The record-union., 1894-01-25
THE SEARCH FOR STELLA 4RUITT.
She Fails to Show Up in Court as
Witness.
But Attorney Jones Reads Her Long
Deposition-Her Narrowing
Tale of Woe.

The trial of the case of c. II. Gilman
against C. K. and V. S. McClatchy, for
$50, 200 damages for alleged ibelous artl-
cles in the Bee concerning him, was re-
sumed in Department One of the Supe-
rior Court yesterday before Judge Catlin.
Grove L. Johnson, for the prosecution.
offered in evidence an article in the Bee
of October IL, 1882, alluding to Gilman, to
which the defense objected, but the objec-
ton was overruled.
Mr. Jones was sworn and testified that
he met Lulu Estrella Truitt in San Fran
cisco in December, 1892, and obtained
her deposition. He had not seen her
since. and has had no communication
with her. He supposed up to last week
that she was still a resident Of San Fran
cisco, and when the deposition was offered
he supposed she was in that city. On
Tuesday he heard that Mrs. Truitt was at
the Hotel Rhein in this city and endeav-
ored to find her, but could learn nothing
of her. Her things were at the hotel, but
the woman could not be found.
In reply to Mr.. Johnson, Mr.. Jones
said he did not inquire of Mrs. j. l.. Hun
toon nor Mrs. Clayton for Mrs. Truitt,
nor had the Sheriff been called upon to
find the woman. The subpoena was given
to Isador Alexander to serve, under the
belief that he was the best person to en-
ploy for the purpose, as he knew the
woman. Witness did not know that
Mrs. Truitt is now in this city, and did
not know that she had been employed by
Mrs. Huntoon for the last two months.
Alvin j. Bruner, also counsel for the
defense, was sworn and testified to the
same effect. He had been at the Hotel
tha h1f
Mrs. Truitt was not there. On the pre-
ceding day the Sheriff tried TO find her,
but failed.
Isador Alexander, an employe of the
Bee, testified to his unsuccessful attempts
to find Mrs. Truitt. He was led to be-
heve the woman was not III the city.
TO Mr.. Johnson the witness said he
thought he would recognize Mrs. Truitt
il she should walk into the courtroom.
Mrs. Mary Reudy, whose husband is
proprietor of the Hotel Rhein, testified
that Mrs. Truitt came to their place last
Saturday, but went away on Tuesday.
saying she was going to the mountains 10
get her child. and would be back on
Wednesday. Her trunk and clothing are
in the room occupied by her.
John Reudy testified that Mr.. Jones
and Mr.. Bruner called at his place on the
preceding day to inquire for Mrs. Trnitt.
He did not know where the latter had
gone to.
Judge Catlin said that, under the cir
cumstances, he thought he would allow
the deposition to be read, to which the
prosecution objected.
Mr.. Jones said that if the other side in
sisted he would be willing to continue
the case for few days in the hope that
Mrs. Truitt might be found, but the
attorneys for the prosecution desired to
put in some testimony regarding the
whereabouts of Mrs. Truitt.
Mrs. j. l.. HuntOon was called and tes-
titled that Mrs. Truitt was employed at
the Founding Home on the 9th of No.
vember but is not there now. At Mrs.
DR.. Clayton's yesterday "wednesday
witness was told that Mrs. Truitt was
then in the city. On Sunday Mrs. Clay
ton saw and talked with Mrs. Truitt at
the Scroggs House.
The court then directed that the 0epo-
sition be offered in evidence, and it was
read by Mr.. Jones. The document con-
tanned series OF questions propounded to
Mrs. Truitt and her replies thereto. She
stated that after she had been in Gilman's
service I'm 1892 about three weeks Mrs.
Gilman went away, and during her alb
sence he one night made an assault upon
her, and in the struggle her jaw was dis
located, Mrs. Truitt goes on at great
length to tell how DR.. Fay was called in
by Gilman and set her jaw; that later the
same night Gilman entered her room and
assaulted her; that she then took the
bandage off her head and went to San
Francisco the next morning. On the fol-
lowing Monday, two days later, she re-
turned to Gilman's house and resumed
her duties. Some days later Gilman
found man named Madison in the house
with her, and they had some words over
the affair. The next day she left and
went to neighbours house and told her
story, but returned to Gilman's the same
afternoon to get some buttons she had
left behind.
After recess Mr.. Jones resumed the
reading of the deposition. Mrs. Truitt
was not very clear as to the date of her
marriage to George Truitt, and was not
positive as to the name of the officiating
clergyman. After coming to California
she and her husband lived couple of
years at Ontario and Riverside. From
there she removed to Tacoma, and lived
with her mother while there. Her hus-
band was working there She lived after
ward at Portland, and from there went to
San Francisco, where she remained
seven months before coming to Sacra-
mento. Her husband died while in Port
land. In San Francisco she roomed at a
house on Minna street for several weeks
until she got place to work at 4I61
O'Farrell street. When she went to Gill
mans to work she was to have her room
and board for one week during Mrs. Gill
III.
She thought she stayed at the house five
days after her trouble with Gilman. She
admitted that during her alleged struggle
with Gilman she did not make any out
cry, but said she spoke loudly.
She could not remember saying to DR..
Fay that she had herself dislocated her
jaw while working at a troublesome
tooth. If the doctor said she did say so
she would not dispute his word, but she
did not think she said anything of the
kind.
When asked if she did not defend her.
self by scratching her assailant's face and
pulling his hair. she replied no, that she
would not disfgure any one in that way
Before the reading of the deposition
had been concluded Judge Catlin ordered
a recess until 10 O'Clock this morning, in
order that he might attend the funeral of
the late DIR. Obed Harvey.
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