Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-05
WOMAN TAKES
PISTOL TO JAIL
DlSREGARDS ALL RULES OF
COURT PROCEDURE
PROMISES NO INTERFERENCE
WITH LAND COMPANY
Mrs. A. M. ChaIender of the Blood OF
Warriors Agrees to Employ an
Attorney to Protect Her
Property

Mrs. A. M. Chalender. who. for sew
eral weeks has defied the employees of
the Lookout Mountain Park, Land and
Water company, and with drawn re-
volver has successfully prevented tres
pass ON the land in Laurel canyon to
which she claims ownership by right
of bequest carried her attitude of de-
fianee into the superior court yester-
day, and disregarding all rules of court
etiquette and decorum, expressed to
Judge Hutton her opinion of law in
general, while voicing contemptuous
disapproval in referring to the present
proceedings.
Through Mrs. Chalender's veins
courses the blood of warriors, her fa-
ther. the late Colonel w. Warren of IL
linois, having gained distinction by his
bravery in the Civil war, while the
names of her ancestors are emblazoned
in history of battlefield and pioneer
strife Mrs. Chalender exemplified this
valor yesterday, when she carried to
the county jail, whittier she was taken
under arrest for contempt in refus-
ing to obey an order of the court, a
satchel containing a revolver, a razor
and a pair of scissors.
Warrant for Arrest Issued
On Wednesday the Lookout Park,
Land and Water company obtained a
temporary restraining order from Judge
Wilbur, preventing Mrs. Chalender
from interfering with the company s
employees when they sought to take
water from q spring located, she as
serts, on her land. The papers were
served Thursday Mrs. Chalender al
lowed them to fall to the ground near
a fence she had built across the road
way leading to the spring, and there
they still lie. When the company S
engineer tried to remove the fence Mrs.
Chalender is said to have threatened
him with a revolver, and a second dash
was made to the superior court for as
sistance.
A warrant for Mrs. Chalender's ar
rest on a charge of contempt was is
sued. Deputy Sheriff Blaisdell served
the warrant yesterday, but not without
experiencing some trouble. He was
compelled, he said, to gain entrance to
the house through a window and was
confronted by Mrs. Chalender, who,
with revolver pointed at his head or
dered him from the premises.
When taken before Judge Hutton
Mrs. Chalender said she knew little
concerning the proceedings, that she
had been told ten days would be al
lowed her to make answer to the in
junction suit, and could not under
stand why she was arrested the day
after the suit was filed.
Wife of Lawyer
"I married a lawyer" she said, land
I know something of the law myself,
but I don't understand this proceeding.
I was stolen from my home simply be-
cause I am woman. 1 tried to hire
a man to stay at the house to protect
me, but all men are towards, and I
had to protect myself. The idea of put
ting me in the county jail!'
Just wait a moment until 1 have
an opportunity to look into this mat
ter" interrupted Judge Hutton, pick
ing UP a sheaf of papers.
"I can tell you all you want to know,
as I have hundreds of others, and"
began Mrs. Chalender, when the court
again interrupted with a request for
quiet.
'Well. my husband used to practice
law, but not such law as this" said
the woman, disregarding the request,
and in response to the courts state
ment that her rights would be protect
ed Mrs. Chalender said: Yes, I've been
told that so many times I am tired of
hearing it."
Says Gun Will Not Shoot
Mrs. ChaIender denied that she in
tended to shoot anybody. THAT gun
wouldn't shoot" she said. IL got 1t
from a friend, and it has the same
loads in it now that it had twenty-five
years ago"
She said the land company had en-
tered her property without her permis-
sion, had destroyed trees planted by
her own hands many years ago, and
finally had claimed ownership to the
land, even going so far az to give a
~ 4 4 fY,p
through the property. The county as
SCISSOR, she said, had told her that the
land company had no valid claim to
the land and advised her not to give
it up.
'If I release you will you promise
not to use a gun against any man sent
out there?" asked Judge Hutton.
well, they are trying to tear down
my fences, and of course I must do
something" replied the woman.
Are you ready to obey the law?"
demanded the court sternly.
'T've always obeyed the law" she
retorted.
"If I give you an opportunity now,
will you put the matter in the hands
of an attorney"
Promises to Obey Law
'T was doing it as fast as I could
when I was arrested"
"Will you see a lawyer this after
noon?"
"Well. wasn't dressing this morn
ing to come to town and do that very
thing?"
"That doesn't answer my question.
Will you say 'Yes?" queried the court.
"Oh, well, if you will have it, an
swered the woman, 'I'I say Yes
Attorney D. M. Hammack was con-
suited by Mrs. Chalender and when she
appeared in court an hour later the
lawyer promised there would be no
further interference with the land
eompany's work pending the hearing of
the injunction suit, which is set for
next Friday.
Mrs. Chaiender claims title to TWEEN
ty acres in the canyon, stating that it
was bequeathed to her by George Shaw
during a protracted illness.
Will Testify in Tucker Case
DENVER, June 4--George A. Spoon
ar clerk in the offices of payma ster of