Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-12
CHARGES DOCTOR
WITH BATTERY
MRS. FLICK SAYS PHYSICIAN
STRUCK HER
Former Coroner Denies That He Ever
Abused Woman or Used Vicious
Lanauage-Judge Stops
Irrelevant Testimony

DR.. L. T. Holland, formerly county
coroner, against whom a charge of
battery has been preferred by Mrs,
Eliza Flick, who was recently sent to
the insane asylum, was arraigned be-
fore Police Judge Austin yesterday
afternoon. Throughout the proceed
ings the trial was marked with dra-
attorneys for the defense attempted
to prove that the occasion of Mrs.
Flick's confinement in the insane
asylum was the result of a conspiracy.
Judge Austin strongly objected to the
introduction of this testimony.
The case lasted over two hours, and
was finally continued until this morn
ing at $3.50 o'clock.
Mrs. Flick came to the courtroom
wearing a large picture hat and a
shirt waist specially prepared so that
she could exhibit the wounds which,
she alleged, she had received at the
hands of DIR. Holland.
Mrs. Flick testified that she was
half owner of a rooming house located
at 3161a South Spring street, and that
DIR. Holland was a tenant there on
October 3 when she came to collect
the rent from him. She alleged that
when she did so DR.. Holland struck her
and caused a severe bruise on her
chest. In support of her statement she
exhibited to Judge Austin the alleged
wound. She came to court with a
specially prepared shirt waist, ana
said:
Witness Grows VoIubIe
"Its no trouble at all, your honor;
I can easily show you," and she was
allowed to do so.
Her testimony was marked with
dramatic gestures, and she frequently
employed references to the Diety to
strengthen her statements.
This man struck you when you
came to him for the purpose of COL
lecting your rent?" asked the prose-
cutting attorney.
Before God and men he did So" re-
piled Mrs. Flick, with her right hand
raised.
"On your oath you state that, do
your"
Certainly. sure enough, bless your
SOUL" she added, lowering her hand.
Further testimony from the COM
planning witness was to the effect that
DR.. Holland had not only struck her,
but mad cursed her.
The witness was so talkative that
on several occasions the court had to
instruct her to answer only the ques~
tions put to her.
DIR. Holland testified that he never
in his life had struck a woman or
used vile epithets, and asked the court
to go out and gather in witnesses that
would testify to his regard for the
strength of forcible English words
when properly used and his total abb
horrence of foul and vicious language
His testimony was a complete denial
of the testimony of Mrs. Flick and
her numerous witnesses, with all of
whom the defendants attorneys tried
in vain to show that Mrs Flick had
had considerable trouble.
Judge suppresses Questions
Attorney Newby said when cross
examining Mrs. Cooling for the de-
fense:
rs it not fact that you and your
son put up the job to land Mrs. Flick
in the insane asylum?"
Instantly Judge Austin arose from
his chair and said warmly:
This must stop right here, Mr..
Newby. I will not tolerate the intro
duction of any such testimony This
case is one of a charge of battery
Quoted as such. Nor will 1 for mo-
ment permit it to degenerate into
civil suit. which you are trying your
best to do. If it occurs again 1 will
stop the case"
In spite of this warning the attor-
neys for the defense made some well
covered attempts to bring out such
testimony. The result was on the