
evening Lastauia was sought fol
Mr.. Madegan, who made inquiries
said that he had been infOrme
that Lastania had been seen in
hack with Forster. On Saturda.
and Sunday Lastania was no
looked for, as DO good could b
done. On Monday Lastania ws
ut home from 6 till II in the morn
Ing, and left in q hack, accompa
MED by her little brother. o
Tuesday che came at IL, and rt
naming five minutes, went away
but came back almost at once an
went away as quickly. Lastani
returned about II and Trafford SOD
after. At once the witness went t
the depot with her sister and RI
turned at balf-past l.
In regard to the circumstance
attending the killing, as we'll a
those which followed it, the cross
examination, which WAS long all
searching, failed to shake the direc
testimony of the witness, and tn
details were corroboratory Of th
facts already elected during tn
trial. When Mr.. White began t
enquire about Lastania's conduc
and the like while in Jail, Col
Wells objected to the turn of cross
examination as irrelevant and use
less. The objection was not sus
tanned. The witness occupied al
hour in testifying.
During the examination of thi
witness the mother OF the defend
Hnt at one time broke down an
wept silently for some moments
The witness herself, possibly 70
the purpose Of concealing her emo
tion, was very highly rouged, Will
her eyebrows were very mucl
over.delineated.
Mrs. Abarta, mother of the de
fendant, then took the stand, ant
said: She does not remember pre-
cisely when Forster became &C
quainted with her daughter or frs
called. She refused to allow he
daughter to ride out with Forster
Always when Forster called che, o
another, was present.. Lastani
was never alone with Forster
Lastania has always been in deli
cate health and has a sweet temper
The three girls went to the Pict
House with Forster and Reginald
del Vale by invitation of Pancht
Pico. DR.. Worthington and DR.
Wise and others attended Lastanit
on . certain occasion on account o
female troubles, from which she
has suffered greatly for three ol
four years. On the llth of March
Lastanis and q sister went to con
fession. Returning, Lastania sale
she WAS tired, and would not &c
With her sister Isabel to the depot
but soon left the house, for witness
was unable to find her. Finally sh,
was told that the girl had been seer
hurrying along the street with be-
hat in her hand. She next saw
LAstania at 6 A. NJ. on the 14th o
March. Lastania came to her room
and saying, "pardon me; mother
burst into tears. Witness asked |
the daughter were married, and sh
answered no. but that was to be