The morning call., 1891-03-21
FISHING IN COURT.
So Far 1t Has Resulted Only in a
Water Haul.
Coffey's Attempts to Secure Possession Of WOOn
Tseen stubbcrnly Fought by the Presby-
terian Mission.

The guardianship maileT OF tIe OiI'He90
girl, Woon Tseen, was again before Judge
Trout yesterday afternoon, and Attorney
Coffev renewed his fight to gain possession
of the books of the Presbyterian Chinese
Mission Home, but again met with defeat.
Miss Culbertson was as persistent as ever
in her refusal to produce them, and Attor-
npy Coffev was as persistent in making long
speeches as to what he could or might prove
as TO the character of the institution II he
only had tile books before him. There was
a great deal of insinuating and explanatory
oratory offered by Mr.. Coffey, many objec-
tions, little testimony, and then an ad-
lournment till One week from to-day at
o'clock in the afternoon.
Vpry different was the audience that filled
Judge Truutt's courtroom yesterday after
noon from the audience that has been gath
cred there all week TO listen to the shocking
details Of the Du Rose murder trial. Rev.
and Mrs Condict, recently from Los An
geles, and a large number OF their fellow
workers, representing the Presbyterian
Occidental Board of Foreign Missions, were
present, as were a host of charitable ladies
who are in one way or another actively en-
gagged in the good work of civilizing and
Outstanding the hea,hen Chinese.
When the case was called Miss Culbert-
son, matron of the Mission Home and pres
ent guardian Of Woon Tseen, was called to
take the stand.
Have YOU brought the books OF the Mis-
sion Home into court with you, Miss Cul-
bertson. as demanded by this subpena?"
was the first question o ed by the attorney
who appears for Kan Nah, Chinese
woman who wants the custody OF Noon
lseen. Miss CulOertson had not, and she
said SO.
so ADVISED BY COUNSEL
"Why have you not brought the books?"
from Mr.. Coffey, very sternly.
Miss CulbertSOn had consulted her attor-
ney and he had told her she need not pro-
duce the books.
Now Attorney Coffey was on his feet for
a speech Here was Il witness setting at
defiance the order Of the court, courts seal,
law, d diInity of court, etc.
Attorney a. Ruef interrupted Attorney
Cotfey long enough to call his attention to
the fac; that the subpoena called for the books
on March 18th and no other day.
But Judge Trout was anxious to get at
the bottom Of the question and at his request
that technical objection was waived for the
time. The case was argued further upon its
merits from Attorney COfeyS standpoint,
Then the court said that he was not dis
posed to allow any one to make inrOads
upon the books and papers of an institution
like the Mission Home for vague a rea-
BOZ as that urged by counsel namely, that
Then Mr. Coffey took the floor again. He
referred TO the public press and to a great
many other things that were neither "here
nor there; and then said again that he
was reldy to show that Chinese high
binders had been using the home for their
evil purposes; that they had gone there and
married girls out OF the home Tor base ends;
that Miss CulbertsOn had virtually con-
Quoted the place on the principal Of barter
and sale. The highbinders came there,
paid so much money and then took the girls
away without any questions being asked.
At this there was general murmur
throughout the room. The audience was
becoming viSibly excited Mr.. Coffey was
fiOundeTing in ep water, and had not the
bailf t5Owned as only Judge Troutt's
bailif can fTown and raped the gavel for
order there might have been disorder of
rather a serious nature.
SINS OF OMISSION.
Attorney Coliey hedged then. Miss Cul-
bertsons sins were Of omission rather than
commission. lie hung on that phrase sew
eral seconds, - omission rather than CON-
mission" She mad neglected to make
proper inquiries.
Now said the Court, "suppose we 20
ahead with the lady's examination, on the
suppositicn that she has the books with her.
! want TO see where the relevancy Of your
demand for the books lies"
Then Attorney Coffey asked great num-
Der of questions about a great number of
Chinese girls who had been inmates Of the
home or were still there, but after a deal Of
diving he secured no fish and Judge Trout
(whaPs in a n4me?) repeatedly reminded
him that he would permit no fishing ex-
cursiOn into the annals OF the institution"
taking the broad ground raised by Attorney
Ruef that it was against public policy to be-
tray the doings OF an institution Of this semi
public character.
In the case Of one girl that had been an
inmate Low Cum Mr. Cuffov maintained
that he had laid the grounds for further
Questi0nlng along the lines he proposed, be-
cause Miss CulbertSOn had admitted, in re-
spOnSe to his previous questions, that Low
Kun had been married to a Chinese who
was not a Christian and whose an:ecedents
Miss CulbertsOn knew nothing Of IL he
could show that Miss CuIbeItSOn had acted
in the same negligent manner toward all the
other girls he could SHOW that she was not
fit person to be guardian of Woon Tseen.
FURTHER PosTPoNEMENr.
Attorney Ruef suggested that after fur
ther examination the facts might not look
SO black as they did then. Suppose it
transpired that though Miss CnlDertson did
not know of this mans aBtecedents she did
know or had reason TO believe from reliable
information that lie was fit person to
marry the girl.
And so The argument continued, pro and
con, until at last, without having gained a
point but having lost several, Attorney
Coffey called for time. and postponement
was granted by mutual consent until one
week from to-day.
Meanwhile Judge Trout has advised
Miss CulberIsoD TO bring one of her memo
randum-b books that containing data as to
the marriage Of her wards-into court when
she came again, not that counsel for the
other side might examine it, but that she
might refresh her memory therefr0n in
case the Court should decide that certain
questions were relevant. Judge Trout
added, though, when giving this advice,
that she had better consult her attorney in
the matter.
From all appearances the case is by no
means ended. The Mission Home is as de-
termiUed as ever and counsel for Kun Nah
seems bent on doing all the damage he can
TO the Presbyterian Mission Home for
Chinese