The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-21

voLuBLE WITNESS rEsTIFlEs
The Reputation Of One Nan Picked to
Pieces-Hs II Called q Prefes-
sional "Alibi'' Witness

The damage suit of Mrs. Elizabeth
Church against the Los Angeles Railway
company was resumed yesterday. little
later than usual, Juror McManus being
duly sober and on deck bright and early.
but Juror Shoulders was a quarter OF an
hour late, owing to his watch's having had
an interview with the wrong matchmaker
Judge Allen mildly admonished the jurors
not to unnecessarily delay the case any
longer. Mr.. McManus Is not out OF the
woods, however, as he will have to tread
the carpet when the case Is concluded. al
though he has recollected with whom he
took his first drink Thursday. when the
noon recess was taken, and the fact that
this cocktail was at the expense of coun-
ty official makes him feel that the influence
OF the other man ought to save him from
punishment for bringing an important case
to a temporary sfandstill at considerable
expense.
Among the numerous witnesses who gave
their testimony for the defendant yester-
day was Mrs. Kate Zerr, a most voluble wit
ness. She was in the Pico Heights post
Office at the time that the accident &C.
CURED to Mrs. Church, who was carried
Into the building and placed on a chair.
Witness said that Mrs. Church deplored
the fact Of having been SO careless as 10
get on the car while 1t was still in motion.
She was evidently in great pain and re-
uuested Mrs. Zerr to try to have her con-
veyed to her home. promising her pay for
the service. Mrs. Zerr procured her broth
er, butcher near by. to drive home Mrs.
Church, and she bathed her achinig limbs
with spirits Of camphor.
Plaintiffs attorney severely cross-exam.
ined this witness ad tried to bring out
the fact that a certain Mrs. johnson, an
alleged reporter on a San Francisco pa
per, had offered her, on behalf of the de-
PENDANTS, either a position or remunera-
ton for her testimony. Mrs. Zerr replied
that Mrs. johnson had told her that If she
was going to testify as she said she would,
she was very foolish not to obtain either a
lucrative position for herself or friend.
or, at least, $50in cash. She admitted having
gone to the defendants lawyers Office for
the purpose Of answering certain ques-
lions in connection with the accident,
which 1t was necessary that cousel should
know, but denied that she had been Of
fered or had asked for remuneration. Mr.
Trask, one of the lawyers for the electric
car company, supplemented this statement
by adding that If anybody said that wit
ness had been offered anything by him or
anybody else in his office. that person was
q liar.
The testimony offered by plaintiff was
that the car started as Mrs. Church stepped
of. The testimony for the railroad is that
Mrs. Church stepped on just before the
car stopped. w. H. Cline, deputy United
States marshal, and H. H. Appel, a lawyer,
testified as to the character of one F. W.
Packard, who had been witness for Mrs.
Church. They characterized him as ar
''alibi'' Witness" who had been mixed up
in doubtful cases for the last six yea,s
and that his reputation is bad.
All the evidence on either side went 70
the jury yesterday, and the arguments will
commence today.