Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-17
MRS. WOLFF'S STORY.
She Tells of her Acquaint-
ance with Wilson.
THREATS AGAINST HER HUSBAND.
They Met on q Schooner and Lived
Together in Cabin at San
Juan-by-the-Sea.

The Wolff-Peterson trial continued
through the day yesterday in Department
One of the Superior Court where Judge
Gardiner occupies Judge Cheney's place,
the latter holding court in Department
Two. A number of spectators we're pres
ent, attracted by the fact that Mrs.
Wolff was to give her version of the story
for the defense. During the morning
number of unimportant witnesses were
called. Edward Weber who testified to
the marks on Wilson's neck given, the
defendant claimed, in a struggle with
Wilson. William Kelly, who told of the
drinking habits and quarrelsome dispo'
sition of the deceased, testimony which
was corrobora!ed by W. Fish, and l..
johnson, the shorthand reporter, who
took the testimony in the lower court,
who testified as to some points IN -...vp
the witness Theisen G; aimed to have been
wrongly reported.
In the afternoon session Mrs. Bertha
Wolff took the stand in her own defense,
as we'll as for her husband and Peter
son. Mrs. Wolff is large, unattractive
woman, but the cool, firm way in which
she speaks shows that she possesses un-
usual strength of character and intelli-
gence. She speaks English we'll, and
her testimony was unique in its freedom
from the irrelevant material which most
inexperienced witnesses are inclined to
mix in with what they have to tell. At
the close she was heartily congratulated
by her lawyer on the composure she had
displayed and the excellent manner IN
which she had told her story. Her cross
examination will take place to-day.
"My name," said she, sis Mrs. Bertha
Wolff, and l am 81 years OF age. My
husband and 1 and Peterson came from
Mendcoino county on a schooner, in
tending to 60 to San Diego to obtain
work there. When we were lying OFT
Catalina, Wilson, whom l had never
seen before, came on board, and the
captain asked him to dinner. lie told
us that there would be more work at
San Juan than at San Diego, and advised
that we 60 ashore there. He said that
Mexicans, and no place for
a lady, but that he had a
cabin half mile from town, small
one, only Is by lS feet, but still large
enough for me and my husband. We
finally consented to the arrangement
and took our goods ashore to the cabin.
We hadn't much stuff and had only $l5
in money. slept behind cloth parti.
ton and the other three in the room out
side.
We had been there only a few days
when Wilson asked me for some money
during the absence of my husband. He
said he wanted it for drink and refused
to give it to him. When my husband got
back and told him how Wilson had be-
haved he was very angry, and he told
Wilson what he thought of him. Then
Wilson caught my husband by the throat
and choked him until he was black and
blue. 1 jumped up and said 80 stop that"
Then he said "You will get the same"
My husband said eff you don't want US
here in your house why didn't you say
so." Mr.. Wolff went away and Peterson
was going too, but asked him to stay
over night, 80 that people would
not talk about US and he
did so. While they were both away
Wilson asked whether he had done
wrong, and I said he ought to apologize.
Then he tried to make up to me and
begged me to get divorce from my
husband and live with him. GAS soon as
you tell me-" said he, "that you love me,
will kill him to get him out of the
way" He then showed me big knife,
and put it down in sheath inside of his
trousers in front, and said, as he did so,
"This will come very handy If you, come
to love me-" He was perfectly sober.
My husband was gone down town to
get team to take our things away. He
sent Peterson back, for he was afraid to
come himself. While was packing up
alone in the cabin with Wilson he came
up and put his arms around my neck and
kissed me and said, "You are too good
to be left alone. 1 am better man than
your husband and can make more
money. 1t hurts me to have you 60
away. Won't you write me?" But
refused to do it. 1 left him him in
the cabin and went to the hotel. 1 told
my husband that we had better move
down to Santa Ana to get away from
Wilson. went down myself to Santa
Ana and made arrangements for us to
live there. We tried to swear out war
rant for the arrest of Wilson, and tried to
have him bound over to keep the peace,
for he kept threatening my husband.
On the morning of the 23rd Peterson
hal to 90 up to San Juan to collect some
money that was due him, and he hired
team and a one-seated wagon. When he
drove up l said if it didn't cost any more
to have two-seated wagon we might all
60, for 1 would like the ride and 80 would
the baby. We never talked of hurting
Wilson. We passed saloon in San
Juan Capistrano where Wilson was sit
ting. This was about IL O'Clock in the
morning. We went on to San Juan.by.
the-Sea, and hitched near the pavilion
while my husband and Wilson went into
a saloon and stayed there an hour. l
don't think they drank much. We
then drove to Sharpe's hotel, where
Peterson wanted to collect some money
which the proprietor owed him. sharp
was not in and when Peterson came
back to the wagon where we were, Will
son came up. He asked good many
questions about where we were staying
in Santa Ana, but would not tell him
the number. I advised my husband,
who was holding the lines, to drive
away. We went around to the corral by
the side of the house and got out to take
dinner in the hotel. Wilson came
around as my husband was tying the
horses.
"Wolff," said he, "you had better
look out, for shall not rest until see
you lying dead ut my feet"
My husband said, "If you want any