The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-14
IN CONTEMPT
Elsie Shipton Removed
From the State
BY AN 0FFICIoUS BUSYBoDY
WIDOW cREEDE MAKES FIRST
MOVE FOR FORTUNE
BY AN oFFICIoUS BUsYBoDY
T. Sanchez Found Guilty of Assault
With Intent to Kill-The Count
Will Go to States Prison

The uESaVOry case OF CLIFTON Il. Mdylle
are among the most curious that have
taken place in the courts for very long
time Mayne, it will be remembered was
convicted of having committed rape
upon the person of Elsie Shpton, and
was sentenced to rs years imprisonment
in the state penitentiary. Then num-
Der Of people who had interested them
selves in securing a conviction came into
court with atfidavits of a most extra
ordinary character. in which statements
were made, that. if true, indicated the
falsity of the charge upon which Mayne
had been convicted. That case is now
on appeal in the supreme court, and it
seems as if that august tribunal did not
intend to sit up nights in order to pass
upon it, for civil cases are being given
precedence. although the appeal was
filed about eight months ago.
With Mayne safely behind the bars,
the fight that had begun at the very
commencement of proceeding for pcs
session of the person of Elsie Shipton
was renewed with increased vigor. Mrs.
Wright was appointed guardian and re-
tanned that position unt til last April. AT
that time Mrs. Clara E. Shipton applied
to the court and sought to have the
guardianship papers revoked, and that
her daughter be restored to her. Mrs.
Wright preferred not to meet the allega-
tions contained in Mrs. Symptoms petit
ton, and upon her coming into court it
was only to resign her position as guar
dian, and to place in nomination Miss
Frances Wills as fit and proper per-
son to be appointed guardian of Elsie
Shipton in her stead. Inasmuch as Miss
Wills consented to let the mother have
access to- her child at all reasonable
times Mrs. Shipton acquiesced in the ar
rangement and Miss Wills was ap
pointed guardian. AS the lady had been
credited with an inclination to philan-
thropy her bond was placed at the nomi-
nal sum of $50, her brother Dr. LIE Moyne
Wills, and R. w. Poindexter, figuring as
sureties.
On the 18th of May Mrs Clara e. Ship
ton again appeared as a petitioner IN
court alleging that Miss Wills had not
only failed to observe the condition upon
which she, as Elsie's mother, had ac-
quiesced in her appointments as the guar
dian of her daughter, but had followed
Wright. She hid Elsie away and refused
to tell the mother where she was and
upon Miss Wills going to San Francis
CO her brother followed out the, same
tactics and refused Mrs. Shipton the
right accorded by the court of visiting
her daughter unimpeded. On this show
ing a cita ton issued from Judge Clark's
court which was made returnable yes
terday morning.
When the matter came up yesterday
the farcical element characterized the
whole proceeding. The citation directed
Miss Wills to bring Elsie Shipton into
court, but the girl was not there, and it
speedily developed that she had been
sent east by lady friend of the guar
dian. This fact was set forth in the an
swer filed by Miss Wills, as follows:
FRANCIS Wills, heretofore by order of
this honorable court appointed the guar
dian of the person of said Elsie Shipton.
a minor, hereby makes answer to the
petition of Clara E. Shipton heretofore
filed herein, praying for the removal of
said guardian.
"Said guardian denies that she has
refused at any time during the period of
her guardianship to permit the said
tldTd Il. oulptOH, the IlOluSI VI cd III
minor, to visit or see her child at any or
all proper and convenient times, but on
the contrary she alleges that she has
fully conformed to the orders and direc-
ton of this honorable court in that be-
half made.
''She further represents to this honor
able court that on or about the 30th day
of June, 1897, without her knowledge,
instigation or concent, the said minor,
Elsie Shipton. left the state of California,
being driven thereto, as said guardian is
informed and believes, by the persecu-
lions of certain persons interested in
behalf of one Clifton Mayne, convicted
of rape upon the person of said minor,
and that the said minor is now, as far
as said guardian has been able to ascer-
tain. in the eastern tsates and does not
intend to return to this state of Cali
fornia.
1.-THE said minor is now 16 years of age,
and your petitioner hereby tenders her
resignation from the office of guardian
of the person of said minor, and prays
TO be relieved from the further perform
ance of the duties thereof"
Upon the witness stand Miss Willie
testified that Elsie had been living in
the, family of the Rev. J. McCracken, an
Episcopal minister at Sierra Madre; that
when the citation was served upon her
she notified Mrs. McCracken to bring her
ward into the city, and then learned that
the girl had been sent east to remain
indefinitely.
Miss Wills produced letter from a
Mrs. Murray which. for calm assumption
of authority and disregard of the legal