Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-10
AROUND TOWN.
The Examination of ATTORNEY
Clayton White.
-
He is Held to Answer for Beat
ing His Wife.
A Young Girl Drowned While Trying
to Save Her Sister.
Boyle Heights Citizens Want More School
Houses-Resolutions Adopted Last
Night-Other News.

The preliminary examination of Clay
ton White, the attorney charged with
having assaulted his divorced wife with
intent to commit murder, was brought
to close yesterday by Justice Austin,
who held him to answer to the charge in
the superior court, under bonds in the
sum of $4,000. Early yesterday morning,
in accordance with the order of the
court, the defendant was taken to the
residence of the complainant, Mrs. SUI
san White, for the purpose of hearing
her testimony in the case, she being still
unable to leave her room on account of
the injuries she sustained. The de-
fendant was accompanied by his counsel,
Constable Smith, and his deputy G. E..
Roberts, Justice Austin and Deputy
District Attorney Phibbs. On arrival at
Mrs. Whites residence, on the cor
ner of Pennsylvania avenue and
Pickett street, Boyle Heights, the
party was ushered into her
bed room, which was transformed into
temporary court room, and the lady
was sworn and examined in the usual
manner. Before giving her testimony
distressing scene occurred, as she eXhib-
tied fear of her former husband, which
even the presence of the two constables,
who at her request took up position
between her bedside and the defendant,
could not dispel.
Her testimony in effect was as fol-
lows: On the morning of June 22d last
at about 10 O'Clock White called at her
house and asked to be allowed to see
their children. Permission having been
accorded to him he entered the house
and taking seat in the dining room
talked to the little ones for
some time in the presence of
Mrs. White. After a while he drew
a newspaper from his pocket and lying
back upon lounge commenced to read.
Suddenly he turned to his former wife
and asked her about a certain statement
which she had made relative to his
sanity. Mrs. White informed him that
a lady friend of hers had told her one
day in conversation that some one had
spoken to her about the matter. In an
instant White jumped to his feet, ex-
claiming, 'My God! have borne SO
much already, that this is more than 1
can bear" Mrs. White requested him
not to make scene, and leaving the
room with the children, went out
upon the front porch. A few
minutes later White called his lit
tie 7-year-old son Rufus, and told
him to ask his mother to come into
the house again, as he wished tc speak
to her and would not hurt her. The
child did as his father directed, and the
mother sent him back with the reply
that she would if White would behave
and act in a agentlemanly manner. White,
through the medium of the child, as
sured her that he would do so, and she
granted him the desired interview, re-
pairing to her bedroom for that pur-
pose.
On entering the room White drew
pistol from his pocket, and, presenting
it at her head, said: MADAM, you
know who you have to deal with. Now,
1 want you to tell me who the
man was from whom your in
formant learned of my alleged insanity"
Mrs. White told him that she was not at
liberty to divulge the gentleman's
name, but would probably tell him about
it at some future date. White repeated
his former speech, and brandished the
revolver about in threatening manner.
Mrs. White, in a fit of desperation,
grasped the weapon and in the struggle
which ensued dislocated her thumb.
She then ran screaming from the room
and house, White following and threat
ening to kill her. On reaching the lawn
in front of the house White grabbed her
by the shoulder and threw her several
times against the boundary wall, and as
it viciously. He then seized her by
tho fhr0of on1 ohN1yoI har OF ha
same time making use of the
vilest language, and threatening to
take her life. During this scene little
Rufus, her son, ran at his father and
struck him three times in the face with
his tiny fist. Some of the lady neigh
bors attracted by Mrs. Whites screams
of terror came out, but as they drew near
White presented the pistol at them and
warned them to keep away from him.
As soon as possible Mrs. White broke
away from her assailant and ran across
to the house of neighbor, Mrs. Smith,
where she took refuge. After the ex-
citement of the moment had exhausted
itself, Mrs. White tainted. and was put
tobed. DIR. Morrison, the police sur
geoD, was summoned and upon examin-
alton pronounced Mrs. White danger
ously i'll, her collar bone having been
broken, her head cut and bruised. She
was subsequently found to be seriously
injured internally, and had not been
able to leave her bed.
She stated that she was not only still
afraid of White, but was firmly con-
vinced that as soon as he regained his
liberty he would kill her.
On cross-examination two long letters
penned by White to his former wife
were offered in evidence by the defense
and read to the court. Both were to the
effect that it would be better for her to
keep her mouth shut and go away where
she was unknown, as she had got him
into trouble enough already.
A GIRL DROWNED