Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-08
HANDSOME MRS. C|COTTE'S AGE
She Declines to Tell 1t and
Bluffs off Judge Brunson.
Interesting Proceedings Yesterday
in the Courts.
A Peculiar Case Against the Santa Fe
Company : Sensational Charges
Against william Sholderer.
New Suits-Court Notes.

NOW oultb-CouTt CNOtCos
81 decline positively to answer the
question:" spunkily replied Mrs. Martha
Cicotte, in Judge Clark's court room,
yesterday afternoon, in respone to a
query by Judge Arson Brunson as to
her age.
Just why the handsome witness
should decline to answer did not ap'
pear. 1t could not be because she was
too old, because seemingly she has not
yet reached even that uncertain age,
when q statement of the summers and
winters of woman's life becomes en-
barrassing. Mrs. Cicotte appeared to
be between % and 80 years OF age, and
she looked the astute attorney of the
Santa Fe railroad straight in the eyes,
struck even the jurors as being an un-
commonly attractive woman.
II insist on an aswer, madam" re.
itersted Judge Brunson.
81 will not. That is something / am
very particular about, and 1 don't
think gentleman should ask lady
such a question:" came QUICK as q
fash from the witness, and Judge
Brunson had to give it up, even failing
to get at it indirectly by adroit questions
intended to entrap the witness.
The case on trial was that of Mrs.
Cicotte's mother, Mrs. M. Wilson,
against the California Central Railroad
company, TO recover judgment for $4,000
for lot of household goods shipped
from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, and
which were burned up in the freight
warehouse Of the company. This is
the second trial. the plaintiff having re-
covered judgment once for the full
amount, but new trial being granted
by Judge Clark, his decision was
affirmed by the supreme court. The
trial was begun Thursday after
noon, and the taking Of testi-
mony was resumed yesterday morning.
During the morning Mrs. Wilson
testified, and went over the list
of articles shipped, seriatim, stat
ing their value, alleging that
the true value was nearer $4,000
than the $4,000 claim put in. She denied
having received any notice of the arrival
of the goods in Los Angeles. 1t is upon
this point that the case hinges, the rail-
road claiming that the notice of arrival
was duly given.
But the testimony OF Mrs. Cicotte and
her cross-examination were the interest
ing part of the days proceedings. Upon
her direct examination she related how
she had gone to the offices of the South
ern Pacific and Santa Fe companies in
search for the missing goods. She had
worked for four years as clerk in
railroad Office in indianapolis, and dis
played complete familiarity with way
bills, expense accounts and the proceed
ure in the freight Office of railroad.
She stated that when she ascertained
that the goods were destroyed she went
to call on Judge Brunson with her
mother, to see what the company would
do in the matter. He was polite and
told her to make out list, with low
valuation, and the company would set
tie. She made out the list and sent it
to him. When she went again Judge
Rrunson was cross, said he would pay
nothing, and that if she wanted any
thing she could sue for it.
She went over the list of goods
article by article, and stated that she
had priced such things in this city, and
the valuation in the schedule was very,
very low. The articles consisted OF
handsome parlor sets of furniture, lace
and silk curtains, paintings, plaques,
fine bedding. pillows, fine laces, and a
thousand and one articles, all claimed
to be superlatively elegant and costly.
1t was when Judge Brunson began his
cross-examination that the tilt described
above began. After giving up the dis
covery OF Mrs. Cicotte's age, the attor-
ney turned his attention to other mat
Tow To oolya1 ho xr;tr x,,ha ha
was married, and she told him in Au-
gust, 1885. She said she was up and
down the coast from that time and be-
until she went to Chicago, the next
spring.
"What was your husbands business
then, madam? 2" solemnly asked Judge
Brunson.
"He was travelling auditor of the Santa
Fe railroad, SIR"
"When did he leave the road ?"
''He was discharged, sir, because he
was witness in this case BEFORE"
quickly replied Mrs. Cicotte, scoring a
telling hit.
'Is he not now in the employ of the
company"
"Yes, sir; but not through the infu-
ence of officials"
Speaking about these plush Plaques"
said Judge Brunson, abruptly changing
the subject, "do you know how much
the raw material in them costa?''
"No, sir" said the witness, demurely,
"but it was my work on them that
made their value"
''How much do you think your work
is worth ?" queried the attorney.
"Well. cir. il ia hard to saw. - smiling
''but if Ben Franklin's estimate that
time is money is correct, should say
So minute"
An 80 the examination went on. In
vain did the attorney attempt to mix
the witness up on railroad matters con-
nected with way bills and the like. She
was as alert as the attorney, and well
posted on all the minute details of a
freight Office. She also claimed that
$4,000 would hardly cover the loss
Of the goods destroyed by fire, among
them being things that could never be
replaced. AT the conclusion of the