The San Francisco call., 1896-05-14
Judge Slack Ruled Out Inquiries
Regarding the
Child.
WANT MUCH GREATER SECRECY
Counsel Is Sure There Is Leak,
as the News of the Trial
Is Being Told.

Miss Ashley was still on the stand when
court closed yesterday afternoon. She
had finished her direct testimony and was
under Mr.. Highton's cross-examination
when Judge Slack declared recess.
The direct examination of the witness
finished yesterday morning and the only
significant fact was the action of the court
in sustaining the objection to very per-
tinent question put by Mr.. Crittenden.
Crittenden asked the witness who was the
father of her child. At once both defendant
counsel were on their feet. They objected
to the question because it was incompe-
tent, irrelevant and immaterial; it was
untimely; it had no bearing on the case
and every section that could be brought tC
support them, whether of code or constitu'
ton, was cited. Judge Slack finally sus-
tained the objection on the ground that il
was untimely. 1t will come up again,
however, and there will undoubtedly be q
row over it.
The cross-examination did not progress
very far. MIR. Highton when court closed
for the afternoon had not yet finished his
questions as to how, when and where
Miss Ashley and Mr.. Baldwin first met.
They met at the races In one of the East
ern circuits. Mr.. Baldwin seemed much
pleased with the appearance OF his new
friend and strong friendship grew up be-
tween them. He said he would like to see
her in California, and she said she would
like to come to see him. There was little
said or done then that has much bearing
on the case now in court. They parted III
the East with only mutual desire to be
friends and she promised to write to him
when they were separated.
The career of Miss Ashley in the East
will be more fully taken up as the cross
examination progresses, for the intention
of the defense is to prove that when Miss
Ashley came to California it was only
after at least one very questionable action
in the East.
A row occurred during the afternoon
over some questions which Mr.. Hightor
proceeded to put. He was accused of try
ing to anticipate in his cross-examinatior
matter which properly belonged to his
own case. In other words, of making
Miss Ashley his own witness for the time
being. Words were loud and long, anc
musty tones were raked out of the law
library; but his Objectionable question:
were not allowed, and so the case pro-
ceeded.
Counsel for both sides are somewha
mystified and considerably agitated ove
| the fact that closed doors in legal sens,
are no bar to the transmission of news
They found fault with the newspaper re
ports because they were not so full or &C
curate as they would have been had re
porters been allowed to be present; ano
they were loud in the assertion that ther,
must be a leak somewhere. They
wanted the doors closed against attorney
who came in with orders to be signed, anC
deputies from the clerks office who cam,
| on errands, but Judge Slack refused t.
seal his courtroom IN any such manner
He is Presiding Judge of the Superio
| Court, and he has other things besides the
Ashley Baldwin case before him. Counse
| is still hunting for the leak, but to preven
further news from getting out each man il
the court was, yesterday, obligated to alb
solute secrecy.