The San Francisco call., 1910-12-28
FAMILY CUPBOARDS ARE
OPENED IN COURTROOM
Miseries of Past Drawn Out by
Defense in Physicians
Trial
SANATORIUM DESCRIBED
AS ROTTEN WITH CRIME
By HARRY DAvIDS
[SpecicI Dispatch 10 The Call

[Specicl Dispatch 10 The Call
n ANITA ROSA, Dec. 27.-The trial Of
Dr. willard P Burke has devel-
~ oped a weird dance of private
skeletons, the testimony of Miss Abbie
smith. formerly head nurse at the san
atorium, who was on the witness stand
today, adding TO the fantastic measure
two more figures and bringing to light
her farcical marriage to Dr. s. A Yule,
a surgeon of the United States army,
in 1888.
Doctor Yule is dead and Miss Smith
had buried with him her miseries, but
today the strings were pulled, the
graves gave up their dead and the pup
pets Of a horrible past jingled their
steps and cut their ghostly capers for
the wonderment of a packed court
room.
Nurse Caught in Net
In vain did the nurse hesitate, stam-
ner and blush; futile were her endeav-
ors 10 escape. She had been caught in
the net thrown around the sanatorium
and had to take her place with the
others-with Lu Eta Smith and her
tale Of shame, with Doctor Burke and
the accusations against him, with
Marion Derrig and her multifarious
names. with Pierce and his loves.
AS the trial progresses the question
arises in the minds Of the spectators
as to whose family cupboard viii be
opened next, whose past next revealed.
Strange is this dance Of the private
skeletons. and its music is the half
caught sobs of women and the bitter
curses Of men lamenting their shame.
And as yet the defense has not put on
a single witness. When it does, that
which has been uttered on the stand
so far. it is believed, will be over
shadowed completely.
Hints From Attorneys
This belief is based on the accusa-
tions. intimations and open assertions
Of the attorneys for Burke, which in
their scope embrace such choice charges
as baby murders, adultery, drug habits
and perjury. Where it is all TO end may
not be conjectured. No man seems to
know what the next witness may bring
forth or whose particular skeleton will
rattle its forgotten bones and join in
the mad dance.
This institution" wrote R. W. Dill
lard. former clerk at the sanatorium, In
2 letter produced at the trial today, lis
rotten with crime. and in the sake of
humanity and in the sight of an al
mighty God let US break it up"
WOman's Past Laid Bare
Dillard referred to the exploding
bomb which smashed the serenity and
peace Of Doctor Burke's sanatorium. but
in the face Of the testimony his wild
and general language was none too
wild and none too general to fit the
place.
Miss Abbie Smiths direct evidence
was brief. dealing merely with state
ments regarding the dynamiting made
by Doctor Burke prior to the explosion,
but on cross examination the veil of
years was torn aside in single sweep
and her past laid bare.
We're you married, Miss SMITH
asked Attorney Cowan. The lawyer laid
high emphasis on the word Miss,
and Abbie smith grew limp with fright
Her hands dropped to her side and hel
face went chalky. Then for the first
time she realized that counsel for the
other side knew and that within a few
moments all her little world would
know the secret of y years.
Law Shows No Pity
She turned appealingly to District
Attorney Lea. who kept up running
fire Of objections. but the merciless law
would have,no pity.
II was" she said.
Then why do you call yourself Miss
smithg"
once again the slight emphasis or
the word Miss"
The witness. beaten. cowed. fright
ened. looked around hurriedly, as il
irving to ind in the assembled court.
room some one who would rise to hel
rescue
Then why do you call yourself Miss
smith,
The repeated question struck into
tense silence. The spectators saw b,
The womanrs demeanor that another un.
expected sensation was about TO burst
Because her faitering voice began
'becsuse j was farcically married"
ITO whom27
Again she fought back. Again th'
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