The morning call., 1893-06-22
A CHILD WONDER.
A Sharp Attorney Fooled
and Baffled.
AdeIa Moore Admitted to Be the Most
Remarkable Witness on Record.
The Case Dismissed.

The charge against George E. Graham
of criminaly assaultiug Adela Moore, his
l2-year-Old foster child, was dismissed by
Judge Low yesterday aftern Don On the
ground of lack OF corrobOrative evidence
as required by law.
For four hours Tuesday night and yes
terday the Moore girl was submitted to as
severe and searching cross-examlnaton by
Robert Ferral a. possible, but with all
his legal acumen and long practice he was
completely baffled in his attempt to make
her contradict herself.
Judge and lawyers admitted that she
was the most extraordinary witness they
had ever seen on the stand. Her memory
was something remarkable. Mr.. Ferral
had on his knees transcripts of the evil
dence given by the girl in similar case in
which she was the complaining witness
against a boy IN Sacramento about year
ago. He would endeavor to catch her by
saying in an easy, off-hand way that at
that trial she said something or other. but
every time she corrected him by repeating
almost word for word what she actually
did then say.
She never for a moment lost her self
possession. Occasionally she would rise
from her seat, pour out glass of water,
drink II. and then sit down, lean back in
her chair, and look cOolly and cynicaly at
her cross-eXaminer. Now and then she
would rudely tell him not to ask so many
questions about the same thing. as she had
already told him all about il. Once she
said Don't ask such foolish questions"
and he retorted by asking her who taught
her manners.
As soon as he began question her lips
parted, her face lightened up and the
answer came out with a snap aim ost before
be had finished.
A times she would scowl upon Graham
and his wife, and then her face was far
from pleasant to look upon. When in re-
pose her features are plain and expression
less, but Wnen talking there is an mme-
date change. showing that she is possessed
OF wonderful intelligence. When giving
some of her pert and saucy answers her
big black eyes would fairly snap.
She calmly admitted that in the Sacra-
mento case she deliberately perjured her.
self, but added that Graham beat her into
doing so.
She said she wanted to get to her sister,
who is in a comfOrta BILE home IN Victoria,
b. c., and did not want to have anything
moro to do with the GrahamS.
Both Graham and his wife testified to
always treating the girl as their own child,
and denied ever having brutally beaten
her, Graham denied the charge of GRIM
inal assault.
MTS. >. a. heDurn, 10 Geary street,
with whom the Grahams boarded for some
weeks. also testified to their kind treat
ment of the girl
Attorney Ferral. in his address, charac-
terized the girl as a small Becky Sharp"
He charged her with telling a tissue of
bold, deliberate, black falsehoods, just as
she had at Sacramento in the same cool
and un blushing manner He asked for a
dismissal on the ground of lack of cor
roboration. During a portion of his adj
dress Graham and his wife were in tears.
Judge Low said that whether Graham
was guilty or not he would have to dismiss
the case al there was absolutely nothing
to corrobOrate the girl story and he felt
sure no jury would convict on such un-
supported testimony.
Secretary Holbrook of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty TO Animals and
Secretary Wells of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children were
among the interested few spectators in
court
What will be done with the girl?''
asked Graham after the case was dis
MISSED.
"Oh," sharply interrupted Mr. FerraI,
never you mind the girl. She will be
taken care of. You and your wife had
better keep away from girls in the future"
4" Y GU bet l WILL" said Graham, as he
and his wife left the courtroom smiling.