Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-06
APPEARS DEBONAIR
AND CONFIDENT
ERNEST STACKP0LE FACES
SUPERIOR COURT
Entlne Day Spent In Arguing Tech
ricalitles of Formal Murder
charge--ls Remanded to
Custody of Sheriff

From the sullen, surly prisoner who
for the past few days has occupied a
cell at the county jail Ernest G.
Stackpole, charged with the murder of
Joel Sheck, has changed to a gay and
debonair youth who has put fear away
from him, and is now facing trial in
the superior court with supreme con-
fidence in being acquitted.
Following a long session in court
yesterday on habeas corpus proceed
ings, Stackpole was remanded to the
| custody Of the sheriff and today he will
again be taken to court and find ont
whether he Will be liberated on the
technicality or compelled to stand
trial.
Yesterday Stackpole spent the day in
court, and the change from the
cramped quarters at the county jail
seemed to be relief to the man.
During the morning the case for
habeas corpus was called and Stack
pole, neatly dressed in a well-fitting
gray suit and derby hat, appeared in
department four of the superior court.
A continuance until the afternoon
session was asked, and again Stack
pole was handcuffed and taken to the
court room
The man is not bad looking, and
moved by that strange and foolish i'm
pulse which impels young women to
be morbidly curious about viewing
murderers, scores of the fair employees
of the court house, chiefly from the
recorders office, and many girls and
women hurried to the court room to get
better view of the accused man.
Pays No Attention to Women
Every article of apparel was care
fully noticed by the young women; the
black silk four-inhand tie, which be-
comes the prisoner extremely we'll, his
high standing and Immediately clean
collar, the gray suit, and last of all the
trim shoes were all carefully discussed
and the girls took great delight in the
amusement. Stackpole has a remark
ably small foot for man of his height
and the number of his oxford slippers
is so small that many a woman would
be glad to be able to wear them.
But Stackpole paid little or no at
tention to the women and listened care
fully to the proceedings. His attor-
neys insisted that the entire transcript
of the preliminary examination be read,
oihSN thCJ litClluSu DdSlllR their plea
for the mans release on the grounds
that there was an insufficiency of evil
dence.
When the time arrived for the at
torneyS to read the grewsome details
of the shooting, the appearance of the
dead man when first seen as he rested
on his bed with the blood flowing from
his wounds, Stackpoles attorneys
handed him a copy of the habeas
corpus papers and the man read every
word of the uninteresting document in
order to escape hearing what was be-
ing read.
Chick Doesn't Need Cuffs
Stackpole has habit of covering one
hand with his hat and gripping tightly
to the rim of his headgear with the
other. 1t is a perfect position of rest,
and many men under more severe
mental strain have been able to con-
ceal their agitation by the same trick.
During the reading, however, Stack
pole became restive and asked to be
taken out of the court room. Under
the charge of Deputy Sheriff Chick, the
accused man went to an adjoining room
where he carefully rolled a cigarette
and lit it,
Then while he puffed away leisurely
he began to talk.
you are the first deputy 1 have met
who did not slap the handouts on me
at every opportunity" said Stackpole
II am not going to run away and
dislike being handcuffed exceedingly.
and am much obliged to you. 1t has
been my experience since 1 have been
under arrest that the local officers
handcuff you if you attempt to sneeze."
''Oh, you won't be ironed very closely
while you're with me-" remarked Chick, |
and he turned ever so little so that
Stackpole could see the butt of a
heavy revolver hostered close to the
officers hand.
There is no need in Handwriting
man when you have good friend like
that along" continued Chick, and
Stackpole shrugged his shoulders.
Show Morbid Curiosity
With the utmost unconcern Stackpole |
asked about a trial in another depart
ment of the court house, inquired of
its details and asked what chance the |
man had of being released. He quoted |
various newspaper articles wherein he |
had read the French mode of prose-
cution and had carefully compared it |
with the American procedure, and |
gave his opinion that the American
form was more to his liking
When he was taken back to the
court room the girls all gazed at him
and made remarks, but Stackpole |
made no sign that he heard.
They said he was so good looking" |
remarked one fair young woman, land |
| don't like his looks much anyhow"
Get up closer so we can see him |
when he is taken out" remarked an
other girl, and the spectators crowded |
so that the bailif was compelled to
order them to be more quiet.
Then the case was continued until |
this morning when a final decision will |
be handed down by Judge Trask. The
spectators left the room, but waited
in the hall.
Like Harry Thaw. Stackpole seems
to have distaste for appearing In public
wearing handouts, and at his request
Deputy Chick simply fastened a cuff |
to the prisoners crippled left wrist and !
holding the other cuff i'm his hand the /
bailiff marched Stackpole to the door.
There the scores of women crowded /
about and stared at the prisoner so /
that the officer was compelled |
to force a passage through the crowd |
Even the young women dashed madly I
down the stairs and waited at the lower
landing and again crowded about to