Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-22
SKELETONS ARE
SHOWN AT TRIAL
DOMESTIC TRAGEDIES RE-
VEALED IN COURT ROOM
BITTER FEELING EXTENDS TO
COUNSEL OF PLAINTIFFS
Woman Brings Suit Against Another
for Money Alleged to Have Been
Loaned Her in Last Two
Years

Details of domestic tragedies in three
or more Los Angeles households were
nearly revealed in Justice stephens
court yesterday and were only pre-
vented by the restraining orGers of the
Justice. whose mind was so fully oc-
cupicd in the Wordy warfare between
two women, principals in suit 1nYolY-
ing money, oil paintings, cast-oH CLOTH
ing and other articles, that he could
not take judicial cognzance of family
skeletons.
The bitter feeling was not confined
to the plaintiff and defendant in the
case on trial, Mrs. Clarissa s. Bird and
Mrs. Mary A. EVarts, but extended to
their attorneys, Thomas K. Kase and
e. G. Reagan, both of whom were
fined for contempt of court after eX-
changing uncomplimentary remarks,
leading almost to the point of a fistic
encounter
The suit was that of Mrs. Bird
against Mrs. Evarts for the recovery of
money alleged to have been loaned to
the latter during the last two years.
When Mrs. Evarts was notified of the
suit she Immediately filed a counter
demand, claiming she had practically
clothed Mrs. Bird for several months,
and enumerating the articles in her
paid for. Mrs. Bird contended the
things for which Mrs. Evarts demanded
payment were gifts and were offset
by the presents she had given to Mrs.
Evarts. She also produced list.
Architect Is Witness
A. II. Puttcamp, a well-known archi-
tect, whost wife has sued him for
divorce and also filed an action against
Mrs Evarts for $4,000 damages on
account of the alleged alienation of
Puttcamps affections, was Mrs.
Evarts' principal witness, corroborat-
ing her articles received from Mrs.
Evarts and therefore was in the lat
ter's debt.
Mrs Bird came to Los Angeles from
Portland two years ago and remained
at the home of Mrs. Evarts for several
months. She had considerable money
when she arrived, she said, a large
portion of which was borrowed by
Mrs. Evarts. She met Samuel L. Bird,
solicitor, and they were married.
Bird, it is said, made frequent demands
on Mrs. Evarts for the return of the
money alleged to have been loaned
by his wife, and also for the presents
given to Mrs. Evarts which he claimed
were given to his wife by him before
their marriage. These demands, it
was further stated, were accompanied
by threats to write her up in the
Police Gazette.
When these efforts proved fruitless
Mrs. Bird filed her suit. Mrs. Evarts'
counter claim contains items such as
tailor-made suits, with gloves, shoes,
stockings and purses of corresponding
color, a rose peal theater hat, several
silk waists and q large number of other
articles.
Saws buds Were Cast Off
"These buds were cast off by Mrs
Evarts," said Mrs Bird. "And even if
they were not did not she and her son
visit me in Portland during the Lewis
and Clark exposition and occupy my
rooms which [ could have let at $3.50
a day? And that isn't all; I gave her
a cut glass water bottle, an old paint
ing of Mount Hood, 800 Jars of fruit,
an antique teapot and a number of
other things"
''Do you mean to say you would
wear Mrs. Evarts' cast-off clothing?"
asked Attorney Kase.
Attorney Reagan protested. The re-
mark was improper, he said.
you sit down or I'll tell the court
what you are" shouted Kase.
YES and I'll prove to the court what
you are" retorted Reagan angrily
The lawyers exchanged further
unhattering remarks and advanced
toward one another. 1t was with diff
Guilty the justice restored order
you will each pay fine of SIS for
contempt" he said and he refused to
listen to further testimony until the
fines were placed on his desk.
Puttcamp said he had frequently
heard Mrs. Bird say she was indebted
to Mrs. Evarts for the clothing.
Bird, on the other hand, denied Putt
camps statement and wanted to give
away several family histories, but was
restrained.
Justice Stephens took the case under
advisement.