The morning call., 1893-03-25
CHEAP GERALDINE.
Porter Ashe Quotes Prices
on Her.
THE PART KELLY PLAYED.
His Financial Strength and Troubles
Come Cut in Cross-Examination
in the Big Horse Case.

r. Porter AShe was cross-examined near
ly the entire day yesterday, and all of the
transactions between himself aud his
trailer Kelly were rehearsed with great
particularly.
One of the first causes of disagreement
between the two men was in connection
with piece of property in Fresno.
Ashe had bought lot and built house
costing between $1,000 and 5000. He gave
the house to a cousin of his, who soon after
became demented and was sent East, so
that Ashe had the house on his hands. 1t
began to prove kind of elephant, so he
thought ne would turn it over to Kelly, to
whom he owed at the time about $4,000
Ashe explained that he made the transfer
OF the house partially because Kelly needed
home for his mother, and this reason ap-
pealed so strongly to Ashes fGer senti-
ments that the transfer was made without
delay.
"D.d you tell Mr. Kelly at the time yon
sold him the house that there were several
thousand dollars borrowed upon it ?"
well. did afterward. And | paid the
interest and guaranteed the final payment
Ashe.
Attorney Coogan reiterated. however that
MS client kelly feels that he was very
badly taken in in the house transaction.
After long pause Mr. Coogan asked:
Now, Mr.. Ashe. did you not say to Mr.
Kelly when you gave him the bill of sale,
Mike, the property is yours now, and no
body can interfere with it, not even my
self?"
Ashe-On my oath. no.
Coogau-You are very careful Of your
statements under oath, Mr.. Ashe?
Ashe-Yes. sir.
Now isn't it a fact" pursued Coogan,
that about November last you were inan-
clally emb barrassed, so that once you could
not pay for load Of feed worth $40 or SIP"
That is ridiculous" responded the race
horse man. u may have been temporarily
short OF cash, but l was worth $4,000 or
S50.OG0."
And was not your Merced ranch so
heavily mortgaged that you couldn't get an-
other dollar on it. and bank of Fresno was
Just about to foreclose on YOU for an indebt-
edness Of $1,000 or SS000?"
mo, sir"
Ashe?"
The witness modestly admitted that he
dld know thing or two about swift horses,
Now, will you tell us what you think
Geraldine is worth ?''
Ten thousand dollars" came the prompt
answer, but after little more questioning
the witness was forced 10 admit that when
placed on sale in New York some time ago,
the highest bid had been $1,000, and even
this was not a bOna-fde bid.
Soogan ASKED hlm, II as matter OF fact
the highest bid in good faith was not about
S29OO bat the witness would not come down
lower than $500.
He explained, however, that shortly be-
fore the sale the mare had been injured
and 1t could not be fOretold that she would
ever entirely recover-hence the low bid
ing.
When the defendants cross-examination
was concluded his brother. William Ashe,
was called to the stand, and corroborated
many OF PorteI's more important state
ments.
He sprung his trump card. however,
toward the end of his exam nation.
"Ou Wednesday, the 10th of November,
1892, | saw Williams and told him that
Mike Kelly did not own the horses and l
then and there offered him the amount for
which they had been given as security.
'On that same day, Kelly, Williams
Porter and myself were out at the track
aad Porter took Kelly aside and had talk
with him in my presence"
Don't you know you hold these horses
in trust. said my brother to Kelly; how can
You DO such thing as to sell them?'"
Aud what did Kelly reply?"
HE said, Yes, know have done wrong.
You lad better see Williams"
The case was continued to Monday.