Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-20
MRS. briggs IS
NOW ON TRIAL
WOMAN ACCUSED OF UTTERlNG
FORGED LEASE
INSTRUMENT COVERED 1877 ACRES
OF cHARNocK ESTATE
First Witness Case Is Attorney
Charles Ackerman, Who Admits
He Drew UP Document
in Question

What is expected to prove one of the
most interesting and sensational trials
in the recent history of the superior
court, not only on account OF the CIR
cumstances surrounding the alleged
crime but also because of the reputa-
tion Of the defendant, whose name is a
matter of record in criminal annals IN
various portions of the country, was
begun in Judge Davis department yes
terday, when Mrs Gertrude Dflggst
more than so years Old, appeared to de-
fend herself against the charge oil ut
tering a forged lease to property be
longing to the estate of the late John
J. Charnock
A jury to try the case was obtained
In two hours, but that this expedition IN
disposing of the matter will not attend
the main proceedings may be gathered
when it is known that only one wit
ness was examined during the after
noon session and that his testimony
had not been concluded when court ad-
journed until 10 o'clock today
The following persons were sworn in
as Jurors: Charles c. Anderson, J. l.
Spencer N. II. Mitchell, James A. Bid
Olson, Myron Bates, William 5. Sprin-
ger o. D. Conrey, L. X. West, j. II.
Linkletter, J. w. Benn, IA z. Stoner
and Robert c. Conant.
Deputy Ford osecuting Case
The district attorneys office is repre-
sented by w. J. Ford, deputy, who Is
assisted in the prosecution by Walter
Haas, attorney for c. r. Smead, eXecu-
tor of the Charnock estate and COM
planning witness against Mrs Drisgs.
Representing the latter are former
Judge ]. S. Noyes. r. c. Noleman and
Gen. Johnstone Jones.
The lease to which Mrs. briggs is ac-
cused of affixing the name of John j.
Charnock Involves 1877 acres of land
located near Palms, and by its terms
Mrs. briggs, in addition to leasing the
property for ten years, is given an
oDtion to purchase the land a $500 an
acre at any time before the expiration
of the contract. The lease, according
to Mrs. briggs, was given in return for
her kindness to the old man at a time,
she SAYS, when he was deserted by rela-
tives and friends.
Attorney Ackerman Is Witness
The one witness testifying yesterday
was Charles M Ackerman, an attorney
and notary, who affixed his notarial
certificates to the lease March 20 last, /
attesting to the genuineness of Char |
nocks signature, which, he now says, !
he did not see the old man write.
Ackerman said he first met Mrs.
briggs in February, when G. b. Ladd, /
then acting as her attorney, introduced /
her to him and asked him to assist in
preparing an attachment suit for the
woman.
Mrs. briggs evinced a preference for |
me as an attorney, and a short time
later asked me tQ prepare the lease to
the ChamOCk property said the Wit /
ness. After preparing 1t / gave 1t TO
Mrs. briggs and did not see 1t again
until March %, when she returned 1t
10 me and asked me to attlX my GER
tifcate as notary. l did so after Mrs. /
briggs signed the lease in my presence /
and after she took her oath that Char
mock had signed it,"
Ackermans testimony yesterday con-
f1icted with that given by him in the
preliminary examination of Mrs. briggs /
before Justice Ling several weeks ago, /
when he stated that he had taken /
Charnock's acknowledgment at the lat
ter's home and that while he did not
see Charnock write his name he was
assured by Mrs. briggs in the presence
of the old man that the signature was
genuine, and that Charnock did not
deny this assertion.
Estate Valued at 100000
Interested in the outcome Of the case
are a number of CharnOck's heirs, in
Guiding Lillian Charnock Price Smead,
LADY Dutton Green, Laura Charnock,
Mrs. Helen Charnock, Julia F. Ruth
and Edward F. Charnock. The entire
estate is valued at about 5000 600.
An effort was made by Mrs. briggs
attorneys yesterday to have the case
continued because Of the absence of
Anna Hill who lies sick in a hospital
and who, it was stated, would net be
able to attend the trial An agreement
was reached, however to take her tes-
tjmony by deposition and this prob
ably will be done today.
Mrs. Hill, it is understood, will tes-
tify that she was present when the