Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-08-19
DIGGS BLAMES
IT ON THE
GIRL
He TELLS THE Jury THAT MISS
WARRINGTON INSISTED THAT She
SHOULD ACCOMPANY HIM To-
RENO, On The ESCAPADE, AS He
CALLS The TRIP.
TEST|FIES IN HIS
own DEFENSE TODAY

San Francisco, Calf, Aug. 19.-
| Maury l. Diggs, former state architec
of California, took the witness stant
| in his own defense today and tolt
! his story of the motives impellins
what he called the Reno escapade.
His midnight fight across the Ne
vada state line from Sacramento tc
Reno, with Marsha Warrington, Lola
Norris and f. Drew Camnetti, which
resulted in the present trial under the
Mann white slave traffic act.
What did you call it, asked Judge
Van Fleet, interrupting the testimony
"An escapade," repeated Diggs
looking the Judge squarely in the eye
and speaking in "a clear, confident
voice.
Proceed directed the court, with
out comment.
All his testimony went to prove that
he was worried, harassed, haunted
from every side by the consequences
of his own misconduct, and that his
only thought was to get out of town,
give the scandal surrounding him a
chance to die down, and then come
back to his family and business,
In direct contradiction to the tes-
timony of Miss Warrington and Miss
Norris, who have sworn that they
left home against their Judgment and
desire, and only when marriage had
been promised them, Diggs named
Marsha Warrington as the one who
had insisted that they go.
AS early as January 81, he testified
she had said to him, you're a piker.
We girls have framed this, and you
fellows have got to go along with us.
Diggs was perfectly master of him
self He spoke with clear voice, in
an easy, free but earnest manner look
ing for the most part directly at his
counsel, but sometimes turning his
large eyes to the jury and sometimes
dropping them to his carefully mani
cured finger nails.
"On March g." testified the defend
ant, 81 remember talking about my
fix with Miss Warrington. I've got
to go away from here | told her,
things are getting too hot for me.
We'd better disconnect' She didn't
want me to 60 ] told her that | had
to-that had future, family and
a business to protect and that | was
going to Los Angeles for while and
give public opinion chance to die
down.
"a few days later she called me up
and asked me why was still in town.
told her that | had some buildings
under construction and that there
were details in connection with them
7 had to look to.
"About a week before we went to
Reno, Diepenbrock, my landlord, told
and the policemen on the beat had
to him about my taking
girls to my office.
"The same week I took an auto
'ide with Miss Warrington on the up
per Stockton road. We saw another
machine behind us and told her it
vas my father with an officer of the |
juvenile court. We travelled fifty |
niles an hour for some minutes and ,
eft them.
"My father was in town then and ]
lnew he was looking for me. be-
ieved what told the girl. She said:
Believe me, you're not going away
md leave me here DO just as
,ou please | said. I'm going and
IN going alone. I've got too good a
amily here. I've got to think of
hem. I've got lots before me in
his town and I want this to blow
ver'"
Marsha said no, she's got to go,
30, and Miss Norris with her. Miss
.orris never would have gone to Reno
Miss Warrington had not insisted
n it, from the first"
I got the machine" continued Diggs.
and rode around in it all day, calling
y O'Brien's saloon from time to time.
That father of yours is terror,
'Bren said to me. He's running
round here like maniac
Its places like this that ruin
oung men, said he. I'll have you
osed if it takes the last cent I've
1t.'
Y went into hiding What O'Brien
I'D me on top of what Denipenbock J
ad said, scared me. I told O'Brien {
d heard my father was looking for Y
e with a policeman. and he said that t
as true. /
Later ! learned from my uncle
lat my father was at home and c
lme out of hiding. Miss Warrington C
I'd Miss Norris had visited me at
y hotel. b
"On March 3rd I met Caminetti and v
arshall Diggs. my uncle, with Miss t
orris and we talked things over Miss h
orris suggested that I leave town.
explained the difficulty of doing this. Il
lsiness men had put several thou
nd dollars in contracts in my hands v
MY uncle said thar | had to GO e
,me to my wife and quit running
ound and leave other women alone. S
iss Norris suggested that I'd best a