Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-13
IN THE COURTS.
WILLIAM CRUMB ON TRIAL FOR
ADULTERY.
and Judge Smith-The Husbands Tale
of Woe-Court Notes-New Cases.

OF Woe-Court Notes-NeW Cases.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning, the
hour set for the commencemento of the
trial of the case against William Crumb.
charged with having committed adultery
with Mrs. Mamie Calvert, the court
room Of department one of the superior
court was packed with morbidly curious
spectators, anxious to catch a glimpse
of the defendant, who did not appear
to feel his unenviable position very
keenly.
The entire morning session was con-
sumed in the work OF obtaining jury.
Immediately after the jury had been
sworn and settled down into their seats
again, the defendants attorney, H. III.
Appel, ESQ.,, objected to any further
proceedings and moved for dismissal
Of the case against his client, on the
ground that the allegations contained in
the information FLED against him did
not constitute a public offense. The
court promptly denied the motion and
recess was taken until O'Clock pm.
On reconvening after lunch II. A.
Rinkenbach, q member OF the police
force, was called to the witness stand
for the. prosecution. His testimony was
to the effect that for several months he
had lived next door to Mr.. and Mrs.
William Crumb, on Seventh street, and
had frequently heard the defendant adj
dress the woman as his wife. Some
seven months ago Crumb had told him
that he and his wife had been married
for over twelve years, and that their
wedding had been celebrated in Kansas.
At this juncture the prosecution
offered to introduce in evidence certi-
fed copy of the certificate of the mar
riage OF William Crumb and Katie
Swanson, which ceremony was per-
formed at Abilene, Kan, on May IL,
1878, by priest of the Reorganized
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints.
After this document had been exam
med by the defendants attorneys, an
objection was raised by the defense to
its Introducing on the ground that it
was not certified to in accordance with
the provisions of the code OF civil pro-
cedure of this state. The prosecution
argued that though this might be true,
it was certified in conformance with the
requirements of the laws of the state of
Kansas, and that that was sufficient.
The court, however, sustained the OBJ
lection, and the copy of the certificate
was not admitted as evidence.
w. F. X. Parker, deputy county
recorder. was next called, and produced
the records showing that on October 5,
1884, a certificate of the marriage of
Isaac Calvert to Mamie Tibbitts, at
Ballona, was recorded.
Considerable interest was manifested
by the crowd in the courtroom, when
the next witness, Isaac Calvert, took the
stand and told the story of his wife's
perfidy. His testimony was to the eff
feet that he knew Mamie Calvert, and
had lived with her as man and wife for
the past ten years, until the first of
January last, when she left his house of
her own accord. On January 2Sth he
saw the defendant and his wife in a
compromising position in a room at a
| lodging house on the corner of Third
and Main Streets. the circumstances
under which he happened to catch them
being given in detail by the witness.
Prior to that date he met his wife walk
ing with Crumb on Spring street about
O'Clock p. m.. and told her that she
could go down to his house and get hel
clothing offering to get her hack if
she would do so, then and there. While
sthey were talking together Crumb, who
had been standing few feet apart from
them, interrupted them and putting his
hand back to his hip pocket, told wit
ness mot to get too fresh" Finally
Mrs. Calvert agreed to the proposal OF
the witness, and drove down to the
house in hack and took her
clothing away. Next morning
he again saw them together. Hearing
that they were occupying the same
room alta lodging house on South Spring
street, kept by colored woman named
Mrs. Bright, he proceeded to that place
between 5 and O'Clock am. After
rapping at the door of the room in which
he supposed them to be, and being re-
fused admission, he climbed up and
| looked through the transom over the
door. He then saw his wife and Crumb
nesting in each others arms, in bed,
and he again demanded admission,
threatening to break down the door un-
less his request was complied with. Al
ter waiting a few minutes and being
again refused admission, he burst the
door open and, confronting the guilty
couple, ordered Crumb to leave the
| lOOLls w hlCl OlO. Will dldCIlty. Liz
witness then detailed the circumstances
CT the arrest of the defendant and Mrs.
Calvert at his instance.
| On cross-examination Calvert ad-
mitted that he could neither read nor
write. He denied emphatically
that he had starved his wife and
child, or that he had ever taken
the money she had earned and
squandered it for liquor, adding that he
worked hard for all the money he spent
for liquor. The defense attempted to
prove by the witness that in November,
$780, he told his wife in the presence
and hearing OF Mrs. Bright, the colored
woman, that eff she wanted money she
could get out and rustic for it," she be-
ing then penniless and in starving con-
dition, he having spent their last cent
on the previous Sunday for liquor. The
prosecution, however, objected to the
form of a question put by the defend
ants attorney, to this effect, whereupon,
II. H. Appel, Esq, stated what he ex-
pected to prove. He was interrupted by
the court in the midst OF his explana-
tions, Judge Smith remarking that he
could not see the necessity at that stage
L. i. r