Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-26
COURT GOES TO
A DYING WOMAN
Mrs. SchoI's Testimony Fails to
Fix Threats to Kill on
Son, Jay RansCh

Wearing a deep mourning band on
one sleeve as a token of his grief over
the death of his sister last January,
Jay Ransch, former jockey and book
maker, yesterday escaped trial on
charge of having threatened to kill
that same sisters orphaned daughter,
a pretty child, years old, through
the inability of his mother, Mrs. E.
M Schon, to fix the day upon which
it was claimed the threats had been
made.
Mrs. Scholl is bed-ridden in her
apartments at the Marlborough, SOL
South Grand avenue. She is a suf-
ferer from tuberculosis and there is
small chance that she can ever re-
cover from the ravages of the dread
disease. In these circumstances Judge
H. H. Rose held court in the woman's
apartments yesterday afternoon, to
which Ransch was taken by Detective
William Ingram. The hearing was
brief, but it proved a severe tax upon
Mrs. ScholTs fast failing strength.
The crucial question in the inquiry
came early in the hearing. Quietly
but impressively, as one about to die,
Mrs. Scholl responded to the oath.
She then gave her name as Mrs. EN-
ma Scholl and her age as 81 years.
do you know Kissie Ransch?"
asked Deputy District Attorney Veitch.
"Yes, she is my adopted daughter"
replied the witness.
"How old is she?"
The bed-ridden woman looked visit
fully around the room, but the child,
there a few moments before, had been
sent outside.
'Kissie is g." she answered.
Then came the stumbling block.
Mrs. Scholl testified that she was Jay
Ranschs mother and that he fire.
quently came to visit her.
winch did you see him last?" asked
Mr.. Veitch.
II don't know the day." she an
swered 1T was the day he was ar
rested here"
81 can't remember what day it was.
l never kept track and I won't commit
myself by swearing he was here such
a day when don't know. 1 couldn't
do that, could I, judge?"
Judge Rose assured her she was not
expected to testify to anything of
which she was not certain, and she set
tied back into the bed, greatly re-
lieved.
Frank Dominguez, attorney for
Ransch, put no obstacles in the way
of the prosecution. He made no OBJ
lection to leading questions, but despite
this the inquiry was fruitless. Mrs
Scholl seemingly had lost all idea of
time in her imminent approach to
eternity.
RANsCH DISCHARGED
The court consequently adjourned
and later. in the court room, the de-
fendant was discharged from custody
on motion of the district attorney, who
explained what was already apparent,
that the prosecutions chief witness
was not in a condition to testify.
According to the story told to the
police, Jay Ransch is jealous of the hold
his little niece has gained in the af-
fections of her grandmother, who has
adopted the child and who it is said
contemplates making her her heir.
Ransch says, and his statement is
not denied, that he has sent his mother
from time to time, large sums of
money and that the trouble between
them is not due to jealousy on his
part, but to the stories told the sick
woman by mischiefmakers.
The value of Mrs. Scholls estate has
been estimated variously at all the way
from $4,000 to 100000. Jay Ransch. ac-
cording to Frank Dominguez, his at
torney, is owner of properties worth
close to half a million, most of which
he made in the racing game.
When Ransch was arrested in the
Marlborough Tuesday an automatic re-
volver was found in his possession, and
subsequently charge of carrying con-
cealed weapons was made against him.
To Judge Rose, Ransch explained that
he always carried a revolver, and when
asked why said that he frequently had
as much as $4,000 on his person, for
use in his business as a bookmaker,
and consequently had fallen into the
habit of carrying a gun. He was, how
ever, fined $25 on the charge, which
he paid.
Last night Jay Ransch left Los An
geles for Bakersfield to rejoin his wife,
who is there with her parents.