Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-08
WOMAN STRICKEN
IN COURT ROOM
HEART DISEASE CAUSES HER
TO COLLAPSE
Mrs. Mary E. Randall Of Pasadena,
Who Is Suing Father Of Former
Husband, Falnts After Leav-
ing Witness stand

After having been subjected to
gruelling cross-examination on the
witness stand in department seven Of
the superior court yesterday afternoon,
Mrs: Mary e. Randall of Pasadena,
who Is suing her father-in-law, Rob-
ert S. Randall, for recovery of prop
erty was stricken with an attack Of
heart trouble and she was barely able
to leave the court room before she col
lapsed.
She was taken into a nearby room,
where several of her friends who were
present at the trial attended her, and
within two hours she had sufficiently
recovered to leave the court house.
Divorce Case Causes Surprise
The Randall case first came into
prominence several months ago, when
Mrs. Randall filed suit for divorce
against Harry l.. Randall, accusing
him of cruelty. The divorce case came
as a surprise to the social circle in
Pasadena in which the young people
maved, as they were thought to be
very happy.
Following their marriage in 1900 they
had lived at a fashionable hotel in
Pasadena, but later moved to a place
on Molino street, where, according to
the allega tions of the young wife, they
received notice from the elder Randall,
a retired capitalist of Illinois, that he
would send them check for $4,000
should they choose to build home of
their own.
The home was built in the Ell Molino
tract, in a fashionable part of Pasa-
he h 1xxrifl nd
the deed was registered in the hus
bands name.
Trouble Then Begins
Then, according to the divorce pro-
ceedings, trouble occurred. The young
couple had been fairly happy until,
according to the allegations of the
wife, her husband became afflicted
with most violent temper. The allie
cations at the divorce trial stated that
whenever Mrs. Randall attempted to
cut a slice of ham at the breakfast
table her husband said harsh things to
her because of her lack of grace.
She further alleged that he cursed
her because she was unable to make up
bed according to his ideas of house
keeping, and whenever she attempted
to pick a rose in her own garden she
was rebuked by her husband. At that
time Judge Gibbs granted the decree
Of divorce and alimony, but he made
no ruling regarding the home prop
erty which is now valued at about
$4,000
Since then the woman has filed suit
for half the property, alleging that
the house was intended as gift for
herself and husband, and that just be-
fore she filed suit for divorce her hus-
band gave the house back to his father.
so that she could have no chance Of
obtaining control of any part of it.
Yesterday the case was called for
trial before Judge Smith in depart
meht seven of the superior court. The
elder Randall was present and he en-
tered a general denial, claiming that
the property had been a present to
his son alone.
Claims Part of Home
Mrs. Randall was then sent to the
stand by her attorneys and stated her
case She alleged that the home had
been a gift to her husband and herself
and was therefore community prop
erty.
When she was put under cross-ex-
animation, attorneys representing
Randall subjected her to a lengthy ex-
animation, in which they asked her
whether or not she had placed wit
nesses to listen at the keyholes while
she talked with her father-in-law
about the deed to the home.
Before the close Of the examination
the woman became exhausted and was
excused Her attorney assisted her
from the witness chair, and just as
she reached the door she collapsed, and
with the aid of the bailiff and clerk of
the court was taken to a nearby room,
where her friends worked with her two
hours before she recovered.