The herald., 1893-08-13
SHE WAS CAUGHT BY HER FEET.
Sensational Close of the Trial
Of Antonio Aguilar.
His Mother Faints and Mrs. Richards
Attempts Suicide.
Clerk Forester Seized Her as She
Threw Herself Out the Third
story window of the Court
HOUSEWIVES Tried.

Yesterday morning in department No.
the now celebrated trial Of Antonio
Aguilar came up for the third day in
succession. 1t WAS the general opin-
ion from the start that decision OF
some kind would be reached before the
day was over.
The character OF the witness Hughes,
who is now in the city Jail under
charge of burglary, was impeached.
Quite a number of witnesses were
then examined and the evidence drawn
from them was that the reputation OF
Mrs. Richards was very bad in the
neighborhood in which she lived.
Aguilar was then placed upon the
stand and subjected TO rigid cross-e1-
animation.
The facts drawn from him differed
little from his statements at his former
trial, and he still claimed that when he
ran across Richards at the corner of
| Second and Los Angeles streets, on the
night OF the shooting, Richards drew a
pistol, and it was through seeing him do
so he fred in retarn. lR
The case was submitted to the jury
without argument and at l 20 they re-
tired for consideration. While they
we're out Aguilar manifested great
nervousness and the number of chews
of tobacco which he masticated during
their absence would probably have sup
piled him for a week on ordinary occa-
sions. He spent his time between roll
ing the luscious weed over his tongue
and short, impetuous questions to his
attorney.
Mrs. Richards sat. alternately tanning
herself and glsncing around the room,
the deepest anxiety depicted on her
countenance, which soitened to COM
miseration when she met the half.
frightened but stealthy glances from the
aloe black eyes of Aguilsr.
Mrs. Aguilar, the defendants mother,
sat outside the bar, rather towards the
right of the center. She was surrounded
by her daughters and other friends.
Anxiety, sorrow and apprehension were
plainly written on her features and all
who saw her could not but feel sym
pathy for the unfortunate woman and
tho position in which she was placed.
| Tne court room remained crowded, as
it was the general opinion that the
jury would quickly arrive at decision,
and all wanted to be on hand in order
to see how the Mexican would take it.
Precisely at 2:24 O'Clock the jury
slowly filed in and again took their
places.
Foreman F. r. Slaughter, in response
to the question of the court, arose and
stated that the verdict decided upon
was guilty Of assault to commit murder.
Aguilar, who had been sitting nerv-
ously clasping and uuclasping his hands,
when the words OF the foreman fell on
| his ears. turned deadly pale and hall
rose to his feet, after which he sank
back listlessly in his chair, covering his
face with his hands, and remained &C
until the constable removed him to the
| Jail.
Outside the bar of the court, however
| other events were happening. AS the
words of the verdict fell on the silent all
a suppressed cry rang through the room
and the defendant's mother falling for.
ward, with both hands on her face, burst
into tears. Her daughters were also in
deep sorrow, but they managed to assist
their mother to the witnesses' waiting
room. There Mrs. Aguilar tainted and
for some time confusion reigned. Mrs.
Richards who, up to this time, had sat
like one stunned, gathered herself up
and rushed around to procure water fol
Mrs. Aguilar. Not succeeding in getting
any che ran into the witness room and
(! fell fainting at the feet OF the defend
ants mother. Then there was pretty
how-dye-do. Everyone was telling every
one else what to do, and physician was
summoned. In the midst of the con-
| fusion Mrs. Richards recovered her
senses, sprang to her feet, and after
casting few frantic, half-crazed glances
around, rhshed to the window and at
| tempted to throw herself out to the as
phalt pavement three stories below. She
was saved from certain death by the
prompt action OF Clerk Forester, who
inanfully seized the lower parts of her
body as she was disappearing over the
window sill, and held on until
help arrived and the demented
woman was hauled back into
the room. Had she succeeded in her
attempt certain death would have en-
sued, as she would have been dashed to
pieces on the court yard below, and
| Clerk Forester has one "life saved" to
his credit.
| Mrs. Richards was very violent after
| che had been rescued, and was at once
put on the elevator and sent down to the
| first floor of the court house. Within
! two minutes after her arrival there, how
ever, she was upstairs again in the wit
ness room, creating disturbance. Once
more she was sent downstairs, and Off
GERS were placed on the several stairways 8
to prevent her from again coming up.
| These measures effectually disposed of
Mre. Richards, and she left for home
breathing dire vengeance on the heads
OF the Judge and jury, and the iniquities
| OF the law generally.
| During all this time Mrs. Aguilar lay
| in dead faint in the witness room with
| her daughter and physician working
| hard to restore her to consciousness.
| AT last she recovered and her moans
and feeble cries were heartrending. She
was assisted to the elevator and taken
home. Judge SmiSh will sentence Agui-
lar next Wednesday at 10 o'clock.
The crowd who waited the hour and
four minutes to hear the verdict OF the
| Jury were amply compensated for their
patience, because yesterdays events In
department No. L were more exciting
=