The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25
SAW THROUGH A
: COUPLE OF WALLS
Remarkable Story of a
Witness Against the
Niles Dwarf.
impossible For the Midget to
Have Rugged a Tall
Lady.
A Sight of the Little Man Secured
His Release Without a Word
in His Defense.
'oAK1AND OYrIcE SAN FRANCISCO GALL,

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco GALL
eO8 Broadway, Dec. "A.
The Niles dwarf will not spend Christ
mas day in Jail and the fact that he will
not do so will, no doubt, detract some
what from the merriness of the Machado
festivities.
As much of Haywards as could get into
Judge PimentePs courtroom was there
this morning to witness the trial of An
tone Martin, the wee man, in fact the
sPailest voter in the county, who was
charged with hugging and blackening the
sye OF Mrs. Machado, q woman twice his
height and about four times his weight.
Two remarkable stories were told by the
prosecution and then the trial ended. No
defense was needed. Mrs. Machado, a
'buxom woman, who presented an enor-
nous contrast to the small defendant, sat
10 the witness chair and told her s.ory.
Two weeks ago little Martin, without
proVocation or warning. had gone to her
house, which she admitted was owned by
Martin, and used some language to which
she took objection. She declared that she
did not deign to reply; that Martin did
all the talking and all the hugging and all
ln0 nitbluB anu WAS tuS only OD6 WHO
made any attempt to do any carving.
When cross-examined regarding the pos
sibilIty of being hacked to pieces, Mrs.
Machado admitted that she had not seen
any knife in the dwarf's possession, but
she said she had frequently heard the lit
tie man say that if he ever intended to get
even with anybody it would be with a
knife. Mrs Machado's idea, or presump-
tion, that the dwarf decided to cut her in
pieces was about as strong as any of the
testimony offered.
Mrs. Machado told the court that she
was washing clothes when the dwarf came
in, placed his arm around her waist and
Immediately started TO hammer her with
rapid blows all over her face and shoulders.
She did nothing to resist him except utter
q loud yell, which brought Jesus Higuera
to the rescue. As she told her story OF
how poYerless she was in the hands Of the
dwarf, every body in the courtroom tit
tered, and when she referred to q black
ened eye, and did not mention about q
chair or ladder, on which the dwarf must
have stood, unless she were on her knees,
her story produced an impression very
favorable to the wee prisoner.
Jesus Higuera is most wonderful man.
He testified that ne saw through stone
wall at distance OF forty yards. 1t was
not exactly q stone wall that he saw
4 Through, or imagined he did, but he did
swear that he saw through three parti-
tions at the distance named. His story
was this: When Mrs. Machado yelled, !,
Higuera was at his own house fifty yards
of When he got within forty yards he
saw the dwarf holding Mrs. Machado with
one hand and raining blows upon her
with the other. He was positive as to
k,.% Iof, Sr1ek
how the dwarf's arm must have been
heightened about three feet for the occa-
sion, for he was positive that the lady did
not stoop, but was standing all the time.
According TO the woman's testimony the
skirmish took place on one side OF the
house, and according to Higuera's state
ment he saw it all, though forty yards
away, on the other side.
When these two witnesses had told their
impossible Stories the defendant's attor-
neysasked the dwarf 10 stand alongside
Mrs Machado. In the face of the testi :
mony the effect was ludicrous. Had he
stood on the lady's chair he could proba-
bly, have struck her nose. While this
spectacle was being presented, the dwarf 8
attorney asked for a nonsuit, as he did
not think it was any use making any de-
Tense.
Carl Wood, who represented the Dis
trict Attorneys office. looked as dignifed
as he could and mildly stated that he did
not feel like opposing the motion OF de-
fendant's counsel.
The Judge acquiesced; the great trial
was over; the little man was free.
When he descended from the courtroom
to the street he was me: by a delegation
OF ladies who had come all the way from
Niles Canyon to congratulate him or
sympathize with him, if necessary. The
little fellow is evidently very popular with
cOniafv Nflna Cauvnu Ha ra.
ceived their good wishes with becoming
modesty and was finally placed in a
wagon between two able lady protectors
and driven home. The little man is IS
wears of age and bachelor.
Mrs. Machado walked off with her hus-
band and no one offered her word OF
sympathy, but there was ample proof that
She is not as popular in the semi-Indian
social circles OF the canyon as the little
dwarf