Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-29
GIRL TELLS OF
ALLEGED ATTACK
COLLAPSES UNDER SEVERE
EXAMINATION
AGED MAN ACCUSED O. CRIME
APPEARS INDIFFERENT
Attorney for Real Estate Dealer
Shoulders Blame for Delays in
the Case-To Continue
Today

The preliminary hearing of the case
of B. H. Markham, Los Angeles real
estate dealer charged with attempted
assault on the person of 11-year-old
Ethel Wolfe, after five previous de-
lays, was begun yesterday afternoon in
Police Justice Fredericksons court.
AT $50 o'clock the little girl, who was
on the witness stand, collapsed and the
hearing was continued until 10 o'clock
this morning.
The court room was filed with a
curious crowd when court began at 2
o'clock and the greater portion of those
present were women. Before the hear
ing began Attorney Davis for the de-
Tense addressed the court in regard to
the newspaper criticism that had been
made on account of the numerous de-
lays in the hearing.
Attorney Davis took on his shoulders
the burden of responsibility for the
delays, and said: II take this occasion
to thank the court for it's justice in
this matter. 1 am proud the judge
had the honesty and fearlessness to
do what Is right. If there is any
blame or fault-finding in the matter
1 want that blame to fall on my own
shoulders. Efforts to incite mob force
should be denounced in the strongest
language"
Court Room Cleared
Police Justice Frederickson replied
he fully understood the situation. At
torney Davis then requested the court
cleared of all but the attorneys de-
PENDANT and that each witness be kept
from the court room until called.
I'm view of the article that has ap-
peared in a morning paper 1 also re-
quest the newspaper sensation mon
gers be excluded" The room was
cleared. much to the disappointment
of the crowd who had anticipated
hearing the testimony.
Charles Calmar, 427 Wall street, one
of the men who. it is alleged, inter
cepted Markham at the time of the
alleged assault. was the first witness
called. He related what happened at
Elysian park, and told of being at
tracted by screams and of rushing to
the girls assistance. He was sub
jected to grueling cross examination
William Van Outen, GAS Ceres ave-
nue., was next called to the stand, and
mis- testimony was mostly a corrobora-
ton of the story told by Calmar. In
each case a severe cross-examination
was given, in an endeavor to shake the
testimony Of the witnesses.
Girl coIapses on Stand
Ethel Wolfe, the victim of the al
legged assault, was brought to the
stand. and for more than an hour and
half told the story of her experience
in the park and the treatment she re-
ceived at the hands of Markham.
Finally, wearying of the severe ques-
tioning, the little girl collapsed and
was carried from the witness stand,
her testimony unfinished. Police JUS
tice Frederickson then adjourned the
hearing until this morning.
All during the trial the defendant,
who gives his age at So, but who would
easily pass for a man of so, sat stolid-
ly looking ahead, and his eyes did not
meet those of his alleged victim.
S. B. Wolfe, father of the little GIRL
stated after the trial that every point
Is being fought so bitterly that he did
not look to see the case finished today.
The efforts of the defense were direct
ed to shaking the testimony of the
witnesses of the prosecution, which
made the hearing tedious.
Attorney H. H. Appel, representing
the Women's Legal Aid society, which
has become interested in the case, as
sisted in the prosecution.
Following the completion of the girls
testimony today Mr.. and Mrs Wolfe
will testify and medical testimony will
be introduced to show the condition of
the girl shortly after the alleged as
sault.