Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-16
RUBY WEEPS AS Her
LIFE STORY IS TOLD
FRIENDS OF GIRL F0RGER ASK
PROBATION
Conduct of Her Father Declared to
Be in Part Responsible for
Her Present Con-
dition

Evidently fearing the result of her
application for probation ana possibly
nervous because of the prospect OF nav
ing to pass a portion of her time III
states prison, Ruby Casselman was
unable to maintain the Indifferent man
ner which has characterized her actions
heretofore and sobbed aloud in Judge
Wilbur's court yesterday afternoon and
when witnesses, brought by the de-
tense. related instances of Ruby's past
life the girl wept as though her heart
would break.
Miss Fanny Davis. Ruby's chum' VINO
occupied a seat beside the accused
girl, also wept in sympathy, as did sew
eral other friends of the prisoner.
Mrs. Martin, grand aunt of MISS
Casselman, testified that when Rupy
was Is years old she had nervous pros
tration caused by overstudy. The Wo-
man also declared Ruby's father de-
serted the girls mother when Runy
was months old; that he had never
acted toward the girl as a parent
should.
On one occasion, four years ago, Mrs.
Martin declared, Ruby had returned
from church in company with young
man. They were sitting in the parlor
conversing when Casselman appeared
at an open window and yelled at the
young man to leave the house, calling
him a cur and accusing Ruby of i'm
proper conduct. This so shocked the
girl, Mrs. Martin declared, that she
Immediately became melancholy and
respondent and since that time was
never the same girl.
Accuses Father
Mrs. A. G. Casselman, an aunt of the
accused girl, testified she has known
Ruby since the latter was child, but
had not seen much of her until four
years ago, when Ruby and Mrs. Mar
tin came to California. She corroborat-
ed Mrs. Martins statement to the eff
feet that Miss Casselman's father had
never showed proper interest in the
girl. She also, in substance, made the
same statement regarding the shock
sustained by Ruby when her father
yelled through the window, as made
by Mrs. Martin. She said she noticed
the change in Ruby since that occasion.
Mrs. Julia Davis stated she had
known Ruby for the last two years.
She expressed her willingness to take
the girl and treat her as a daughter
If the accused should be released on
probation.
Mrs. Davis said she was possessed
of sufficient funds to care for the girl
and believed Ruby would make use
full woman. While Mrs. Davis was
testifying Miss Casselman was unable
to control her emotions.
Offers to Take Girl
P. E. Davis, local real estate dealer,
followed his wife on the stand, and
substantiated his wife's statement to
the effect that he was willing to take
the girl and treat her as daughter.
In this, he said, all members of his
family concurred. He declared he be-
lieved there was a great deal of good
in the girl When asked by District
Attorney Fredericks If the supposition
that Ruby had been "fooling" her
friends and was really guilty of all that
was charged against her was true,
would the witness be willing to take
her in as a member of the family,
Davis replied he would, and expressed
his belief that she would soon be a
better girl.
One of the attorneys for the defense
made a strong plea for the girls re-
lease on probation and declared he be-
lieved she would lead better life and
would grow into an honest and useful
woman. He stated that to send the
girl to prison would shorten her life
and would probably cause her death.
Judge Wilbur continued the hearing
until Friday.