Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-23
KEYHOLE [ Ev|DENCE
AGAINST PECKHAM
Apartment House Landlord Testi-
fies to Seeing Realty
Dealer with Woman

Evidence gained by peeping through
keyhole and listening in" on tel
ephone line was introduced in the
Peckham divorce case yesterday.
Those who got information in this
manner unblushingly related what they
learned on the witness stand in Judge
HerVeys court.
The testimony of Mrs. Emma Estes,
a seamstress, that George G. Peckham
had told her "he loved Mrs. 1. s. Van
Loan and that he intended to get a
divorce from Mrs. Peckham even If
he had to go to Reno to get it," was
probably the most damaging to the
plaintiff that has been heard thus far.
Mr.. Peckham, it was brought out,
visited the witness for the purpose of
paying a dressmaking bill, and the
conversation, according to Mrs. Estes,
followed his remark that Mrs. Peck
ham had slapped his face the night
before. She had made remarks, ac-
cording to the story, reflecting on the
character of Mrs. Van Loan, and Peck
was no worse than Mrs. Peckham.
WOULD GO TO RENO
"I told him." said Mrs. Estes, that
Mrs. Van Loan was very indiscreet,
and then he said that he loved Mrs.
V an LOdH anu lileLueu " get d ul-
vorce from Mrs. Peskham, even if he
had to go. to Reno to get it,"
Yesterday afternoon witnesses for
Mrs. Peckham were put on to show Mr..
Peckham'S relations with a Miss
Brooks.
Mrs. Charles Evans, who stated she
was landlady of the Briggs apartment
house at the time Miss Brooks lived
there, testified to overhearing many
telephone conversations between Peck
ham and Miss Brooks, wherein en-
gagements to meet at various places
down town were made. She had di-
rected the telephone exchange girl in
her office to notify her Of any calls
from Mr.. Peckham.
On one occasion, she stated, Peck
ham came to the apartment house and
asked to be permitted to visit room
403, Miss Brooks apartments.
II said he couldn't go up" said Mrs.
Evans. "I said If he wanted to speak
to Miss Brooks he could do so in the
reception room. [ then called Miss
Brooks by. phone and Mr. Peckham
said was entirely right"
Charles Evans, manager OF the
apartments, also took the stand. He
testified that he had been directed by
Miss Brooks to collect her room rent
from Mr.. Peckham and that on the
occasion of his first visit to Mr.. Peck
hams office the latter had promised to
indorse Miss Brooks note for the
amount, but that on a subsequent visit
he had refused, giving as his reason
that Mrs. Peckham would sue him for
a divorce If he should.
PEEPED THROUGH KEYHoLE
Mr.. Evans testified further to hav-
ing seen Mr.. Peckham in Miss Brooks
room on one occasion when he, Evans,
looked through the keyhole.
One of the sensations of the day
came when the name of Miss Brooks
was called, and counsel for Mr.. Peck
ham then stated that he had been in
formed that morning that Miss Brooks
was i'll with appendicitis and that she
had a physicians certificate to that eff
feet.
Both the court and the attorney for
the defense thereon showed some anger
because the information had not been
given earlier in the day. A short re-
cess was Immediately taken, and the
Judge proceeded to call up the resi-
dence of Miss Brooks by phone and
inquired the truth of the statement.
Miss Brooks, he was told, was very Ill,
but not so i'll, 1t seemed, but that she
could talk over the phone when the
Judge insisted on speaking to her.
"If Miss Brooks isn't on hand for
court in the morning we will make an
before we proceed" said
the judge.