Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-18
GENTLE ANNIE.
SHE WHO DEPLETED GINsBERG,s
EXCHEQUER.
Mrs. Donohue Acquitted by the
Police Court Yesterday OF an
Intentional Crime.

The Police Court was fairly iammed yes
terday by crowd anxious TO hear the pro-
ceedings In the case of Annie Donohue.
charged with grand larceny, in disposing
of lottery ticket to Sam Gins5erg for s475.
and which Afterwards proved to be good
for nothing. The prosecuting witness,
Samuel Ginsberg, was represented by Clin-
ton L. White and g. G. Pickett, and the
defendant by Major Anderson.
The first person placed upon the witness
stand was the prosecuting witness, Gins.
berg He related the facts of the case. as
have heretofore been published in the
RECORD UNION. He stated that she came
into his store on April 25th. between
5 and 9 o'clock in the evening and showed
him lottery ticket, at the same time saw
ing, II guess this is one of the winning
numbers, and l would ike to get il
cashed. He scrutinized it closely. told
her 1t had won $500, and said he would
give her S475 for it. She accepted the offer.
said she preferred ready money instead of
check, took the cash and departed. Wit
ness said he noticed that after she got some
distance from the store she commenced
running. The number on the ticket was
IS 433.
Ginsberg was subjected to scorching
cross examination by Major Anderson,
during which the latter asked him if he
had not sold the defendant lottery tickets
before. After long argument as to the
aomlssiolllty OF the question. the Court
overruled the objection 10 the question, and
I'D l,a+ L L
during the rest of the witness testimony
no little ill-feelng arose between the de-.
1endants attorney and the witness. and
aud both were threatened by the Court with
punishment tor contempt. Other witnesses
11r the prosecution testified 10 minor mat
tiers in the case.
Frank Miller said he considered the
forgery not very clever one-that is, it
probably would not deceive an expert.
Mrs. Donohue was placed on the stand
on her own behalf, and gave her story of
the affair. She said she bought the ticket
from short, heavy-set man in Redding
whose name she did not know. She was
unaware OF its having been altered. ar d
upon hearing that it was winning num-
Der she Immediately went 10 Ginsberg
whom she had learned cashed tickets at a
discount. She was in hurry for her
GO SiiC W dJttu 10 make WISH To
Lincoln, and preferred having it cashed
right away rather than wait some weeks
Tor the money to arrive from New Orleans
She was not aware that the ticket was a
forgery. and even when she looked at it in
Court she could not see where it had been
altered.
Inc witness was cross examiped at
length, and among questions asked was
one which was not very clearly answered.
1t was:
Why did you tell Chief Lee in his office
that you were sick ON the night the affair
The witness replied that she didn't want
to say anything"
Alter some more testimony was heard
both sides rested, and Major Anderson, for
the defendant, made an extended argu-
ment. de held that the prosecution had
mace no case at all. They had not proven
that she knew the ticket was a forgery. or
that she used any means or fraudulent
ways 10 get the money. No Court would
ever convict her. 1t might be presumed
that the defendant did know all about the
ticket. but the presumptions were all on
the defendants side. and would have to be
displaced by positive testimony in order to
be evidence. He asked for the discharge of
the defendant
Clinton L. White, for The prosecution,
held that the defendant was as guilty as
conld be. He referred to the secretive
character of the defendants testimony and
the fact that she ran up the street after
having received the money. In his opin-
ion there was felonious intent on the part
OF the defendant
Judge Buckley, after reviewing the test.
mony. said he could not possibly hold her
to answer without criminal intent being
shown, and Mrs Donahue was discharged