Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-10
DR.. SHORB'S STORY.
He Tells His Side of the
Harris Affair.
Plaintiffs Attorneys Accuse
Mrs. Shorb Of Signalling.
The Doctor COntradicts Several Wit
nesses for the Prosecution.
Harris Was Not Profane or Dfrty-He
Gave Mrs. Shorb the Checks
as Present-The Tes-
timony.

Interest in the sensational suit brought
against the Shorbs by Public Admins
traitor Field continues undated. In
fact, it appears to increase as the case
goes on. Both sides still claim to have
the best OF it.
Yesterdays session was full OF inter
est to the crowd of spectators. DR..
Shorb, one of the defendants. was on
the stand all day, and his examination
had not been concluded when court adj
journed.
The major portion of his testimony
while under direct examination was IN
rebuttal of evidence given by a number
of witnesses for the plaintiff. He swore
that the gifts so often spoken OF were
made to his wife alone. The witness
first met Harris at his (Shorb's) Office,
where Harris called to consult witness
regarding some family difficulty. He
and his wife had become estranged, and
he wanted to effect q reconciliation.
The witness stated he had previously
written to Harris, who was in the north
and his wife here. Harris called upon
that business, and the result was that
Harris and his wife were brought to-
gether again. The witness said he
commenced to treat DR.. Harris for his
heart trouble from June "a, 1890, and
continued as his physician till death
came to relieve the sick man OF his
suffering. DIR. Shorb said that Harris
employed him and was the first to sug-
gest it. A nurse had testified as to
Harris's habit of swearing and cursing
at him. When he reported this to Dr..
Shorb, the latter observed: "Oh, don't
mind what the old man says; he does
not know what he is talking about"
The doctor swore positively that he
never made any such re mark. lie also
contradicted statements made by the
nurses who were put on the stand by
plaintiff.
The witness also denied that Harris
ever had an apoplectic fit or that he was
given large quantities of liquor to drink
while ill. "Harris was always able to
walk about" said the doctor, 'even up
to the day of his DEATH" The witness
denied that he ever objected to Harris's
relations being communicated with or
the nephew being telegraphed for. He
denied that Harris was ever under the
influence of liquor while i'll, or that he
(Shorb) ever asked him to sign certain
papers just before his death. The wit
ness gave his version of how Harris
happened to make the gifts to Mrs.
Shorb. When the question was raised
as to whether or not any person but
Harris could draw the money on the
certificate of deposit, DR.. Shorb said he
went to the bank and inquired about it.
He got assurances that if the paper was
assigned by Harris the money could be
collected. DR.. Shorb denied having
any interest in the gifts, and denied
that they were given to him. They be-
longed to Mrs. Shorb. Harris was on
very friendly terms with the Shorbs,
and previous to his illness. frequently
visited and sat at their table. The de-
ceased was grateful for what they had
done for him, and made the gifts with
out suggestion from any one. When
he died the nurse was not present. He
had gone tor lunch. Only Dr. Shorb
was present.
Owing to the DOCTORS direct testimony
the attorneys for the plaintiff created a
sensation by stating that the witness
was being signalled by his wife, who
sat against the railing back OF her coun-
sci.
Upon this statement the examination
was temporarily suspended, and the
court heard testimony about the al
legged signals, the result OF tine matter
being that Judge Van Dyke stated that
there was not sufficient evidence to
prove the charge, and the case was re-
sumed after tilt between counsel, the
the attorneys for the defense claiming
the plaintiffs counsel made the charge
for the purpose of arousing newspaper
comment.
When court reassembled for the after
noon session, DIR. Shorb again took the
stand and was handed over to Mr.. Mon
roe, OF counsel for the plaintiff, for cross
examination.
A rapid fire OF searching questions
were shot at the witness throughout the
entire afternoon, but his answers did
not differ materially from his direct tes-
timony given during the morning ses-
sion.
One point brought out on the cross
examination, which is considered an I'M
portant one by counsel for plaintiff, was
in regard to DIR. Shorb's actions imme-
diately after Harris's death.
The witness stated that Immediately
after his patient died be went home and
got the $4,000 certificate and another
check for $4,000 and went to the bank to
get them cashed. The bank refused to
pay the $4,000 check on the ground that
Harris was dead, but did pay the $25, OOO
certificate.
The matter of the $4,000 check is new
in the case, and series OF questions
elected from witness the information
that Harris had given him the check.
This check is entirely out OF the contro-
versy, but the fact that it was gwen him
was sworn to by DR.. Shorb, when the
dispositions were first taken.
The doctor stated that the 5000, $1,000,
and $500 checks and the $25, 900 certiti-
cate had been given to his wife. Harris
was entirely cleaned out OF cash with the
exception of $40, which he had IN bis
pockets, and which witness turned over
to Public Administrator Field after Har'
ris's death.
Mr.. Monroe questioned the witness as