Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-30
That the People Are Not
Prejudiced Against Him.
So Said Justice Lockwood
Yesterday.
But the Papers Have Been Very
Naughty.
He Wants Speedy Examination But Gets
Continuance-Some Arguments
for Time.

1t had confidently been expected that
when the case of the people against w.
G. Lockwood, city justice of the peace,
was called up for examination yesterday
afternoon in the township Justices
court the public would be treated to
little more monkey business" and 1T
may be noted here that the people can
not complain on the score of disappoint-
ment. Mr.. Lockwood was in court with
G. C. Stephens, J. M. Brooks and Messrs.
Ling & Shinn, a formidable array of
legal talent indeed. The people on the
other hand was modestly represented by
Deputy District Attornies Hardesty
and Diehl.
The ball was opened by G.. G. Stephens
who wanted continuance. He was
engaged in the trial OF murder case in
Department 5, and wished a continu
ance on that ground. Counsel was fol-
lowed by Mr.. R. A. Ling who was en-
gagged in the same murder case, though
appearing with counsel for the people.
Mr.. Hardesty got up and said that it
was no matter if Mr.. Stephens and Mr..
Ling were engaged in another court.
Mr.. Shinn still remained as a solace to
the defendant, and he believed the de-
fendant himself a good enough attorney
to attend to the case if Mr.. Shinn should
fail him.
m. Brooks Clipped in at this mo-
ment and desired to withdraw from the
defense of the case, which was all the
more readily granted as his name did
not appear of record.
Mr.. Shinn now took a turn in the
talking bee. He would contend for
continuance. He only had been re-
tanned an hour ago and knew nothing at
all about the case. He would not at
tempt to try even petty misdemeanor
case without being thoroughly conver-
SAINT with all the details of it. And could
he safely 60 into the examination of
this matter, where public officer,
Justice of the peace, was charged with
grave offense, without knowing some
thing in relation to the matter? Oh!
no, he could not do that, and he must
insist that the court grant continu-
ance.
Mr.. Hardesty urged the court to deny
the motion. He said that if continu-
ances were granted every time one OF the
attorneys in the case was elsewhere en-
III.
Indefinitely postponed, because it would
become a practice OF the counsel to have
one or more of them busy in other
courts when the particular case was
called.
Mr.. Ling promised that if continu-
ance were granted this time no other
one would be expected by the defense.
Mr.. Hardesty-I object to any further
continuance. The defendant has here
with him Mr.. Shinn, a good attorney.
He himself is good lawyer. Ii Mr.
Shinn needs any assistance, what is to
prevent Judge Lockwood from prompt
ing him? Surely, if any one knows
anything about this case it is Lockwood,
and if he knows anything about this
case he knows it all.
Mr.. Shinn reiterated that he could not
90 into the case at that time, although
he stated that his client was very
anxious to proceed at once.
Justice Lockwood admitted the soft
impeachment. Yes! he would dearly
like to have the case go on. He had de-
manded it before, he had demanded it
since and he would even now want to
proceed, but for the unavoidable absence
Of C. Stephens, and because his coun-
sci had positively advised him to follow
their instructions.
Mr.. Hardesty dwelt upon the hard
ship continuance would entail upon
some of the witnesses, notably Mr..
Branscombe, who lives way out in the
country and whose wife is i'll. He
suggested that if the case could not fully
be gone into then and there, that the
testimony of Mr.. Branscombe, at least,
be taken; and that then, with the con-
sent of defendant, the further examina-
ton might be continued until another
day.
This brought Lockwood, who notwith-
standing his large retinue OF attorneys,
did good deal of speaking himself, to
his feet. He would object to the exam
ination of witness Branscombe at the
present moment. The public press OF
this city had been manufacturing i'll
feeling against him, and prejudice. II
would be unfair to him to have the tes.
timony of Brangcombe heard now and
give the public press another chance to
foster sentiment against him, which,
thank God, was not entertained by the
majority of the people Of this city.
The court stated that it wanted to deal
in all fairness both with the people and
the defendant. He believed that no i'll
effect would follow the granting to the
defendant of a continuance and the
order of the court would be that the ex-
animation be postponed until tomorrow
an 10. He, however, wanted Lock
wood distinctly to understand that no
further continuance would be granted
and that the case would have to be gone
into at that time.