Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-14
THE DIAMOND ROBBERY.
Mrs. Miller Relates Her Ex-
perience in Full.
THE PLEA OF THE DEFENSE
The Detectives Talk About the
Parts Taey Played in
the Matter.

cases in which Frank M. Harris and his
wife Belle are charged with the robbery of
$500 worth of diamonds from Mrs. G.
II. Miller, in room at the Ramona, a
week ago, was commenced yesterday
afternoon, in the Township Court, before
Justice King, of Garvanzs, sitting for
Justice Savage.
Owing to the sensational nature of the
case, the courtroom was crowded to
suffocetion. The feature of the examin-
alton was the nature OF the defense,
which was to the effect that there was
no robbery whatever, but that Mrs.
Harris was informed that her husband
WAS too intimate in his relations with
Mrs. Miller, and that, determined to find
out for herself, she surprised them both
at the Ramona, and after obtaining
Harris consent to a divorce, took Mrs.
Miller's diamonds as security that she
would appear as witness whell the suit
commenced.
Some twenty minutes more or less were
exhausted before the witnesses for both
sides could be collected and sworn, but
after these preliminaries had been dis
posed of, all parties were placed under
the rules. The proceedings commenced
with the examination of Fred Linde, the
Spring street jeweler, who was sum-
moned as an expert to decide the value
Of the diamonds alleged to have been
stolen. He placed their value at $640 in
the aggregate, and was not cross-ex-
amined.
Chief of Police ]. F. Burns was then
called to the stand, merely to identify
the diamonds which he received from
M. T. Bowler on the 9th inst. On cross
examination he admitted having also re-
ceived two pieces of paper, which were
produced and identified.
Detective M. T. Bowler testified to re-
ceivipg the jewelry from Mrs. Harris on
the 9th inst. at her rooms, on the corner
of Fort and Filth streets, and after bring.
ing the lady back to the police station,
handing them over to the Chief of Police.
On cross-examination he admitted that
Mrs. Harris also gave him two pieces of
paper from her pocket on Tuesday, when
placed under arrest.
The complaining witness, Mrs. Mary
E. Miller, then took the stand and testi
fed as follows:
"My name is Mary E. Miller, and l
am the wife of G. w. Miller. At present
l reside on King street, but was on the
9th inst. and prior thereto, living at the
corner of Fifth and Fort streets. l know
both of the defendants, and saw chem on
Saturday last. About 80 o'clock in the
morning, Mrs. Harris came to my room
and brought me something to eat, but
don't remember what it was. After
stopping about five minutes she went
away again; but returned shortly after
noon, bringing me some Spanish stew. |
ate some uf this while she was in my
room, but she did not stay long. After
eating both meals felt dull and stupid,
but did not know how to account for the
feeling. l saw Harris about 10 O'Clock
that morning, when he came to my room
door and asked me if would meet him
at O'Clock. / agreed, and he gave me
q card, instructiDg me to meet him at the
Ramona. Shortly sf er Mrs. Harris left
me the second time, dressed myself for
the street and put on my iswelry, cres-
cent diamond brooch, solitaire and clus-
ter diamond rins, and earrings. Here
the witness identified the jewelry.l l
then walked round to the Ramona and
met Harris, between l and 2 O'Clock, at
the foot of the stairs, and he escorted me
up to room 81. was very warm when l
got up there, and when Frank came over
and kissed me and told me to retire,
did 80 without any objection.
We went into an inner room.
We had not been there many minutes
when rap was heard on the outer door
of room 81. In few seconds there was
louder one, and Frank went to see who
was there. As he opened the door l
heard him say, "What are you doing
here?" A woman replied, "I'll show
you, and that soon." Mrs. Harris then
rushed into the room, and standing in
the doorway between the two rooms,
pointed rusty-looking revolver at me,
and said that if didn't give her 81, 500
she would kill me before she left the
room. She then walked over to where
my clothes lay, and, picking them all
mp in bundle, threatened to take them
to my husband. l didn't have any
money with me, so told her that if it
would satisfy her l would go with her
and confess all to my husband. She
then walked over to the window, and
throwing it up, threatened to call the
racket there, and walked over to the
window and pulled down the blind. She
also pointed the gun at Harris, and told
him to give her all he had. He
replied, "That is all right" -;
but don't remember in what
tone of voice he said it. Mrs. Harris
started for the door with my clothes in
her hands, and as l cried out, Harris
said to her, "Give the woman her
clothes" She then locked the door,
and, putting the key in her pocket, re-
turned to where l was sitting on the
sofa, saying, 81 want to settle, and that
quick" She then gave me fifteen min
utes in which to make up my mind.
After thinking it over while, told her
that l didn't have any money, but would
give her lot over on Boyle Heights, and
she wanted me to turn over my jewelry
as security, telling me could redeem it
on Monday by giving her deed for the
lot. All this time the pistol was pointed
at me, and she furnished me with a piece
of paper, and Harris gave me another
with a pencil, and at her dictation l
wrote both the notes produced"
Here the notes were read, as follows |:
"This is to show that l was, was at
here with with Mr.. Harris.
MARY MILLER"
'fI will give me diamond until dead
you lot an in next Monday.
MARY MILLER.
Boyle Heights"
Continuing, witness said: "I recognize
those notes as the ones | wrote, when in