The San Francisco call., 1904-04-05

house had the fiocr of Fritzs court for
about fifteen minutes yesterday and
furnished entertainment for large
audience.
William Eckhart. proprietor of the
Oriental Hotel, explained the case. and
the ex-soubrettes saw to it that no de-
tails were overlooked. 1t was all about
a trunk and the contents thereof. While
the Foxy Grandpa" company was en-
gagged at one of the local theaters sew
eral months ago Miss May Gibson and
Mrs. Soule occupied a room at the ORR
entail, and when they departed to
charm with their talents the one-night
stands on the southern circuit a single
trunk was left behind. Just why it was
left behind does not matter.
Soon afterward Miss Gibson returned
to the city and claimed the trunk, and
when it was given to her by Mr.. Eek
hart she removed it to another hotel.
Then a letter from Mrs. Soule. dated
Los Angeles. was received by Mr.. Eek
hart, and it requested, him to hold the
trunk until she arrived and formally
took possession of 1t. Mr.. Eckhart,
considerably 1urried, flew to the court
of Judge Fritz and obtained a warrant
empowering him to search Miss Glib
sons dwelling place and seize and hold
the trunk until such time as its owner
ship could be judicially settled. So the
trunk was conveyed to the Hall of JUS
tice basement and there detained Mrs.
Soule came from Los Angeles in time
to participate in the legal threshing
out of the dispute yesterday.
Neither of the women claimed sole
ownership of the trunks contents, but
each of them asserted that she had
things in il that she would not lose
for more than a trifle. Attorney Har-
ris falteringly requested the ladies to
describe their respective shares of the
property, and as one of the ladies be-
gan to do so the Judge blushed and,
glaring reprovingly at the prosecuting
attorney, abrutly shut off the glibly
recited inventory by informing the con-
testants that it would be easier for all
concerned if they were to step down
to the basement and privately divide
the treasures in the trunk.
The suggestion was adopted, and as
the ladies did not reappear before the
amicably adjusted their differences.
Attired in a sweeping gown of sill
very sheen, Miss Hattie Witzke of 3OS
Minna street unsteadily approached the
bench of Judge Mogan and asked the
busy occupant thereof TO sign war
rant she had procured for the arrest of
two persons, a man and a woman, on
a charge of grand larceny. AS she re-
cited the details of the alleged crime
she smiled with much sweetness at the
Judge. and he in return gaZed with
attention at her beaming countenance
until he suddenly asked:
How many drinks have you had to-
day?'
That's not the question" said the
woman What / want"
That is the question and you can't
sidestep it, no matter what you may
want" persisted the court. How
many drinks have you had to-day?"
We'll L drank a glass of lemon
ade-"
Anything in it besides lemon and
sugar?"
NO. sir l never drink anything
stronger than lemonade"
Well my opinion is that you are in
toxicated, and 1 cannot issue war
rant to an intoxicated person"
1t subsequently developed that after
her visit to the Warrant Clerk and
prior to her visit to the court Miss
Witzke made several journeys to the
street and that each excursion served
to enhance the spirit of sociability that
fairly exuded from her countenance
as she recounted her alleged grievance
to the Judge.
An additional charge of malicious
mischief was filed yesterday against
w. /. Ward, arrested for assaulting
William Cluff, the well-known mer-
chant. last Saturday night at the Or
pheum. Ward was charged with bat
terry and disturbing the peace and
while in the City Prison he threw
vessel containing water in the face of
a trusty, who entered the additional
accusation.
Frank Drew appeared as special at
torney for the prosecution when the
case against Ward was called yester-
day in Judge Mogan's court and he
consented to a continuance asked for
by the defense.
Fred Tobelmann, charged with muir
dering his wife last Friday at 60SH
Minna street, was arraigned beforel
Judge Conlan and he injected some
interest into that proceeding by re-
questing the courts permission to at
tend the woman's funeral. The re-
quest was promptly and emphatically
refused.
you shall get no such permit from
me-" said the Judge, not even if the
police are willing that you should at
tend the funeral of the woman you
murdered in cold blood
The defendants detection visibly
deepened as the Judges words were
uttered. Former Judge Sanderson, for
the defense, asked that the prelimi-
nary examination be continued ill
next Tuesday and the prosecution con-
sented to the postponement.
with of affaoffpor 4I,a rofo~