The morning call., 1892-10-11
This IS THE LADY !"
How Ollie Was introduced
as Miss Dick.
Wells Defense Likely TO Be That He Was
Not Principal in the Forgery
Transactions.

The trial of James E. Wells for inducing
Ollie Hutchings to impersonate Miss Emma
l.. Dick, whereby $500 was fraudulently
obtained from Thomas Crane, excited con-
siderable interest yesterday in Judge
Troutt's court.
Ollie Hutehings. brunette with pleas
ant voice and numerous aliases, told all
about the forgery of the deed yesterday on
the stand
Another point was that some indication
was obtained of the line Of defense to be
taken.
The first witness was Attorney J. II.
Moore. who admitted for Wells that the
latter had come to him after the fraud was
discovered and offered to aid in finding the
thieves.
Cara Foltz. the defendants attorney,
asked whether Pilger's name had not been
mentioned In certain conversations with the
police.
at was" adn'itted the witness.
There is Pilger now?" asked the lady
attorney eXpectantly.
AZ don't exactly know" replied the wit
ness DergOusiy. "but he took poison at the
City Prison and died"
"ThereV' exclaimed Mrs Foltz, dramat-
ically, and 10 point her projected line of
defense, you see, Mr. Hinkie, that the real
criminal, Pllger. took poison as soon as his
crime as discovered"
But Assistant District Attorney Hinkle
merely smiled, and carelessly elected from
the witness that Wells, in spite of his offers
Of assistance, had not done anything as q
thief-taker.
Percy B. Travers. a real estate agent,
identified an agreement between himself
aud Wells, whereby he was to receive 500
commission II Wells succeeded In getting a
loan on Miss Dicks property On the corner
of Ellis and Franklin streets.
Wells had told witness that he knew the
parties personally and that it was all right.
j. Robinson, a porter at 80 Kearny
street, where Wells had bis office, testified
that he had seen Ollie Hutchings there sew
eral times. especially on September g.
J. p. MllaT testified that defendant.
Wells, had ordered and paid for an abstract
of the Ellis and Franklin streets lot.
Then Ollie Hutchings was called and re-
NAMED on the stand the rest Of the day.
She told how Pilger had visited her in
the early part of 1890 and told her he was
working up Big case as private detective
and wanted her assistance.
Il said he wanted her to do some writing
for him, and on one occasion he came 10
her room and got her to copy letter in
curing about some property on O'Farrell
street.
He said be wanted it In lady's hand and
she signed it Mrs Merry" she thought.
Ollie had been in the House OF Correction
Lewis. Winnie Graham and Irene Casey
among other euphonious names.
She was introduced 10 Pilger by Crutch
Haley. a friend Of hers, and gave him a
commission to find lost pin.
AfterWaTd she met Wells and understood
he was Pilger's partner in the big land
case"
In August 1890, she went to San Jose and
received letter from Wells, asking her TO
return, as she would be wanted soon.
IL bar rpfuFU W4lfa hor q
her room on Jones street and told her TO
come down TO his Office on September at
a. n.
From there he took her down to Notary
Public Cobb's office.
xvi hat did he say to General Cobbp''
asked Assistant District Attorney Hinkle.
'Re said. This is the lady, that is all,
replied the witness.
"Mr. Wells told me where 70 sign the
name, and l signed Miss Emma L. Dick
Witness said Cobb asked if 1t wasn't
a mortgage and when they left the Office
she inquired what he had meant but could
get no satisfaction that day.
The next day she said Wells told her that
she had forged anothers name 10 a mort
gage and that il she would 60 down to At
torney Moore's Office she could get the
money.
Witness demurred fearing she would be
greeted by a detective there, but Wells, she
said, told her that keeping away would be
equally suspicious as the money was ready.
Then the witness said she threatened to
20 to the police and give herself up but that
Wells declared that he would swear to the
falsity of her charge and that his word as a
merchant would be taken before hers as
woman Of the town.
Finally under promise of $1,000 witness
went down and received the money, getting
soon afterward $500 of 1t for herself in
twentes.
Witness then detailed her wanderings up
north, where she went to live on a claim
and was married. and finally her arrest and
return to this city.
Attorney Foltz then took the witness In
hand and her cT0ss-examination continued
until the court adjourned until this morn
srr