Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-06
THE CLARK CASE.
AN INTERESTING ACTION IN THE
JUSTICE COURT.
Charge OF Obtaining Goods by False Pre-
tenses-Testimony for the Prosecu-
ton.

Justice Lockwood was occupied nearly
the whole of yesterday in the examina-
ton of Mrs. Belle Clark, Miss P. M.
Seaman and F. X. Clark, the Pasadena
lawyer, upon the charge of having, on
November 4, 1889, obtained property OF
the value of $52 from the Partisan
Cloak and Suit Company, by means of
fraudulent and false representations.
The defendants raised an objection to
the proceedings when the case was
called, as they had been arraigned upon
the charge as misdemeanor, and had
entered their respective pleas thereto at
a prior date, and on this ground they
claimed that they could not be charged
with felony upon the same complaint.
The court overruled the objection and
the case was opened with the testimony
of the complainant, j. S. Salkey, which
was in effect as follows: On November 4,
1889, Mrs. Clark and Miss Seaman called
at the Partisan Cloak and Suit Com
pany's store at No. l19 South Spring
street, and the latter talked to Mrs. S.
M. Hayte, one of the saleswomen, and
asked for credit. While the ladies were
talking, j. d. Stewart, one of the sales
men, came up, and after joining in the
conversation, called upon Salkey, the
manager. Miss Seaman then repeated
her request for credit, stating that she
owned property on Colorado court, Pas
sadena, which was worth $4,000, and
upon which there were encumbrances
amounting to 81 800 or $4,000. Salkey
stated that the firm was not in the habit
of giving credit, and intimated to Miss
Seaman that property was not worth so
much in Pasadena at that time as it had
been formerly. The lady replied
that she expected some remittances
from New York in short
time, and after some further
asked her if she had any references from
any other merchants in that city. Miss
Seaman promptly replied that she had
never had occasion to ask anyone else
for credit and consequently this was out
OF the question; but her attorney, Mr..
F. X. Clark, might be referred to.
and, after the ladies left the store, prom
dispatched boy with note to Clark,
was not in his Office at the time, but he
subsequently CdllCu Ia ptIsOll dHCt lllltT-
viewed Mr.. Salkey, replying to that gen.
tleman's queries that his client was ex-
actly as she had stated, and that she
was good for any amount. Accordingly,
when the ladies returned in the alter
noon they were waited upon by Miss
Nellie Ryan, another saleswoman, and
selected cloaks to the value of $52 One
OF the garments, a child's cloak, they
carried themselves, the others being
sent by express. About a week later
Miss Seaman and her sister returned
to the store and attempted to exchange
one of their cloaks, but their mission
was unsuccessful, as Salkey refused to
allow them to do so. At the expiration
of thirty days time, Salkey wrote to
Miss Seaman, enclosing the bill for the
goods; but she replied to the effect that
If he crowded her for the money, she
would Immediately homestead her prop
erty and then he would not get any
thing.
Mrs S. M. Hayte and Miss Nellie Ryan,
the two salesladies, who waited upon
the ladies, corroborated the testimony OF
Manager Salkey, and detailed the con-
versations which occurred between them.
E. E. Crandall, the next witness, was
put on the stand to testify that the de-
PENDANTS obtained a stove from him in
the same manner, but the defendants OBJ
jected and the court took the matter of
the relevancy of such testimony under
advisement until 9 80 O'Clock this morn
ing when the case will be resumed.