The record-union., 1896-07-03

SAN FRANCISCO, July "A fear
ful scene was enacted at $3.50 O'Clock
this morning in Judge Slack's court.
Emma E. Ashley, sister of Lillian Ash
ley, took deliberate shot at E. j.
Baldwin, the millionaire turfman, de-
fendant in the seduction suit on trial,
and nearly killed him. The bullet passed
through his hair, infiicting a slight
scalp wound.
Emma Ashley is now under arrest,
charged with an assault with intent to
commit murder.
Il did it because he ruined my sister"
she said. That was ALL She was per-
fectly calm throughout.
At the same time a shooting affray
between James Crittenden, attorney for
Lillian Ashley, and H. A. Unruh, Bald
wins manager was narrowly averted.
Both parties drew pistols, but the fracas
was prevented. and the parties were
cited for contempt of court.
Such a scene has not been witnessed
in a court of justice since the occasion
when a policeman shot Judge Murphy,
when the latter was examining him in
his capacity as District Attorney.
At the time of the shooting Miss LII
liam Ashley was undergoing a severe
cross-eXamination upon the subject of
photograph supposed to be of herself
which she strongly repudiated, but
eventually admitted it might possibly
be a snapshot" photograph. The pic
ture looked very like her, the hair being
curled. 1t was introduced by the de-
fense for the purpose of contradicting
her statement that she, at no time in
her life, had curled her hair. In con-
clusion, she said: Il know it cannot be
me, for / never wore dress like that"
On a sudden, just as the last answer
quoted left Lillian Ashley's lips, there
was flash and report. The smoke
cleared away and Emma Ashley was
discovered standing right over the rail,
within few feet of Baldwin's head, a
smoking pistol clutched firmly in both
fands. Baldwin clapped his hands to
his head and sprang from his seat
There was a scene of dndescribab1e
confusion. The Judge half sprang from
his chair; everybody else jumped to his
feet Henry c. Unruh, who was nearest
the woman, made a grab for the pistol
and got it after a short struggle. Then
Emma Ashley ran from where she stood
to the further end of the room, nearest
the windows, as if to escape Unruh' 5
vengeance. AS she did so Lucky"
Baldwin himself took a hand in the
affair, and rushing outside the rail,
seized Emma Ashley around the waist,
and despite her struggle held her until
Bailiff Martin came up and placed her
under arrest.
But while all this was going on there
was another exciting scene being en-
acted within the rail right in front Of
the Judges desk. As Unruh stood on
his feet, the smoking pistol still in his
hand, he was confronted by Crittenden,
who shouted, - you, let that woman
alone" AT the same time Crittenden
made motion toward Unruh
Just whether Unruh was so bewilder-
ed that he didn't know what was going
on, or whether he meant mischief, cam
not be said; but he still held the pistol
Crittenden, seeing this, with the air
of practical duelist, swung his right
hand round in the direction of his hip
pocket, and there would have been
bloodshed in an instant had it not been
for Clerk James McElroy, who ran
round from his desk and got between
the two men, seiZing Unruhs pistol and
calling upon Crittenden not to draw
During the terrible scene Judge Slack
acted calmly and with commendabIe
coolness. While the excitement was at
its hight ne left the bench and for a