Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-03
ATTACK ANIMAL
LEAGUES CHIEF
SAY REPUTATION OF MISS
MATHEWS0N Is POOR
WITNESSES TESTIFY AGAINST
WOMAN PRESIDENT
designations of Members of Board of
Directors, Produced at Trial,
Contain Charges Against
Head of Organization

Head of Organization
Some startling testimony was given
yesterday in the trial of the suit of
George L. Lawson, formerly assistant
secretary of the Humane Animal
league, against the league for pound
fees amounting to $249, claimed by the
plaintiff.
The testimony related to the admins
tration OF the city pound, which is con-
Quoted by the league under a contract
with the city, and especially to the
manner in which Miss Helen Mathew
son, president of the league, conducts
that office.
Russ Avery, attorney for Lawson, in
the cross examination of Miss Mathew
son, was at times caustic and severe in
his questions. With keen sarcasm he
asked her if she did not consider her.
self the pooh bah" and Mr. Lawson
the ''mikado" in the management of
the leagues affairs, which brought
forth a vigorous protest from Judge
Rossiter, attorney for the league.
Throughout the day Judge Rossiter was
opposing the introduction of irrelevant
and immateriar' testimony.
Calls Testimony SANDER
When the witnesses were placed on
the stand who attacked the reputation
of Miss Mathewson for truth, honesty
and integrity" Judge Rossiter Redeemed
with anger He objected to the intro
duction of such evidence denouncing it
as miserable SANDER" and offered to
meet the complaints on that ground.
He went so far as to ask the court to
limit the number of witnesses which he
should have subpoenaed to prove Miss
Mathewsons character.
Justice Stephens, In so far as he could,
limited the inquiries to the matter at
issue, but in spite of his efforts the at
torneys would break over the line and
get into field of personalities.
BY dint of stern procedure, Justice
Stephens managed to have the trial of
the case proceed to concluding point.
and the case will be argued Tuesday
morning.
Reputation Attacked
The witnesses examined yesterday
were Thomas Vacher, at present deputy
pound keeper; Mr.. Olivas, II. H. Ross,
for the defense, and in rebuttal Mrs.
Louise Giese, Mrs. Crowder, DR.. w. A.
Lamb, f. F. Wheeler and Mr.. Lawson.
Mrs. Giese, when placed on the stand,
was asked three questions.
do you know Miss Mathewson's gen.
which she lives, viz, Los Angeles, for
truth honesty and integrity" asked
Mr.. Avery.
'T do, . was the answer.
rs it good or bad?"
Dad"
"Would you believe Miss Mathewson
on oath?"
81 would not"
The same questions were asked Mrs.
Crowder, and the same answers ELECTED.
Judge Rossiter did not cross examine
the witnesses after Directing to the in
PRODUCTION of such testimony and hav-
ing the objections overruled.
designations Offered
The testimony related to the duties
of the pound keeper, the care of the
funds and as to whether or not Mr..
Lawson's understanding was that he
was pound keeper or merely acting in
that capacity.
During the trial Avery offered in evil
dence the written designations of Fred
f. Wheeler, Lulu Pile Little, DR.. w, A.
Lamb, Ella Giles Rudy and Mr.. and
Mrs II. l.. Horton, from the board of
directors of the league. These were
objected to and the objection was sus-
tanned. The letters offered are as fol-
lows:
LOS ANGELES, March Ito the
President and Directors of the Humane
Animal League City: The under
signed, having decided to resign as di-
rectors of the Humane Animal league
(Which designations accompany this
statement), believe it is due you that
they should state their reasons, hoping
that their designations may thus be
productive of good viz the better
management of a society which has the
opportunity of rendering a great serv-
ice to the dumb animals and thereby
to the public.
President Criticised
We believe the society has been
exceedingly unfortunate in the selec-
ton of its president. While we recog
niZe the fact that she possesses i'll
large measure the philanthropic and
charitable and kindly attributes, and
has a real desire to protect the dumb
animals, she yet lacks to an amazing
degree other elements and character
istics that go to make a successful eX-
ecutiVe for a large and important or
ganization like the Humane Animal
league. Her absolute ignorance of the
simplest rules of parliamentary law;
her spirit of defiance of the need or
necessity of ascertaining the Judgment
of her fellow directors and then being
governed by such judgment; her re-
peatedly calling special meetings of the
board of directors to carry out her per-
sonal plans and failing to notify those
directors whom she did not desire
present, and of presenting to the board
at such special meeting business mat
tiers not included in the call for the
special meeting, all result in many
transactions being clearly Illegal and
places burden of care and of respon-
sibility and anxiety upon us which we
do not desire to continue to carry.
These arbitrary and illegal transac-
lions must inevitably result in legal
action being taken against the society
sooner or later, and possibly against
individual directors who may be finan-
cially responsible.
Decide to Resign
We are, therefore, compelled to
choose between two courses of action,
viz: either to make an effort to depose
the present president of the organiza-
ton, which would mean a divided Or
whether the effort was sue
cessful or not or to resign quietly and
frankly state our reasons for so doing.
We have chosen the latter We re-
serve, however, the right to call the
attention of our city officials and of the
public to the present condition of af-
fairs whenever in our judgment such
action may seem wise and necessary.
Yours respectfully, Fred f. Wheeler,
Lulu Pile Little, w. A. Lamb, Ella
Giles Rudy.
Los Angeles. Cal, April IS. 19os.-To