The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19

gether in Oakland's handsome theater
The piece was superbly staged, and the
dignihed satire and refined local witt
cisms kept the appreciative audience roar
ing with laughter till well on toward mid
night All the frst-nlghters were there,
but never was a legitimate company re-
ceived with the enthusiasm that was dis
played tonight. The weather helped to
bring out the people, and everything con-
tributed to make the Unity Club benefit q
marked success.
The first act opened with the scene laid
in a courtroom of the Alameda County
courthouse. 1t was Department 5, and
Hon. Stephen G. Nye, who is known about
equally as an able jurist and successful
agricuturist, was Presiding Judge.
Uncle George Bromley sat in charge OF
Bailiff Hunt, and seemed to be fully cog
infant of the enormlty of the crime with
which he was charged. Clerk Robert
Edgar called the case, "People of Califor-
was no desire for a continuance, and the
beautifully modulated tones of Major
Fred Whitney, the prosecuting attorney,
answered, Ready, your Honor"
"When | was in Japan, your Honor"
Major Whitney was saying, when the
audience bursted into laughter that lasted
several minutes. The major was in japan
two years ago, and everybody he has met
since then has been greeted with the ex-
preston "When | was in Japan" and the
majors observation-disclosures provoked the
mirth.
The jury had been secured at a previous
session of the court so the prosecution was
able to proceed without delay. Rastus
Washington Brown (AleX. Rosborough)
and Jean Baptiste Jellusean (B. C. Cavel-
lier) were the witnesses for the prosecution,
and they made out a pretty good case
against Uncle George.
During the testimony Major Whitney
introduced the goat in evidence and ex-
Mayor Pardee, counsel for defense, offered
no objection provided it's keeper came
with it. This was agreed to and the ami
NAL came on the stage. To the surprise of
most of the audience the goat was an I'M
usually good one, and performed antics
that no Watts Tract butter was ever known
to be guilty of.
During the giving of his testimony Alex
Roshorough made the startling admission
that ne could sing. Attorney Pardee pro-
ceeded to impeach the witness, and dur
ing his cross-examination the witness was
required TO introduce a few specialties to
corroborate his testimony.
Miss Anne NJ. Kavanaugh took the part
OF the prosecuting witness, Widow O'Grady,
and at the close OF the first act things
looked very gloomy for the prisoner.
The second act was occupied by the de-
Tense. Wun Lung &c. G. c. Vinzent) and
Wash Sing Emil Nusbaumer) testified for
Uncle George, but under cross-examination
they fell down so clearly that they utterly
destroyed their case. To make matters
worse the prisoner make statement on
his own behalf, and said so many con-
Trajectory things that all the eloquence of
his attorneys could not destroy It's effect
on the jury.
After being out for few minutes the
jury found the prisoner guilty as charged,
ana in a humorous speech Judge Nye SEN
fenced Uncle George TO the State Legisla-
ture for life. Phil Walsh, the court re-
porter, wheeled his testimony books off
the stage in a wheelbarrow. and the cur
tain fell after the handouts had been
placed on the prisoner.
The most significant feature was the ex-
IRENE dignity of those who took part in
the trial. During the most excruciating
jokes not smile could be seen in court
and even the antics OF the human goat,
which part was taken by C. Stem berg of
the Acme Club, although they convuIsed
the audience, failed to disturb the equanim-
ity OF the court.