Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-31
A SPICY CASE.
A Wife's Affections Are
Alienated.
Her Husband Asks for Heavy
Damages.
Mrs. Francesca Bedan Claims That
Albert Tourney Seduced Her.
She Says He Is the Father of Her Child,
The Defense Denies the Alleg alton
and Hints at Blackmail--An At
torney Reprimanded.

The sensational suit brought by Mar
tin Bedan to recover $780, 900 damages
from Albert Tourney, who the plaintiff
alleges seduced bis wife and alienateC
her affections, was placed on trial il
department six Yesterday, before Judge
Mckinley and jury.
Some highly favored testimony was
introduced, to the manifest edifcatior
Of crowd of spectators.
In his complaint the plaintiff alleges
that Tourney had intercourse with Mrs
Bedan on the 10Th of December, 1890
and that he forced her to his purpose
Tourney is alleged to be the father of a
child born to Mrs. Bedan.
The defendant denies each OF the alle-
cations set up by the plaintiff.
Mrs. Bedan was the first witness
called. She had the dates OF various
incidents and conversations down fine,
and reeled off her story at rapid rate.
Her evidence OF course backed up the
complaint filed in the case in every par
ticuar.
Mrs. Francesca Bedan is working
woman, and on the 10Th of December,
1890, was employed to clean Tourney g
new house on Grand avenue, Late in
the afternoon the defendant came to the
house, which was vacant, and after
some conversation seized her and forced
her into closet, where he outraged her,
despite her struggles. Shortly after she
learned that she was pregnant, and is
positive that Tourney is the father OF her
child.
She swore that she and her husband
were living in the same house at that
time, but occupied separate rooms, she
sleeping with her daughter. Her hus-
band, she states, was ruptured about
that time, and remained in bed for sew
eral days. The child was born Septem-
Der 14th of this year.
Where did you see the defendant after
December 18th? asked counsel for plain
tiff.
II saw him on the 18th of April in the
Norton block, on Seventh street He was
in the grocery store there, and l waited
until he came out, when l said, I want
to tell you something then informed
was the father of the child. He said, 4
OOu u 81. l1O bdthCu cOluO inOf6
and he said, Lay it to your husband
told him l had had nothing to do with
my husband. Well, he said he would
get some money and pay me something.
Later in the day he came to my house
and told me to 60 to house on Los An
geles street, where he had room. l
told him 1 would be there, but didn't
90, as / didn't know what he wanted me
for. At O'Clock that afternoon saw
him on the corner of Los Angeles and
Winston street, and when came up he
said: You're late. Don't you like to
go to the house?' / told him he must
speak there"
Witness went on relating converse
tions in which she charges Tourney with
having made improper proposals to her,
all of which she rejected. She also
talked with the defendant on the 22d
and 23d of July at his house, when she
again called his attention to her condi-
dion, and said her husband would not
live with her any more after the birth
of her child. She wanted him to 60 to
her house, but he refused, saying he was
afraid of her husband; besides he said
it would not look right for him to 60 to
the house.
When the witness went to Journeys
house she took detective with her, be-
cause she feared he might want to do
her some injury. He took her down
into the cellar of the house, and said:
''If you don't stop your lying won't
pay you cent" He again wanted
her to accede to his wishes,
and told her if she refused she wouldn't
get any money. He also said if her old
man left her he would provide for her
comfort. He also said on one occasion:
"When the baby is born, if it looks like.
me, I'll pay you $500" Tourney had
the cellar door locked during the con-
versations. At another time she says
Tourney told her he would have plenty
c. money and would pay her.
She also saw him at her attorneys
Office in the Bryeon block, where they
talked the matter over again.
On cross-examination the witness
story went to pieces in some respects,
and she became badly mixed in the
dates of occurrences which she reeled
off go easily on direct examination.
In response to Mr.. Bacon's questions,
she stated that she was at the Office of
her counsel, Mr.. Luckel. who is con-
Quoting the case for her husband, at
the time Tourney was then with his
counsel, Mr.. Sherman, and told them
her husband would put her out of the
house. Tourney and Sherman told her
they wouldn't pay her cent. For the
purpose OF bringing him to time, wit
ness threatened Tourney with arrest if
he refused to pay her. She stated that
Mr.. Luckel told her to make this threat
and gave her the address OF the district
attorney.
When Mrs. Bedan made this admis-
sion, the Judge interrupted her and re-
marked to Mr.. Luckel his disapproba
tion of such conduct on the part of an
attorney. Mr.. Luckel addressed the
court. stating that the circumstances
were peculiar and he would make an ex-
planation. He also said he would SUBJ
nit to any fine or reprimand admins
tered by the court. Judge Mckinley
replied that he had no power to fine an
attorney.
The witness continued her story,
stating that Tourney was badly scared.
She said Luckel did not tell her to take
q detective out to the defendants house.
Upon cross-examination, regarding
the assault, Mrs. Bsdan testified that
Tourney took her by the arm and threw
her down quickly. She said she was
fully clothed and described the under
garments worn by her at the time, stat
ing that Tourney tried to remove some
of them and asked her to take them off.
He did not strike or injure her by any
blow nor wera her clot he's torn in fhta