The herald., 1897-02-26
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL
Hastings and His Accomplice
Held in Heavy Bonds
THE DECEASED'S SISTER
Did Not Assist the Defense to Any
Extent
Defendants Counsel's Various Motions to Help
His Clients Denied-The Other Charge
Against Hastings

IL Olly IeQQlICu oil Ioul ySotOiuoy
morning in department one of the police
court to conclude the preliminary exam
ination of DR.. Calvin S. Hastings and
Mrs. N. c. Weaver, charged with the
murder of Lillian Hattery. The time
was occupied almost entirely by the de-
fense in the examination of two wit
nesses, Miss Bessie Hattery, sister of
Lillian Hattery, deceased, and Mrs. Van
Zant, the landlady with whom Bessie
was boarding when Lillian visited her.
The defendants counsel endeavored to
obtain some data as to the movements
of Lillian after her arrival in Los An
geles.
The defense then rested, and as last
resource made a motion for the dis
charge of both defendants on the ground
that Justice Rossiter of Pasadena had
no Jurisdiction or legal right to try the
case in the police court of Los Angeles,
although Police Judge Owens was also
elected as a justice of the peace of this
county. The motion was denied and
exception taken by the counsel for de-
fense, who may make this point another
issue before the superior court, to which
both defendants were held for trial in
bonds of $4,000 each.
The hour set for the conclusion of the
examination this morning was o'clock,
but it was nearly 10 o'clock before Bailiff
Appel cleared the court and raped
for order.
The appearance of defendants was that
of wearied anxiety, although Mrs. Wea-
yer seemed more cheerful by the pres
ence of her two daughters Miss Bessie
Hattery, sister of the deceased girl, was
first called to the witness stand to tes-
tify on behalf of the defense. The wit
ness is blonde with golden hair, blue
eyes and slight figure She did not re-
semble her unfortunate sister in any
marked degree. Upon examination by
Mr.. Gage, Bessie gave her age as Is. She
was a sister Of Lillian Hattery, who came
from San Bernardino on January 18th
to visit her. She was asked by defend
ants counsel as to her companionship
with her sister every day after her ar
rival until the fatal Friday evening,
January Goth, when Lillian went to DR..
Hastings Office for treatment. From her
testimony Lillian had been with her all
the time except when witness was at
the Normal school. The last time she
saw Lillian alive was when she left
her to attend school on the morning of
January 29th. Lillian seemed cheerful
while visiting her at Mrs. Van Zant's
dt oV4 reHlont avenue. WitucSS iueN-
titled a letter shown her by Mr.. Gage
as having been written by Lillian while
at DR.. Hastings place. The signature
Hathaway" had been added by some
one else to the simple signature "Lill."
Prosecuting Attorney McComas did not
cross-examine the witness, but did pro-
Guce the cloak and hat, which were
identified by Miss Bessie as having be-
longed to her sister She could not sat-
isfy herself perfectly about the cloak
until she had tried it on. Then she was
certain.
Mrs. Van Zant was then called by the
defense, who examined her very closely
as to the movements of Lillian Hattery
after she came to her house January
18th. The witness was positive that
Lillian ''stayed at home nights" for she
(the witness )always kept an eye on all
the girls who boarded with her and did
not allow them to run about in the
evenings. She admitted that Lillian
had gone out sometimes in the forenoons
or afternoons, but without companion.
The girl seemed perfectly cheerful and
happy during her stay at the house.
Then the defense rested, and the peo-
pie also.
Mr.. Gage moved that the defendants
be discharged, on the ground that JUS
tice RosSiter had no jurisdiction over
case in the court of Police Judge Ow-
ems in Los Angeles city.
Judge Rossiter, as a justice of the
peace of Pasadena township, in the
same county, thought he had, and denied
the motion.
Then came a wrangle between the re-
spective counsel over the matter of bail
for defendants, the court having de-
cided to hold them over for trial in the
superior court Mr.. Gage very seriously
argued the apparent innocence of de-
PENDANTS and asked that bail for Mrs.
Weaver be fixed at $500 and DR.. Hast
ings at $4,000.
Mr.. McComas differed with him Slight
ly and asked that DR.. Hastings be held
in the sum of $4,000 and Mrs. Weaver
$4,000. Judge Rossiter ordered that both
defendants be held for trial in bail of
$4,000 each and that they be remanded
to the custody of the sheriff. The pris-
oners were taken to the county Jail to
remain until called to appear for trial
in the superior court.
THE SECOND CHARGE
Upon motion of Deputy District At
torney McComas the time for the exam
ination of Dr. Hastings on the charge OF
committing an abortion on the colored
girl Fannie Norris, was set for March
9th at 10 o'clock am. The district attor-
ney said the girl was still at the county
hospital and would not be able to ap-
pear for a week or ten days. The bail
in this case had been fixed previously
at $40, ,000