Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-14
DEATHS SHADOW
OVER COURT ROOM
GIRL ACCIDENTALLY TAKES
POISON
Relatives Of Miss IdeIIa Arnaz Are
Worried: About Her Condition
During Progress of Per-
Jury Trial

The shadow of death hovered low over
the trial of Leo Monreal, accused of per-
jury, when yesterday morning, in de-
partment of the superior court, it be-
came known that Miss Idella Arnaz,
one OF the witnesses in the case. had
| taken poison by mistake and was then
In precarious condition.
1t was one of the stern necessities of
the law that held there in the court
room those who were nearest and
dearest to the young woman, but thew
held communication with the California
hospital, where the girl had been taken,
and reports of her condition were
eagerly received in the court room.
Monreal is on trial on perjury
charge. 1t is alleged that the evidence
given by him in the divorce case of
MIS-. Beatrice Arnaz against James
ANnaz was false and that ne knew 1t
was false.
The Arnaz divorce trial came up in
department about three months ago.
Monreal, in behalf of James Arnaz, the
defendant ewore that he and a friend
had gone to Mrs. Arnaz' room and had
there drank eighteen quarts of beer.
Swallows Deadly Potion
He further testified that Mrs. Arnas
had fondled him, had sat on his knee
and had patted his face before going to
the next room and throwing herself
down on bed beside a man who was
sleeping there.
1t was then testified to by the house.
keeper that the next room to that oc-
cupied by Mrs. Arnaz had been used as
a cigar manufacturing establishment
Tor several years and that there could
not have been any man or any bed in
that apartment. The question now
raised by the defense of Monreal, who
was arrested for perjury, was as to
whether or not Mrs. Arnaz was in her
room or in some one else's room on the
night Of the occurrence.
Miss Idella Arnaz, a young Spanish
girl, was to have been a witness at the
trial today. She Is a sister of James
Arnaz, the defendant in the divorce
case, who was also called as a witness.
Yesterday morning, according to her
relatives, Miss Arnaz made g. mistake in
the selection of medicine left for her to
take. She had been suffering for some
time past with gastritis but her condi-
tion had improved so that it was
thought she would be able to appear in
court today.
Recently, in order to quiet her. it is
said, she has been allowed to take q
little laudanum. This drug was on the
table by her bed, together with other
medicines. Yesterday morning she felt
pduly ana TedcneQ out ana got mold or
what she thought was her medicine.
Instead she grasped the bottle of poison,
poured out a desert spoonful and swal-
lowed the drug.
Physicians Save Girls Life
Her condition was discovered few
moments later and a physician was
sent from the California hospital on an
emergency call. Rumors of suicide were
soon set aside when the true state of
affairs became known, and the unfor-
tunate young woman was worked with
for two hours before the danger had in
any way been passed.
During that time her brother, under
subpoena, was compelled to sit silently
enduring his heartache IN the witness
room of the court, with his heart away
at the distant hospital where his sister
lay near the threshold of death while
the argument of the lawyers and the
murmur of voices from the next room
reminded him of the law that held him
helpless. Many of the girls relatives
were in court. Those who could hurried
to her. Those who could not held a
constant telephone communication with
the hospital until court adjourned at
noon when they hurried to the Arnaz
home to offer sympathy to the mother.