The San Francisco call., 1896-06-06
But One Witness Testified in
the Ashley-Baldwin Suit
Yesterday.
HE WILL CONTINUE MONDAY
A Memory That Cannot Recall the
Fact of Having Written Love
Letters.

John Osborne, farmer, carpenter, real
estate agent, Iady-killer and tattler, was
on the stand in Judge Slack's court in the
Ashley-Baldwin suit all day yesterday.
During the morning session Mr.. Critten-
den, the plaintiffs attorney, subjected
him to a severe cross examination.
On Thursday Osborne testified to the
splendid time he had in Boston "seeing
the sights in company with Miss Ashley.
He told how he finally tore himself away
and went to New York, but refused the
lady's request to be taken along, because
of the expense"
Evidently Osborne did not find the me-
tropolis to his liking. Yesterday he ac-
knowledged that he was lonesome in
Gotham and only stayed there one day
then fastened back to the Massachusetts
city and from there to the home of his
charmer, South Royalton, VT. He ar.
rived there in the morning and at once re-
paired to the Tenney home where he met
Miss Ashley.
He and Miss Ashley drove to Chelsea,
where they had dinner, and they remained
in one another's company until the train
departed Tor the west at 2 o'clock the mex;
morning. 1t was during the trip to Chel-
sea that the conversation about E. J. Bald
win occurred.
Osborne seems TO have been most af-
fecuonate chap in his younger days and to
have had decided penchant for oscula-
ton. He told under examination OF
having spread caresses broadcast through
out New England during his trip. At
South Royalton, VT, he greeted Miss Ash
ley with real Oregon hug and imprinted
sweet kiss upon her lips.
He did not know whether any one saw
him in the act and although there was a
young son in Mr.. Tenney's family he took
no particular precaution to conceal his
affsctionate demonstrations. Again dur
ing the ride to Chelsea the humping of the
buggy over the rough road was punctuated
with divers resounding smacks. He testi-
fed to more hugs and kisses during hi S
cab rides in Boston and at his home there.
And" he added, "she kissed me, too.'
Osoorne's testimony as to the letters in
troduced as evidence on Thursday was
novel. His recollection failed him to such
an extent as to provoke the question:
Have you recently had any disease
that would affect your memory 2"
To which Osborne replied that he was a
little deaf, but otherwise all right.
The plaintiffs attorney attempted to
draw from the witness the admission that
he wrote to Miss Ashley declaration of
love, as indicated in the letters shown in
court, but again his memory failed him.
He could think of no injury Miss Ashley
ever inflicted upon him unless it was TO
ask him to loan her $780, request that
was promptly refused.
During the controversy Attorneys High
ton and Crittenden became angry and
harsh words passed, but the difficulty was
quickly quelled by Judge Slack, who
threatened to fine the participants.
The fact was developed that Osbourne
wrote about a dozen letters, which he
acknowledged may have had in them
some reference to love, and received
in reply three or four epistles from Miss
Ashley. He had purchased for her two or
three rings, the return of which, with all
his letters, he demanded on receipt of the
letter asking for the loan of $500. He
could not remember, he said, whether he
got them back or not.
Osborne's examination will be resumed
on Monday at IL A. N.