Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-28
EMMA PATTERSON TRIAL
ON AT SAN BERNARDIN0
ACCUSED OF BURNING HOUSE
TO SECURE INSURANCE
Arrowhead Power Company Increases
Its Capital Stock-Fire Department
Controversy Results in Dismissal
of Chief Stevenson
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
SAN BERNARDINO, March 27.-The
trial of Emma Patterson of Chino,
charged with burning her own house
last July, was commenced today in the
superior court.
The Patterson woman for many years
conducted house of questionable char
acter in the beet sugar town., but owing
to numerous prosecutions she is alleged
to have decided to leave the place.
Some time previous to this she secured
additional insurance on her home and
finally it burned.
The prosecution of the case will be
compelled to depend very largely on
getting the evidence of Mrs. Josie Nc
Farlane before the jury. Mrs, McFar-
lane told in detail at the preliminary
hearing how the fire was set and how
the Patterson woman had removed all
her most valuable articles from the
house before the blaze.
Since the preliminary hearing the
MacFarlane woman has died. Now her
testimony given at the preliminary
hearing will be introduced, although it
is expected bitter legal fight will fol-
low as to it's Introduction.
The capital stock of the Arrowhead
Reservoir and Power company has been
increased from $1.560,000 to $6,000,0 600.
This is the company that is building
the great Arrowhead dam in Little Bear
valley, north of this city, and which
will complete one of the greatest irriga-
ton and power enterprises this part of
the state has ever seen.
The work on the dam, which has been
under way for two years, will require
two years to complete.
The incline railway the company is
building to the mountain top from just
above Arrowhead Springs will be
pushed to completion, and it Is expected
the company will in the not far distant
future commence work on the proposed
electric scenic line from this city to the
mountain top.
The row which has been on in the fire
department for some months has re-
suited in Fire Chief Stevenson being let
out by the city council. George NJ
Stephens, a former chief, was appointed
to take his place April l. There are two
factions in the department and 1t is
hoped the new chief, with perhaps some
added authority which the council may
give him, will be able to restore har-
mony.
Out on Bail
William Baxter, who was yesterday
committed to the county Jail for 100
days after his conviction had been
affirmed by the superior court, Is out
today on habeas corpus proceedings, his
bail being $780, The hearing is to be
held next Monday.
1t is claimed by BaXter's attorney
that fatal error exists in the commit
ment; that Judge Vestal signed the
paper as recorder when in fact his
title should be "police Judge" This
brings up the same question in another
form that was urged in the appeal of
the case to the superior court.
The row that has been on between the
supervisors and County Surveyor Cook
has broken out afresh over the request
of Cook for sixty days leave of absence
that he may visit Searchlight, New, to
look after mining interests. The vote
for the leave was to 2. Cook stated
that at the expiration of this time he
would ask for another of the same
length.
The city council has taken up the
matter of better milk supply. 1t will
pass an ordinance providing for the in
spection of all dairies that may supply
milk to the city and compel them to
clean up.