The San Francisco call., 1896-06-27
MYRIAD KISSES
NE EANT NOTHING.
Baldwin Says His Oscula-
tory Desires Did Not
Denote Love.
HIS HEART UNTOUCHED.
The Hoary-Headed Defendant
Says Lillian Made No I'm
preston on Him.
HE DID NOT CAUTION HER.
Miss Ashley's Alleged Betrayer Says
He Was Under No Duty to Warn
Her to Cease Writing.
HE DID NOT CAUTION HER.

Z. J. Baldwin is not sensitive; neither IS
he impatient. Attorney Crittenden drove
question after question at the aged de-
fendant that would make an ordinary man
cringe or swear, and Baldwin sat most of
the day with cynical smile on his face,
and attempted to evade direct answers
with the skill of an experienced barrister.
Then the ardent missives, already intro
duced in the case, were brought forward,
and the tender passages were subjected to
the searching scrutiny of vigorous cross
examination. And just when the most
passionate declarations were under dis
cussion Crittenden would refer to the de-
fendant's sixty-eight years and then ask
him if he had shown that letter to his
wife. And never once did the old man
show, except by evading questions, that
there was aught about the proceeding that
was in anywise unpleasant.
The forenoon session of the court was
devoted to delving into the defendants s
career preliminary to the events directly
concerned in this case. Alter recounting
his business experiences from the time he
opened the Pacific Temperance House on
Pacific street in 1858 until he became
largely interested in ''ranching, mining,
raising, horse-racing, hotels and
various other things" an attempt was
made to have the defendant tell what
property he now owned. Baldwin's at
torneys objected and Judge Slack, after
argument decided that the witness could
be asked only in regard to property d.
rectlY involved in the case. Baldwin then
said, in answer to questions, that he
owned the Baldwin Hotel and Hotel Oak
wood.
More eventfuI epochs in Baldwin's ca
haT rafa tn m
Crittenden was not allowed to question
the witness in regard to previous actions
similar to this one. His questions as to
the relations Of the defendant with Verona
Baldwin, a relative, Miss Mccormick and
Louise Perkins were ruled out on obiec-
tion.
The afternoon was mainly devoted to
questioning Baldwin in regard to the cor
respondence between him and MISS Ash
ley, and it was here that the plaintiffs s
attorney got in his most telling blows.
Baldwin was combative at everv step in
the proceedings and was as ready to take
advantage of a slip In the counseFs ques-
tioning as Crittenden was to pierce the
armor of his testimony. A number of the
telegrams which nave figured in the case
were shown him, but he said he could
not recollect whether he sent them or not.
The letter of February II, 1892, of Bald
win to Miss Ashley, proved the most inter-
esting under crOss-examination. This is
the letter in which Baldwin says be had
forgotten her last name, as she always
signed her letters l.. A. a. He goes on to
say that he had just found by accident an
old letter containing her name. $50 here
l am, writing to my girl again, if can call
you mine" He speaks of his desire to
claim the thousand hugs and kisses which
he had been promised, and closes ''w1th
love and kisses"
did you p:ean all that when you wrote
it?' asked Crittendeu.
Baldwin said that was some foolish re-
mark he had made in answer to something
she said. - had no reason to call her nv
girl" he continued. II never spoke to
her about being my girl"
He was then asked IN regard to state
ment in the letter that he could not send
her money to go toschool with, as he was
hard up.
"Could you not, as matter of fact.
asked the attorney, "have drawn your
check any day for $40, 000?" Baldwin said
he could not have done so any day, but
admitted the statement that he was hard
up was a mere excuse.
You owned the Baldwin Hotel at that
time, didn't your" was asked The aged
defendant admitted that he did and also
admitted owning large amount of other
property at that time. Crittenden asked
If he didn't own S., 000 900 worth of prop
erty at that time, but to this question At
torneys Lloyd and Hlghton objected
simultaneously, and his Honor sustained
them.
Then the hugs and kisses were again re-
ferred to. "You say then 1 am coming
East to get those hugs and kisses you say
you will give me- Did you mean that?"
asked Crittenden.
81 certainly wouldn't go East for that"
was the response.
But when you went there you expected
to get the kisses?' suggested Crittenden
Baldwin said he hardly expected so
many. He was then asked concerning a
reference to her having been bashful on a
previous occasion. He explained that
this was the occasion of his parting with
her at Boston.
Il put out my hands to kiss her and she
drew back. was going TO kiss Der just as
would any one at parting" he said.
You had only seen Miss Ashley at
Winchester, and then met her again al
Boston, rode about with her little in
carriage and then drove to the depot. In
that short time had she made such an i'm
preston on your heart that you wanted to
KISS herr" asked Crittenden.
She never touched my cart at all,
exclaimed the hoary gallant. From her