The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17
WOMAN SCORNED ENDEAVORS
TO MAKE CATSPAW OF COURT
To Prevent Departure From City and Thus Punish Man
That Had Abandoned Her, Mrs. Julia Vanni Tries Have
Him Arrested for Robbery, but Plan Is Npped in Bud

Mrs. Julia Vanni. a buxom little Ital-
ian, endeavored to utilize the laws
machinery to punish her recreant lover,
but Judge Mogan nipped her scheme
in the bud and gave her lecture that
has probably enhanced her opinion of
the laws majesty.
The woman applied for a warrant for
the arrest OF Joseph Carissi and Frank
Besilia on the charge of felony en-
bezzlement, and stated In substantial
ticn of her complaint that they had
stolen from her apartment at Pres
cott Court about 5000 worth Of jew
elry and were about to sail for Alaska
with the proceeds Of their plunder. Her
story was told with all earnestness, and
she would probably have secured the
desired warrant II an attorney had not
dashed into court and protested against
its issuance on the ground that the
woman had trumped up the charge for
the sole purpose of Furnishing Besilia
by preventing his departure to the
northern fisheries.
Sharp questioning Of the woman by
the Judge ELECTED the information that
while her husband was held to an
swer in the Federal court on a charge
Of counterfeiting she had been the COM
panion of Besilia, who finally tired Of
her md decided to go to Alaska. With
the traditional fury OF the woman
scorned. she determined to avenge her
abandonment, and with that end in
view she sent Besllia to deposit her
jewels in a safety vault and then
sought TO have him arrested and de-
tained for stealing them.
It's lucky for you, madame, said
the Judge, as he tore up the woman's
unsigned complaint, that these facts
came to light before you succeeded IN
having the man arrested, else you
would find yourself in more serious
trouble than you are trying to bring
upon him"
A tale OF attempted bribery Of a wit
ness was unfolded by Mary Hughes
to Judge Mogan and impelled the court
to continue the case of William Nolan,
alias William Bray. charged with high
way robbery.
There are two complaints against No
Ian, each of them sworn to by wo-
man. On the night of April 13 Annie
Reinshager of 400 Geary street was
waylald and robbed of a small sum
of. money by a man, and the follow
ing night Mary Hughes of 10 Powell
street was similarly treated. Each Of
the women has identified Nolan as her
assailant. When the case was on hear
ing yesterday Mrs. Hughes showed
such reluctance to testify that the
Judge took her in hand and forced her
to state that on two occasions she had
been approached with an offer of
money to induce her to abstain from
prosecuting Nolan. One of the pro-
posals was made by a light complex
toned man and the other by a man
of swart countenance. Each of them
visited her room and offered to pur-
chase her silence for $50, half OF
which she was to give to the other
prosecutrix. The bribe was refused,
and then she was requested to stay
away from court until arrangements
could be made to raise the bid.
1.-The case is continued" said the
Judge, "as L am satisfied that an effort
is afoot to purchase the silence or per-
vert the testimony of witnesses for the
prosecution. l want the police to inves-
tigate the matter and arrest the would
to bribe givers. All the witnesses in
the case are now requested to aid in
the capture and punishment of any
person that tries to corrupt them by
offering money. 1t is the duty of a
witness thus approached to follow the
person who tempts him and point him
out to-a police officer, who will do the
rest"
The witnesses in the case of the peo-
pie VS.. Nolan looked very serious as
they filed out of court
Won't you please let my papa go
mamma and 1 need him at home?" said
a blue-eyed little girl to the officer that
was escorting Judge Fritz's allotment
of accused from the Jail to the court
room.
Il can't let him go, my DEAR" was
the bluecoat's kindly answer; "only
the Judge can do that
Tears suffused the blue eyes, and
with q sob the child ran to one of the
prisoners, a rather decent looking man,
who stopped and kissed her. Then she
grasped his unmanacled hand and
clung to it caressingly until they ar
rived at the barred inclosure. where
the officer tenderly released her clutch
and placed the man in the cage. When
that was done he went up to the bench
and whispered something to the Judge,
who glanced at the weeping child and
nodded approvingly. Then the father
was taken out of the pen" and per-
mitted to sit beside the little one.
1t was a case of failure to provide,
and the defendant told of how inability
to obtain employment had led to de-
spondency and drink. He was penitent.
Take your baby and go home said
the Judge. IF you were really a neg
lectful father the child would not be
so fond of you"