The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-11
A FARCE IN COURT.
Trial of Amelia futile, Charged
With Insanity.
PREDICTED A RIVALS DEATH.
Foolish Action of . Jealous Girl Who
Consulted Fortuns-Tellers-Tv
Ships Libelcd by Their Crews.

John De Mott procured warrant for the girls ar
rest on Tuesday, and at the time told the crcum-
stances that led to his action. 1t appeared that
Miss futile and Miss Birdie De Mott, the daugh-
ter OF the complaining witness, had been rivals
in the affections OF young man of Houghton,
where all of the interested parties live Reports
were being circulated to the effect that Miss
futile had indirectly threatened Miss De- Mott
By declaring that she would not live year. On
last Friday night De Mott, returning home from
sGood Templar entertainment found Miss Tut
tie going through the house in search of his
daughters letters. This led to his procuring a
warrant for her arrest on the ground of insanity.
Upon the promise of Miss Tuttles friends to
have her In court at the trial she was not taken
into custody. At the time set for the hearing
she appeared in court with her sister and sat
quietly during the taking of the evidence until
she was placed on the witness stand. She was
neatly dressed in black and showed pretty set
Of features with dark skin and Jet black eyes
thst spoke of her half Indian parentage Miss
De Mott did not appear in court at ALL Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Mcbride appeared for the
state and Watson W. Moore and L. c. Gilman for
ihe defendant.
The first witness called was John De Mott.
who testified that on returning home Friday
night from Good Templar entertainment, he
found Miss futile ransacking the house. In re-
Spouse to his inquiry as to what she was doing
there she said: "vour daughter has been lying
about me and came here to prove it." When
asked what she was looking for, she said she
was after letters that had evidence in them.
The witness had then opened the front door and
let the girl go. On last Monday he had gone to
her and told her IL she would leave Houghton
he would not prosecute her, but she refused
togo
On crossexamination the witness said that his
reasons for thinking Miss futile insane was be-
cause she had been telling different persons that
bis daughter Birdie would die within year,
and by her actions at the house when discoy-
cred there. He admitted that during the ten or
twelve years he had been acquainted with Miss
futile he had never known anything against
her before. She had worked at his house and
been intimate with his daughter.
"Did you not say yesterday to Mr.. Gilman that
II you couldn't fix a charge of insanity against
this girl you would bring one of burglary?"
IL believe told Mr.. Gilman / didn't know
which charge to bring"
Are you afraid of the girl?"
'No, sir; not for myself"
"well, why are you attempting to railroad her
to the insane asylum"
~ am not attempting to do that"
The second witness was Mr. Tuttle. the father
OF Amelia. He swore that he had never known
Of her being out OF her mind He had said
when he learned OF Amelia going to see fortune
teliers that she must be crazy. He had always
thought her good friends with Birdie De Mott
until quite recently.
The most knowing witness was Mrs. Bicknall,
aneighbor OF the De Motifs. who volunteered q
great deal more than the questions put to her
called for. With a show of reluctance she
admitted tina. she had heard Amelia mako
threats against Birdie. The young man in the
case was Bert Everest, her nephew. After he
had gone away Amelia came to her house and
the witness had told her: 81 have heard of
Bert through Birdie De Mott. It's strange he
to marry Birdie" Amelia had replied that
Birdie would never marry him because she
would not live.
On cross-examination Mr.. Gilman asked:
"Have you seen anything wrong with
Amena9'
eyes, ever since last October. Whenever 1
would mention Bert Everest shs would fy all
to pieces. You see, he is my nephew and she
would talk to me about him."
"That Is ALL" said the attorney.
"well, 1t isn't all" was the reply. "When 1
asked her why she spoke so of Birdie De Mott,
she gave fiendish laugh and said shes going
to die most excruciating deaths horrible
death When asked her why, she said, that
will be known later on"
"Did anything else happen?'
ayes, 1 went to Mr.. De Mott and told him to
keep Birdie away from Amelia Oh, could sit
here for an hour and tell of curious things
Amelia said"
"Do you think Miss Tuttle was in love with
Bert?'
"Yes she was, but he wasn't in love with
her,"
ado you know about his writing letters to
Drdie2"
ayes. You see, the poor fellow was lonely and
had to write TO somebody and he couldn't write
ome. lguess Amelia was after these letters"
By this time court. lawyers and spectators
were all wearing n broad smile and the next
snswer sen. them into commissions of laugh
'Mrs. Bicknall, did you ever see jealous
voman?"
''No, sir; never did"
"That Is all"
Mr.. Hamley and Miss Mary Fish testified
shat they had heard Miss futile say that Miss
De Mott would not live for gear.
The only witness called by the defense was the
girl accused of being insane Her story was
told in an earnest, straightforward way that
showed no signs of mental weakness. In re-
Spouse to her attorneys questions she admitted
that she had been foolish enough to consult
fortune tellers
after you suspected that your affections had
been triled with and that Birdie De Mott had
sapplanied you in this mans affections did you
% 10 see fortune-teller?' asked Mr.. Gilman.
yes, sir; went TO see Floranee Marvin. She
told me that Birdie De Mott would die violent
Death within year"
did you tell this about the neighborhoodT
ayes. sir"
Shave you ever had any trouble with your
head"
"No, sir. Only when had typhoid fever"
"Have you good health?"
AYES sir"
On contamination the girl admitted going
10 De Motifs house to search for a letter, bus
said che had never thought of its being any
ming criminal. When asked by De Mott why
she was there, she had answered: Il under
stand Birdie has been telling lies about me, and
lwant to get the proof of it."
Alter eross-cxamiuation the girl was asked by
ner own attorney If De Mott had tried TO drive
ner out OF the country, and answered.; yes,
ar, He came 10 me on Monday and said If i
oidn't leave Houghton he would have me ar
nsted Itoid him to go ahead and have me ar
rested; that he couldn't drive me away.
This closed the evidence, and Judge Nehten-
berg, addressing himself to the examining ply
neians, DR.. William Hilton and DR.. I. ~
Young, asked their opinion. Both agreed that
'he girl was perfectly sane DR.. J. B. Eagleson
ana Dr.. L L. Dawson, who had examined her,
also expressed the same opinion.
IN giving his decision. dischargng Miss Tut
We, The court said that he had at first been In
ehned to put the costs OF the case upon De Mott,
ouF asst seemed probable that his action might
nave been justified through fear that the girl
would do some harm to his family, he would
s1 the costs to the county. He thought, how
ever that entirely too many complaints OF TINS
haiure were being brought at the expense OF
Ine county. Miss Tuttle was given kindly
warning 10 steer clear of fortune-iellers in the
future
LIBELING THE SHIPS.
Crews OF the Tidal Wave and Nonan-
tum Want Their Wages.