The morning call., 1893-04-16
Words Exchanged Between
Court and Attorney.
ANOTHER HASTINGS WIDOW.
Through Her Attorney She Opposes
Lillian K. Hastings Application for
Family Allowance.

appeared on behalf of Mrs. Catherwood's
three children, who. under the will OF the
decedent are entitled to half his estate;
Ryland b. Wallace appeared for the execu-
tors Of the estate, and last. but not least,
Matthewl. Sullivan marched into the room
and took a seat at the attorneys desk
Five minutes atterward midde-aged
woman, dressed in black satin and wearing
black veil. walked quietly into the room
and took a seat beside Mr.. Sullivan.
Mrs. Hastings, who asks for an allowance
of $50 per month, took the stand and testi-
fed to the extent and character Of her pecu-
MARY necessities.
She stated that she was married TO Judge
Hastings in 1885. They had always lived
we'll and had their own horses and car
riage. They stopped at the best hotels
when travelling. The monthly expenses
ranged from $500 to $3.50 aud $500.
After a few years of married life she OBJ
tanned a divorce from the Judge in Lake
County.
Did you have counsel?" asked MIR.
Shortridge
BE attended to it for me. He made all the
arrangements for the divorce with the
Judge"
"Whatr calculated the court.
"Yes," repeated the widow naivey. "he
made all the arrangements with Judge
Hudson"
For what purpose is this testimony
brought out?" asked George a. knight. fir
ing up at once.
Il merely wanted to prove the marriage.
divorce and remarriage," replied Mr.. Short
ridge, innOcently. 81 didn't know that Mrs.
Hastings was going to put 1t that way"
''If Judge Hudson is in the room he may
come forward" said Judge COffey, hotly.
"A Judge gets accustomed 10 sianders and
vilifieation while on the bench, but when
ha Uaf off In rs il .IndOa Hudson ha hos
a chance to strike back"
But the jurist ALLUDED to was absent
1--WE shall have something further to say
about these statements" volunteered Mr..
Knight.
The witness resumed her testimony.
In 1890 she had remarked th e Judge, and
entered into contract with him whereby
she agreed to take $500 month as regular
allowance aud on his death to be satisfied
with $4,000
She stated, however, that they still con-
tinued to spend from 5000 to $500 per month
and that $50 was what she needed 10 main
tain herself in manner beftting her station
in life.
After sharp cross-examination by the
court she left the stand and was succeeded
by William Gselman, who has for years
been Judge Hastings agent and general
business man, and is now one of the execu-
tors of the will.
GiseIman testified that the estate left by
ALaStAh6S 10 coLiinolcu db dUUub
100000. He had an account showing about
Sl50.000 clear.
"rhe income of the estate, however" he
added. ''iSvery small. The only regular in
come is S2l5 per month. obtained from
Spring Valley Water Company stock"
When Mr.. Shortridge mad finished with
the witness the court asked if any other
counsel desired to ask any further ques-
tions.
Mr. Sullivan fairly sailed into the air.
do mia hoz "A asT
represent Mrs. Viola Hastings, sometimes
known as Mary Keller, and the true widow
of s. Z. Hastings, deceased, and | desire to
ask the witness first. whether he. agent
of ). G. Hastings, did not in the years 1878
or 1879 pay out moneys on behalf of S. c.
Hastings 10 or for the benefit of this woman,
as being then the wife OF S. C. Hastings?'
The Court-MT.l Sullivan. neither yourself
nor this woman have anv standing in court
in this matter at all, and l cannot recognize
your right TO examine this witness.
Mr.. Su!livan-I appear here for the
woman who claims to be the widow of
Judge Hastings. She only came 10 my office
the other day. l looked in the Daily Law
Journal, the official organ Of the courts. to
see when the matter OF this application for
a family allowance to Mrs. Hastings, who
claims to be the widow of the deceased, was
to be heard so that l might prepare for
NAL petition. but through some inadvertence
the application was not noticed at all. By
nleTe CUdliCt L ttldl ID WAS 10 Db
taken up this afternoon, and l am now here
in my clients behalf to petition orally that
this woman, Mrs. Lillian X. Hastings,
claiming TO have been the wife of Judge
Hastings, be not awarded a family allow
ance for the reason that she has no right TO
it. Certainly, your Honor, the inquiry is
pertinent at this time as TO whether
Lillian K. Hastings is the lawful widow,
for if she Is not she is not entitled to any
allowance.
Mr. Knight-We object to any examina.
tion of the witness by Mr.. Sullivan. The
issue of who is the real widow has not been
brought before the court.
Sullivan-I bring it before the court now
The court-l will sustain the objection.
II this practice were countenanced the
court miEht be scandaiZed every day by
women who claim relation ship to dead men.
1t is an informally which cannot safely be
tolerat, d. There are attorneys in San
Francisco who do not scruple to drag into
this court women claiming to be widows
and children claiming to be
There was sudden interruption.
Mr.. Sullivan sprang up, advanced to the
rail and said: II have you know I'm not
one, of those attorneys, and l don't pro-
pose"
The COURT did not say, sir. that you
were | merely
Mr.. Sullivan-You did. sir; you insiuu-
ated-
The court (raising his voice and lea ming
ONCi hlS IAi' Oulllfaug lcSuMo YOUR
seat; decline
Mr.. Sullivan-You spoke about dragging
in women
The court Qouder stilT-Sit down, sir. or
you will be punished for contempt Of court.
Mr. Bailitf-
MIR. Sullivan (paying no heed)-I desire to
say right here
The court rislngl-Resume your seat; sit
down!
Mr.. Sullivan-I will not sit down. 1 de-
The court Drowning counsePs voice)--You
will say nothing. MIR. Bailiff, l direct you
to compel obedience
Mr.. Sullivan-l will not be shut off in this
manner,
The court-You defy the court. sir. Mr..
Finn. carry out my order.
Both men here showed signs of weari-
ness, while the poor bailif, who looks as IL
he hadn't the heart TO hurt a mosquito, and
who Is, moreover. a rather lighter man than
Mr. Sullivan, looked pale as death and
contented himself with pacing to and fro,
and looking sheepish.
Sullivan kept right on with his explana-
tinns, and finally quit.
Then the court. perhaps realizing tha.
Sullivan had only naturally taken his re-
marks as having a personal Implication.
explained that he had intended no insult
whatever.
II am merely an automaton through
which the law speaks. Assuch merely
"hob COnCclf6 70 Ue IQ6 policy OF
the law in regard to the formalities with
which 1t has surrounded such proceedings
as these. And L stated the obvious result
OF such a loose procedure as this you are
attempting TO force upon this court"
Mr.. Sullivan then quickly wrote mt and
handed to the clerk for filing an opposition
OF Mrs. Viola Hastings, widow of S. G.
Hastings. deceased, to the application of
Lillian r. Hastings, the alleged widow of
sald deceased, for family allowance"
You are now recognized before the court
In this matter, said Judge Coffey mildly.
VERY well" said Mr.. Sullivan. 'sNow |
ask Tor a continuance for the reasons
already stated. ! demand IL on behalf of
my client"
You have no right to demand it, sir"
retorted the court, firing up again. ii will
allow no attorney to browbeat me-"
And they had 1t all over again. 1t was
one OF those volcanic affairs that writers of
stories OF adventure are fond of describing
as occurring in less time than 1t takes to