New-York tribune., 1888-04-13
SPIRIT PAINTERS IN COURT.
SPENDING THE NIGHT IN
orLNDING THE NIGHT IN THE TOMBS.
MADAME DIsS DEBAR AND HER ATTEND.
ANTS CANNOT GET BAII.-RUM0RS
OF NEW CHARGES AGAINST
THE MEDIUM

eral' Diss Debar Dr." Lawrence and franklin
Lawrence, charged with conspiring to get possess
sion OF property belonging to Luther K Marsh
had their first taste OF justice yesterday. 1t did
not seem to be much to their liking; but it is
highly probable that they will have to swallow
the whole dose. They were marched into the
special Sessions room at the Tombs promptly at
1O o'clock, the men in the custody of Detectives
creed, Heidelberg and Hurd, and Madame
honored by the escort Of Inspector Byrnes They
rode down from Police Headquarters in Fourth
ave car. Justice Kilbreth was little late in
arriving; and William +. Howe, the counsel for
the prosecution, had time to study the interesting
party, whom he will endeavor to bring to their
desserts.
Mrs. Diss Debar sat in the foremost place. She
had drawn her chair away from the Lawrences
with whom she exchanged words, maintaining
| frlg1dity that gave color to the rumOr that she
has quarrellcd with them. She wore the walking
dress and bonnet in which she was arrested and
carried her shopping reticue She is no new
| acquaintance to Mr. Howe, and he merely glanced
at her.
The Lawrences were somewhat of a study The
old man had preoccupied look which might be
the expression of either prosecuted saint or an
! exceedingly cunning sinner Young Frank, on
/ the contrary, wide awake. Nothing in the
courtroom escaped his observation, and he nodded
and smiled to the reporters whom he knew. Back
| near the railing, motioness and apparently
| emotionleSs, the mysterious General" Diss Debar
| crouchcd with his elbows on his knees little,
withered man. with sharp features, wrinlled brow
and short, crisp curling iron-gray hair and beard.
THE EXAMINATION BEGINS.
When Justice Kilbreth took the bench Mr..
Howe removed his silk hat and prepared for action.
:" Are you represented by counsel?" said the
| Justice to the medium
"No, sir" she replied meekly. "No, sir.
have sent for Mr.. John Boyd but have no in
formation as to whether he is In the city, The
Justice said that he thought he would have to
postpone the examination until Mr.. Boyd came
this with questioning look at Mr.. Howe which
was Immediately answered thus:
This prosecution is behalf Of many prominent law.
yer and in the interest OF the whole community who
shocked and grieved seeing such amiable,
mable gentleman Mr.. Marsh neeced by this woman. 1
do not in tho least object to adjournment On the
contrary, should iko nothing better than TO this
adytake the stand to tell her history Daughter Lola
Montez! She is daughter OF Lola Montez
than She is sdventuress Of the dangerous
character though I have her andavit in the
name of Montez.
For the first time in the history Of the present
case, and probably for the first time in her life
Mrs Diss Debar heard the truth about herself
uttered in public In no uncertain voice. But the
:" scene" that everybody expected did not ensue
Her face turned ashen-ooored, and the scar seemed
10 impress itself more deeply on her right temple
She clencbed her teeth cutched her retcule and
held her tongue. Then Justice Kilbreth told her
to have her lawyer in attendance at . o'clock
and an adjournment was made to that hour.
The affidavit to which Mr. Howe referred is
ctss deposition H"' of Editha' Gilbert Monte, Of
No. 26 West Twclfth-st.," that on May 26,
to the value of 1000 to Victoria G. Woodruff
to keep for her while she was travelling, and that
though she had demanded the same from the said
Victoria, she refuses TO deliver the same to her
and conceals the same from her. The complaint
was dismissed. grave suspicious being entertained
as to Editha Gilbert Montez's truthfulnesS
DECIDING on THE AMOUNT OF BAIL.
In the afternoon the courtroom was filled by
an expectant crowd of spectators. The spiritist,
or rather con-spritst,' band was augmented by
lawyer, not ex-senator Boyd after all, but John
D. Townsend and a small, fussy man with white
whislxers, who said his name was Titus Merritt.
and who is described in the city directory as
" librarian healing by spiritual science or mind
cure" 80
Are you readyP' said Justice Kilbreth TO Mr..
Townsend
No. sir; I am not 7 have only seen the lady
about five minutes l should like an adjournment
of two or three days, il possible nave been III
myself for seven weeks, ana YESTERDAY was my
first day out, do not feel personally Like gong
on
II the counsel Is sick said Mr. Howe in
tones of the deepest sympathy 1t would De cruei
to insist on going on. OF course we are ready;
but on any day of next week that will SUIT your
Honor we will be here for the people" NeNU
Wednesday found TO suit everybody When
Mr. Townsend asked his Honor to tiy an amount |
of bail for his clients, Mr. Howe said:
The property alleged to have been obtained BY this
conspiracy claim, was house and lot OF immense
value and in fixing bail, Of course your Honor VIII
consider done In every such case. the amount OF
property obtained, we'll the punishment that can be
inflicted.
M Townsend objected that the person who 1t |
was claimed was swindled was not there to make |
any charge; and when person voluntarily gaaTe
anything it was legitimate transaction. Mr.
Howe answered that that point would be trled az |
the proper time, and added:
Our claim is that Mr. in tho position that he
cannot come into the court to say these people obtained
this property lawfully, for the gst Of our charge Is
that by the operation Of this over ms
mind he has to all lnents and purposes been made
lunatc.
hope your. Honor will not * the bail drSi on
the lunacy Of Mr.. Marsh" said Mr. TowhSehd'
we have known him too long for that ".
But that's just the trouble exclaimed Mr:
point"
NO ONE WILLING TO BE BONDsMAN.
The lawyers then began to fire "reminiscences at
each other and legal precedents, Mr. howe
quoted decision by Lord Erksnc, and Mr.. Town
send reverted to the case of another spltlt-
photographer" whose counsel ne was ,t nc
also incidentally made remark that Drousn'
broad smile to Mr. Howe's face Quoth ne:
fit manifested at all that this lady has been fraua
is understood between us may retire from the
case. 1 here much for the benefit OF MI "dfsh
ss any else.
Mr.. Howe-No one questions that 49,
The matter was finally referred for hoal eeutie-
ment to Judge Kibreth, who saying ChaO 1lle
case OF considerable importance h9t ouy rpm .
the large amount of money involved Aaii10VS, t1 ~
but from its public interest fixed the bail for
each Of the Dlss Debars at $1,000 and Tor each
of the Lawrences at 81. 900. -, .,,
Mr.. Townsend promised that bondsmeh wouid
be found very SOON but after waiting IN vain
for an hour or so the patience of tho court was
exhausted and the prisoners were cSnIVeo an eoS 10
the Iombs, as Inspector Byrnes ssu mo 80
be bothered with them at Police headquarters no
longer A.