The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-10
Dramatic Scene During Hearing
Of Van Alstine Case.
BANK HAS NONE or THE MONEY.
Klondfker's Attorneys Resort To
Tooth Drawing Methods Ia Prove
Wife Possessed of 1f-Tefeg raph
COmpanIes Forced 10 Deliver Up
Messages To the Court-Bsnk Of
ncers Teatffy-f'lainttG Examined

That drama Of a certain csazS OF society
known as IN. van Alstlr1e case opened
to q crowded h14se ia Jusse Moore .
Department OF the Superior court yester-
day afternoon Ali Of the principal actors
were there. only the face of A. Il. Soyes.
alleged censpiFator against the kIostilks
Bridegroom @as missing from the cast
The climax OF the first actor the p@r-
Torrance went no further yesgerday-was
when Attorney Dore for the plaintiff and
the defendant ana alleged eorsplrator. her
half sister, Emma Merton. dramatically
placed at the disposition OF the court and
Van Alstine's lawyers the sane deposit box
or boxes at the National Bank of Com
merce alleged to contain $500 OF the
proceeds OF the s15vrl vi ich the kion-
diker claims WIS filcaed from him on his
wedding journey BY bis wife. 1aae sheet
iron box turned over to the sheriff by the
hank proved TO be az empty a. a Iast
years birds nest.
Charge Of Conspiracy Opened.
The divorce case came up before Judge
Moore on the order issued against the
plaintiff and her alleged fellow conspira-
tors, Emma Norton A. Il. Noyex. Attorney
Melvin G.. Winseock, compelling tsem TO
show cause why the SCI o1a alleged 10 be
Withheld from Van Aistine should not be
paid into court 10 await the determine
ton OF the divorce suit and also upon the
application OF Mrs. Van Alstine for 81 O09
temporary alimony. AS a means Of en-
forcing the order to show cause the officers
of the National Bank OF Commerce and
the Seattle Safe Deposit Company were
cited to snow cause why they should not
divulge In open court whether any of the
alleged missing funds were In their vaults
subject to the order OF the plaiatifY or the
Norton woman.
The hearing OF the order to show cause
was only fairly begun before court add
5oarned until Monday morning, when it
will be resumed. Against the objection OF
Mrs. Van Alstine- lawyers the court has
allowed the defendant to place witnesses
the stand in attempting 10 trace the
money he claims he lost Through his wife
aud her alleged accompiices. BESIDES the
bank officers, who gave unimportant testi-
money. the defense placed on The witness
stand Mrs. Van Alstine herself In their
attempt 10 elct Information concerning the
money
Her testimony vas interrupted 10 allow
Manager brown. OF the W stern Union
Telegraph Company. and Manager Blake,
of the Pacific rosia, Telegraph Company
TO testify ia reiJugtal Of her statements ON
the stand regarding certain kilograms
Mrs. Van Aistsna's lawyers s;reuusilsy
objected to this course. claiming that the
communications we're privileged but were
sterniy depressed by the court. On this
point IL s probable that further objections
viii be urged on Monday when the inquiry
again turns upon the kilograms alleged to
have passed between Mrs. Van Alstine and
her sister.
Principals in the Case.
Mrs Van Alstine was aceompinea in
court by Miss Norton Both Were quietly
dressed and ye.ied Near them sat her at
torney. Mr. Winstoek, whose professional
reputation Is at stake In the case So far
the testimony has not been turned to2ard
him. Attorneys John T.. Dore and Charles
y. Shepard are attorneys for the alleged
Ar table few feet away from his wife
sat Van Alstine. an ungainly looking little
German, dressed in a suit of store clothes,
aIid wearing the only evidence OF his
klondike Wealth a massive gold watch
chain, from which danged a nugget weigh
aEg couple % ounces az 50. lie took little
part in t9e proceedings and spent most OF
his time In gazing slxelly az his wife who
never 50 much turned an eye toward
him. Occasionally hs would grin tx q sne-
chanicai SORT of way, Judge Wfnsor A..
torney James 4. Ronald and Il \ BALM
ger We're In court representing him.
Objection 10 Oral Testimony
Attorney J. T. Ronald opened the case
by stating the nature of the pending or
ders. HE stated that he would prefer To
have the witnesses examined orally iirsts
When he had finished Attorney John r
nore rose to object 10 the introduction OF
the oral testimony nj that time He said
tDat the superior court had held that such
a course was Irregular IN the ease OF ths.
state aEalf,s, ex-coInty Commissioner U.a-
ION ana IN othc. eases. evil and criminal
Attorney Ronald argued again in fayor
OF his motion for oral testimony. tie saM
" was impossible Tor the defendant to l,et
TIE testimony of many material " 'tufeses
IN the form Of affifayitE. that bankers .ssti
ttsesraIsh operators FOR instance were at
IN the habit of making aUidavitS REGARD ng
TIE private business OF their clients hsls -
paced on the sand would tell the whnls.
run unaer inc dlrec'soa 81 tn. coart. and
taat The truth only WIS desired Further
air Ronald said, in divorce cases /; haI
always been the practice If the courts Of
King county TO hear applications fnr shs
payment al suit money on oral ~ 'senga
Mr. porS said the decisions cited he Mr.
Ronald were not law
Judge Mocre held that toe defendant WIS
entitled Ia examine TN Offices ~ In bTfk
other Witnesses '"'
Then ~. h,aaInss N.aa .ntrr.o-r,...a L,