The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-26
The NobIeman Becomes In
dignant and Tries to AS
SauIt an Editor.
THROWN OUT BY THE STAFF.
He Surrenders to a Justice and
Pays the Fine With Cost
for Battery.

| Sholto Douglas case came up this morn
ing at 10 o'clock in the Superior Court on
the charge of insanity. Few people knew
the examination was to be held so early,
hence not many were present. Attorneys
and reporters made up the greater portion
Only five Englishmen were in the room
and one of these was Burmester, the com
planning witness. While the crowd was
waiting in the courtroom, one end of
which has been torn away and boarded up
with rough lumber, the sounds of the
builders hammers came in at the open
window and through the gaping cracks
between the boards.
The work of building the courthouse
i annex and repairing the old structure 20
conform with the new design leaves the
building in an almost dismantled condi-
ton. So many workmen are employed
that the din of the hammers was deafen-
ing.
When court convened the noisier work
was stopped. Lord Douglas was brought
into court by Deputy Sheriff D. NJ. Pyle.
His "Lordship" wore a light gray suit,
with trousers turned up, toothpick shoes
and a wide white hat with hammered
leather band. These, together with his
negligee shirt, made up a typical English
costume as worn by the numerous British
ers in the colony here. He took his seat
still wearing his wide hat, which he did
not remove at all while in court. He sat
with his elbow on the arm of his chair and
gently stroked his soft cheek, which is in
nocent of down. Once in a while he would
pinch his face, this being his oEly evidence
of nervousness.
Soon after Douglass was brought into
court quite an array of important prisoners
came in. One of these is known as the
German Count his true name being
Fhr. Won Gumppenberg, who is held to
answer the charge OF resisting an officer.
He claims to be blue-booded German.
Next him sat J.. H. Woodruff, who shot at
Officer Benson in Kern City some time
ago. Joe Giovonni, the Italian painter
who killed Albert Tribolet on account of
Lily John, a pretty French girl, was the
third member of the young Lords fellow
prisoners. They, with several important
witnesses, sat together on bench The
young Lord sat alone at the attorneys
desk, in company with Drs. Ferguson and
Cook, the physicians called as an examin-
ing board
Promptly at 10 o'clock Judge Conklin
stepped upon the platform and took his
seat. All was expectation. 20 sooner had
ne reached the great leather armchair than
he said, There being no complaint
against this party, be will be discharged"
and the famous insanity case was ended.
No other word was spoken, and those
present opened their mouths in wonder
HI 10 b his I Jcl,; IL, e..
breathe the air of freedom The wheels of
justice began to grind out other grist as
the sound of the nobleman's footsteps died
away on the stairs.
Burmester had refused to swear to the
second complaint necessary for hearing
on insanity, so there was no foundation
for the action and the young prisoners
dismissal followed as matter of course.
He hurried to his hotel, then to the bank,
where he drew some money, and began a
series of hurried visits to different stores.
He stopped Constable Seroy and asked:
"HOw much would it cost me TO assault a
man?" Seroy answered. "Now, look
here, young man. you behave yourself like
a gentleman. If you have a case against
any one begin suit, but do no fighting"
The Lord hurried on, his thin light
trousers Tapping from the force of his
energetic movements. Common mortals
stood on the corner watching and wonder
ing if he was preparing for the aforesaid
assault, for hurried departure to other
parts or for the marriage so ruthlessly de-
layed, according to the VOW he made to his
lady love.
About o'clock this afternoon the mvs
terry was solved. His Lordshp was on his
muscle. He entered the Democrat office
and asked for the Chronicle reporter.
Later he went to the Californian office and
asked George r. Weeks, the editor, if the
Chronicle correspondent was EMPLOYED
there. The reply was that was a profess
sional secret. He left, but soon returned.
He was seen to enter the office, and in a
remarkably brief space of time he emerged
like shot. After him came Mr.. Weeks
and the office force, apparently bent on the
destruction of the young Lord.
A few minutes later his Lordship. some
what ruff1ed in appearance, entered the
office of Justice Fox and informed his
Honor that he had assaulted the Chronicle
correspondent-that big man with whis-
kers. 81 hit him three times in the face
when four or five set on me from behind
and put me out. desire to plead guilty"
Constable Seroy swore to the complaint
and Douglas was fined S. 80, the exact
costs. The Justice then read the law,
which says he could fine him for battery
any sum not exceeding $1,000. or imprison-
ment not exceeding six months, or both. |
Douglas said: "Ah, is that so? And |
thought $5 was the limit. / was informed |
that that was the case" The joke of the |
matter is that it was a Californian reporter
who told him the fine would be So.
Mr.. Weeks was seen in his office and
asked to give his version of the matter. He
said: AFTER his first visit, Douglas re-
turned in few minutes, deliberately walk
ing behind the railing, came up to me, and
said, Are you Mr.. Weeks?' | answered,
L am Are you also the Chronicle re-