Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-14
THE ARGUMENT.
Testimony Concluded in
the WOOlsteen Case.
WHAT THE ATTORNEYS SAY.
The Case to go to the Jury
Probably Some Time This
Afternoon.

At the calling of court and the
Woolsteen case in Department No. !,
yesterday, there was noticeable fall
ling off in the attendance, especially
of ladies, possibly owing to extremely
hot weather and the fact that it was
announced on Thursday that the
evidence was all in with the excep-
tion of that rebuttal.
At the convening of the court the
District Attorney stated to the court
that under the rulings on Thursday
he had been under the impression
that he had carried the cross-examin-
alton as far as it were possible, but
after looking up certain authority, he
had concluded to PROFOUND certain
other questions to Miss Woolsteen
and allow the court to pass upon
them.
Miss Hattie Woolsteen was again
asked to take the stand and the fol-
lowing questions were propounded:
Q.-While you were in the police
station, 1 will ask you if you did not
tell Chief Darcy that DIR. Harlan COM
mitted suicide?
Q.--On the thirteenth of October
while with Chief Darcy in buggy on
Figueroa street did you not tell him
that you killed DR.. Harlan and point
out to him the spot where you perpe-
trated the deed?
Judge Cheney refused to allow
the questions to be answered stat
ing that the Supreme Court had
ruled emphatically that no admissions
made by defendant under duress or
through undue influence or threats
could be admitted and the Court was
clearly of the opinion that the con-
fession of Miss Woolsteen was extort-
ed from her by such means, hence,
the Court had excluded it. The evil
dence now sought to be introduced
was virtually to the same effect and
was in the mind OF the Court clearly
inadmissable.
The defense continued their evil
dence by the testimony OF reporter
McAllister, who testified as to certain
evidences introduced on the prelimin-
ary trial.
POLICE oEFIcER FITCH
Being introduced on the part OF the
prosecution for the purpose of rebut-
tai, testified: During Miss Hattie
Woolsteen's confinement in the po-
lice station, noticed on Sunday after
her incarceration a garnet ring on her
first finger. She took it off and placed
it ton my finger. ! am not much of a
Judge Of jewelry and do not know
that / could describe the ring. l
think it was a reddish stone with
pearls set around it. l had the ring
on my finger.
Attorney Wells announced that he
would introduce the ring N evidence
and asked that deputy sheriff be
dispatched to the County Jail for it.
The Fifth street liveryman, MIR.
Chick, being called in rebuttal, testi-
fed:
Odd Miss Hattie ask you for
double team?
Ali she did l never heard it.
Cross-examination-Colonel Wells:
Did she not ask for double team?
A.-No, sir; she asked for a horse
and buggy.
Officer Fitch was recalled by the
defense and asked to identify the ring
which he testified to having seen on
Miss Hattie's finger. The ring was
identified as being the one worn by
Miss Hattie.
Miss Minnie Woolsteen being re-
called in rebuttal identified the ring
testified to by Officer Fitch; also that
it was not the ring she had purchased
as a gift for her sister in the East.
g.. Wiley Wells announced that
with the last evidence introduced the
defense closed it's case.
THE ARGUMENT.
At q quarter to eleven A. NJ. the
evidence on both sides was finally
closed and Judge J. D. Reymert
opened the argument on behalf of the
state to the jury. The Judge in long
and detailed argument presented the
theory of the prosecution. In the
course Of his remarks he reverted to
the close attention given by the jury
to the evidence. 1t was the purpose
OF the law to punish perpetrators of
crime, but even at the expense of JUS
tice to acquit the innocent. Said he :
sYou gentlemen were asked fyou be-
lieved in the law of self defense, es-
pecially when honor and chastity
were at stake. The answer was in
the affirmative. Questions as to
whether you were men of families and
whether you were members of a
religious denomination, were asked for
what purpose as yet unknown
The evident purpose of the de-
tense at the inception of the
trial was to prove justifiable homi-
eide, but, alas, change came
over the spirit of their dreams, and a
case was developed entirely foreign
to the foundation laid. To say that
there was an evident adaptation OF
the line OF the defense and the story
OF the defendant 10 all prior evidence
is not too much" All qinhe Jurors had
proven themselves, u peh careful ex-
animation, to be competent to sit in
the cause and render an impartial
verdict. 1t was stated that the eyid-
ence was circumstantial, and fact
linking into fact had been brought
before them, making chain reaching
from the day when the defendant and
DIR. Harlan first met until that dread
full night on the 9th of October. The
evidence had shown that Harlan was.
when last seen alive, in possession
Of large sum- Of money, a
diamond ring, and gold
watch and chain. In the debris
of the burned barn were found the
charred and cristed remains of DR..
Harlan, pair of sleeve buttons, a
collar button, a scarf-holder and an
ivory dice block. Nowhere was there
found the remains Of a watch, ring
or coin. Where an ivory dice block
could Withstand the heat and come
out almost perfect. a cold or silver