Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-04-24
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Under Examination ON n Charge
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A. Demousset was for long time an
efficient member Of the police force of
this city. Many readers Of the HERALD
will remember lately when a young conn
trywoman Of his was rescued from life
of degradingly immoral practices with
the Chinese of this city that Demousset
took her to his home. gave her shelter
and protected her from all attempts of
the Mongols to become re-possessed OF
the girl. This conduct was generous,
was noble. Those who were led to adj
mire the man who was capable Of such
maguanimous acts will be correspond
inply grieved to learn OF the serious
charge now laid at his door, and will
hope to see him come out Of the trial free
from all suspicion. II it should be proven
that Demousset is guilty they will still
feel regret, but their admiration will
have passed away.
lie is charged with the abduction OF
Augustine Celia, young girl Of French
extraction, and the complaint is sworn TO
by the mother of the girl.
The evidence given yesterday before
Justice Austin on the preliminary ex
animation goes to show, ii true, that he
not only abducted the girl but that he
took her out in the country and accom-
plished her ruin.
Augustine was the first witness put
ON the stand. She is little more than
fifteen years old, short OF stature, small
of frame, brunette of decided type,
and quite pretty. She lives with her
mother and step-father on Olive street.
She testified that tho first time she
saw Demousset was one day when he
calae to her fathers dyeing establish
ment on Spring street when he brought
some clothes to have them renovated.
He came again and again and
the families became rather init.
mate. Some time after Demousset
lost his place ON the police force owing
to a change of administration in the office
he entered the employ of the dyer, get
ting a horse and vehicle to 60 into tho
country to solicit orders. Denousset
found some difficulty in remembering
the prices to be charged for such Jobs as
he secured and prevailed on the parents
of Augustine to allow her to go with him
on these trips, his own daughter accom-.
panying them. The girl went to DE.
mousset's house, and next morning very
early the three set out on an expedition
to Long Beach, Wilmington and San
Pedro. Arriving near Long Beach they
stopped at the house of sheep herder,
and Demousset spent the day shooting
rabbits. At :30P. NJ. they all assembled
Tor supper at the shaDty OF the sheep
herder.
Continuing her story, Augustine said
that after supper she noticed Demoussets
daughter was very sleepy and she spoke
to the girl, asking her II she had been
drinking too much wine. The child said
she had not taken more than usual, and
that she could not account for her drow-
siness Shortly after Demousset gave
Augustine drink of water, and then
she began to feel very sleepy. She went
to bed and in the night woke up,
finding Demousset choking her. He,
as she alleges, took improper liberties
with her. Next morning she felt
confused aud unable to recollect what
had passed during the night. They
then went to Long Beach, Wilmington,
etc. On the way home they slept un-
der the blackboard Here Augustine
testified Demousset for the second time
violated her person, his own daugter be-
ing almost an eyewitness OF the trans
action. The girl said: what if your
daughter tells your wlfe?' She says
Demousset replied: "If she does will
break every bone in her body" When
they reached Los Angeles they all went
10 house of Demousset Here she
says he urged her to leave her parents.
and in order to give color to her doing
so he urged her TO charge her stepfather
with an attempt to outrage her.
The girl further testified that Demous-
set had improper relations with her at
his own home, and at house OF i'll.
fame on Alameda street. He took her
to Anaheim and to Orange. At
the latter place he introduced
her as his sister.in.law. Here
also he found her a place to stay
with DIR. Seibert. She says she learned
this person was a very improper one and
that girls who went to live with him
were obliged to leave the house.
Augustine also testified that the Bel
gian girl rescued from an evil life with
the Chinese, was kept by Demousset
for immoral purposes; that he took her
to houses of ill-fame, and that far from
having been returned to her home in
Europe she is now in Calico leading a
life of shame.
The defendant had not finished giving
his testimony when the court adjourned.
so the case IS continued to to-day.
Demousset's defense will be given to-