The record-union., 1895-03-15
HOLDEN AND STREETER'S LAUNDRY
It Was Running at Its Full Capacity
Yesterday.
Levi Makes Damaging Charges Against
His Wife, and She Produces Proof
of His Cruelty.

The divorce case of Levi HOLDEN against
Matte HOLDEN is on trial before Judge
Catlin in Department One OF the Superior
Court. When the case was called yester-
day William Reufro, Mrs. Holben's at
torney, asked the Court to make an order
excluding all but witnesses from the
courtroom during the progress OF the
trial
Judge Catlin directed the Clerk to enter
an order TO that effect, with the exception
OF the newspaper reporters. Rentro en-
deavored to persuade the Court to include
she reporters in the order, but this Judge
Catlin declined to DO.
The cO-defendant in the case is Al
Streeter, a barber. Some time ago HOLDEN
struck him on the head with a piece of
gaspipe, for which he served a term in
the County Jail. The row was the out
come of Holbena ccusing Streeter of be-
ing too intimate with Mrs. HOLDEN.
HOLDEN was the first witness to testify,
and he told the story of how he found his
vile and Streeter in a compromising
situation by boring holes through the
ceiling and watching them. He had
pleaded with his wife TO keep Streeter
away from the house, and threatened to
Xiii him il he did not stop his visits
When asked why he did not then sue
his wife for divorce, HOLDEN said be
was reluctant to do so on account of his
children. Another reason was because
he had no money. When he did see IL
lawyer about commencing ali action for
divorce his wife begged him so hard not
TO do it that he relented. At one time
when they were living near Chico, his
wife was on too intimate terms with
quack doctor Of that place, and he
warned her not to have any dealings
with the doctor.
HOLDEN said he told his wife's brother
that he would shoot Streeter ii the latter
did not keep away from his house. The
brother replied that Streeter was all
right, that he was his friend, and he
could borrow dollar from Streeter any
time.
William Eagan, also q barber, testified
TO having had ocular proof of the guilt OF
Mrs. HOLDEN and Streeter, having par
tlcIpated with the husband in the peep
ing episode referred to by the latter. At
that time be heard Streeter tell Mrs.
HOLDEN not TO allow her husband TO visit
the children. Eagan said he and HoIgen
remained secreteu IN the house from 5:3J
O'Clock in ths morning until ; O'Clock in
tho afternoon Oh January 18th OF this
year.
The case for the plaintiff here ended,
and the defense put on the stand $. H.
Wilson, Sheriff of Butte County. Mrs.
HOLDEN, IN her answer, alleged cruelty
on the part OF her husband, and de-
manded a divorce on that ground, and
the testimony for the defense is intended
to not only disprOye the charge OF
adultery against Mrs. HOLDEN, but also TO
substantiate her allegation Of cruelty.
Wilson testified that four years AGO
while Town Marshal Of Chico, he had
occasion to arrest HOLDEN Tor getting
drunk ana abusing his wife. Wilson
said he would not believe HOLDEN under
oath. HOLDEN told him that he had sent
ms VIE IN company with quack doctor
10 this city.
William E. johnson, owner OF the
property at 1920 street, where the HoI-
bens had lived, testified that from his
knowledge HOLDEN had properly pro-
vlded for his wife. He never saw HOLDEN
abuse her.
Mrs. Matte HOLDEN, the defendant
testified that she and HOLDEN were mar
rled at Chico on October II. 1851. and
nearly all the time since then she has
been subjected to brutality at his hands.
lie was drunk nearly all the time.
bquanuered his money, refused to paw
bills and Is now head over heels in debt.
she SAID that on one occasion he re-
marked that he knew good scheme to
make money. 1t did not make any dill
terence how 1t was obtained, so long as it
was forthcoming. She said that in order
to replenish the household exchequer ne
proposed 10 beat his creditors, take the
money with him and with his family re-
move to piece OF land which belonged
TO them near Chico, in close proximity TO
a mill near that place, start up a saloon.
and to secure couple OF women to act as
drawing cards for the milI-hands. His
vile was 10 DC the bartender
Mrs. Holden SAID she told her husband
that II be thought She married him to be
a bartender for him, he was badly mis-
taken. She denied IN every particular
her husbands allegation OF adultery.
Streeter, the cO-deleudaul, Testified that
he became acquainted with Mrs. HOLDEN
through an introduction by her husband,
when the couple called upon him and MS
wife. He denied ever having been ou
intimate terms with Mrs. HOLDEN.
The case viii be resumed this morning.