Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-02
NOT GUILTY.
The Result of the Trial of ". Cham
berlin.

Enc Result Oh the Oh OHhhhh-
berlin.
Justice Lockwood and a jury were
occupied all day yesterday in the trial of
V. Chamberlin, who was charged with
battery, committed upon a 6'year old
child named Nellie Cole. On the 26th
day Of April last, Chamberlin was ar
rested upon complaint of the child's
mother by Sheriff Aguirre, upon a charge
of rape, it being alleged that the defend
ant had enticed the little girl into his
bedroom with the promise of nickel
with which to buy candy, during the
temporary absence of his wife. Cham
berlin, however, was discharged on
the Goth Of April, and new complaint
charging him with having indecently ex-
posed his person, was filed. This also
was dismissed on the 9TH day of May,
and on that date a third complaint was
filed, the otfense alleged being battery,
although practically the body OF the
complaint contained the same details as
those stated in the rape case. The jury
having been impaneled, Mrs. Mary M.
Cole, the mother of the alleged victim,
was put upon the stand. Her story
was to the effect that about p. m.
on the afternoon of the 26th of April last,
she was informed by Mrs. Van Aucken,
q neighbor, that the latter's little boy had
told her that Chamberlain had taken
little Nellie into his bedroom and given
her nickel, after making her promise
not to say anything about it. She at
once called the child into the house, and
she told her mother corroborative
story, but went into further details,
and stated the language used by
Chamberlin at the time. She then
called a physician to examine the child
and he pronounced to the mother that
there was no doubt that an attempt of
some sort had been made TO outrage the
child, but that she was, fortunately, un
down town to the District Attorneys
office and obtained a warrant, which was
placed in the hands of the Sheriff for
service.
The child Nellie, who showed re-
markable precosity for one of her tender
years, was next called, and, although
Colonel Il. Wiley Wells, who appeared
for the defenso, obtained an objection to
the mother being allowed to occupy the
witness chair at the same time, the
Court allowed the mother and child to
be together. Little Nellie described the
details of the assault. 1t was cleaned
that a boy with whom she was accus-
toned to play at stable opposite
Chamberlin's lodging-houoe, at 1131a
South Spring street, had taught her 20
use the filthy language she had put into
Chamberlin's mouth. 1t WAS also shown
by her that the boy was a thief, and had
stolen some money from his mothers
purse and had given her the nickel with
which she swore Chamberlin had en-
deavored to purchase her silence.
Thesnex witness was q spiritualistlc
medium named Mrs. Van Auckner, who
was the mother of the boy already men
toned. She admitted that the boy had
frequently stolen money from her purse,
and that she had chastised him time and
again in the hope of curing his propen-
sites in that direction. She reiterated
the story told to her by little Nellie Cole
to account for her having a nickel in her
possession, and she at once went to Mrs.
Cole and informed her of the shocking
occurrence. The prosecution here rested
its case, and the defense attempted to
prove an alibi by Mrs. Casey,
Henry Booker, A. Basher, A..
Schrieder, A. j. Young and
F. w. Chamberlin; the defendants
brother, all of whom were residing
in the house at the time, and most of
whom saw him at different times of the
day in question.
The most important testimony for the
defendant was that of Mrs. Casly, who
affirmed that Chamberlin and his bro
ther had been out driving all the morn
ing. returning at noon. At one O'Clock,
both men again drove off, the defend
ant returning about ten minutes to four
O'Clock. She followed him up stairs
and saw him go into his sitting room /;
from that time until five o'clock
she discussed the news which
he read from newspaper, with him. 1t
was also shown that Booker, whose room
is directly opposite to Cham berlain's sit
ting room, was present in his apartment
from to 6, and that his door was open
all that time, so that if, as alleged,
Chamberlin, enticed the child into his
room, Booker must have seen something
of it.
The jury retired at p. m. and re-
turned at 7 p. m. with verdict of "not
guilty." whereupon Chamberlin was dis
charged, and, amid the congratulations
OF his friends, left the courtroom.
In addition to the Inconvenience and
trouble heaped upon Chamberlin by rea-
son of these charges. his wife, who re-
turned ON the day of his arrest and heard
the awful news of his having committed
s1ch crime, lost her reason, and
although said to be slightly better than
it was few weeks ago, her condition is
such as to leave grave doubts as to the
recovery of her sanity.
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT.