Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-20
The Prosecution Makes a Very
Fine Showing.
Defendant Dalton on the Wit
ness Stand.
He Tells the Story of His Fr0lic
With Bertha.
Very Little Testimony to Show That a
Crime Was Committed-Some of
the Evidence Given at
TOday's Session.

The witnesses summoned by the de-
tense in the Dalton case continued their
testimony yesterday in the presence of
a large crowd OF curious and interested
people. The trial was not resumed un-
til nearly IL O'Clock, when counsel for
the defense called John f. Humphreys
to the stand. The witness was put on
for the same purpose as had been Jose
Chavez, and his testimony was intended
to show that Mrs. Dalton had repeatedly
threatened to send Dalton to the peni-
tentiary. The two lawyers, Stephens
and Diehl, had lengthy and intensely
legal squabble over Humphreys's testi-
mony, which eventually was admitted
by Justice Austin.
The witness then stated that he has
had several conversations with the
prisoners wife, who had repeatedly re-
vealed to him her plans for getting all
of Dalton's property. and then getting
rid Of him. The statements under oath
of Chavez and Humphreys go to make
the case look bad for the prosecution.
There seems little doubt that Mrs.
Dalton had long ago intended getting
rid of her husband.
In the afternoon, the defence called
as witnesses Bert Lewis and Johnny
Roddle, two boys by whom it was to be
proven that the little girl Bertha was in
the habit OF accusing persons of taking
liberties with her person. Their testi-
mony to this effect was objected to,
however, by Mr.. Delhi, and was ex-
cluded. Thereupon the prisoner, Matt
M. Dalton, was himself called to the
stand to defend himself. His appear
ance was calm and steady, but without
bravado. His answers were clear and
bore the stamp of honesty and truthful
ness. He told the story of September 2
in straightforward manner, which
seemed to exclude any suspicion that
he might not be adhering to the truth.
"On September 1st," he said, "it had
all been pleasantly arranged that my
wife's father and mother and the little
girl were to go with me to San Fernando
valley, where / intended buying a
ranch. Mr.. and Mrs. Hagerman and
the child were glad to live with me, and
showed thereby perhaps greater love for
me than for their daughter. Mrs. Dal-
ton was to remain here with Mrs. Sulli-
van, with whom she seemed so very
friendly"
Mr.. Stephens-Do you know for what
purpose Mrs. Sullivan was living in your
house?
Witness-I don't know, but l have an
idea.
Mr.. Diehl-Hold on, there Never
mind your ideas
Mr.. Stephens-I haven't asked his
ideas yet. Don't hutter before you're
hurt.
After few more facetious inter
changes of this nature, the prisoner con-
tinued:
"On September I'd, in the morning,
Mr.. Hagerman and ] went to town to
see Mr.. Johnson about the San Fernando
matter. We walked about town looking
into some of the stores, and took drink
OR two, returning home at | O'Clock,
after had promised to return to John
sons Office at O'Clock. We reached
home at 2 O'Clock, and soon after had
dinner. After dinner l started to read
the paper in the sitting room, and little
Bertha kept teasing me. At last she
grabbed the paper and ran out on the
porch. followed her to take the paper
from her, and remained outside about
ten minutes. She kept on fooling, and
at last got up and went upstairs to lie
down on the bed and read in peace.
Bertha followed me, and continued her
playing. She began to tickle me under
the arms, and finally jumped up on top
of me. Then | threw her off the bed,
and when she kept on | carried her to
the staircase and dropped her down two
or three steps. She wouldn't stop car
rying on, and at last I had to give up
reading. | turned my face to the wall,
and she lay down beside me for a
minute or so. Then l went to the |
kitchen, and was followed by her there.
We continued to fool about, until I &C.
cidentally hit her oyer the fingers with |
a stick, and she got mad and quit. Our |
whole fun was such as we had had hun
dreds of times. She was fond of me,
and | loved her like my own child. /
Nothing of the nature described by Mrs. |
Sullivan ever occurred, and | never
either made any attempt to outrage the |
girl, nor even did / do anything which |
might look suspicious.
when came down stairs, Mrs. Sui
livan was still waiting where she had |
been, and showed not the least change |
in her demeanor toward me. 1t was by |
that time half-past O'Clock and went |
to catch my car for town. Before 1 did |
SO, she asked me to mail her letters, and
l didlso.
THAT evening everything was as
usual at home, and neither Mrs. Sui
livan or Mrs. Dalton acted differ
emily from other times. The next
however, while | was talking
in the yard with Mr.. Hagerman, my
wife came out, and while calling me