Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-08-19
FORMER CALIFORNIA STATE AR
cHITEcT LAYS BLAME ON sPRIN-
cIPAL WITNESS FOR PRosEcu-
TON IN WHITE SLAVE CASE.
we GIRLS FRAMED This"
DECLARES SHE TOLD HIM SHE
AND NORRIS GIRL HAD MADE
ARRANGEMENTS AND HE and
cAMiNETTl MUST GO ALONG.

/
San Francisco, Aug. 19.-Maury /.
Diggs, former state architect Of Cali
Ifornia, took the witness stand in his
own defense today and told his story
of the motives impelling what he
called the Reno escapade.' This
was the midnight flight across the
Nevada state line, from Sacramento
to Reno, with Marsha Warrington, Lo-
la Norris and F. Drew Caminetti which
resulted in the present trial under the
Mann white slave traffic act
What did you call it?9 asked Judge
Van Fleet, interrupting the testimony.
"An escapade," repeated Diggs.
looking the judge squarely in the eye
and speaking in clear, confident
voice.
Proceed, directed the court, with
out commenting on H.
All his testimony went to prove that
he was worried, harassed, hunted,
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 testi-
mony Of Miss warrington and Miss
Norris who have sworn that they left
Heir sssnt ana aeA
sire only when marriage had been
promised them, Diggs named Marsha
Warrington as the one who had in
sisted that they go. AS early as Jan
uary 81, he testified, she had said to
him you're a piker. We girls have
framed this, and pou 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,
looking for the most part directly at
his counsel, but some times turning
his large eyes to the jury and some
times dropping them to his carefully
manicured finger nails.
"On March g." testified the defend
rant, II remember talking about my
fix with Miss Warrington. I've got
to 60 away from here | told her,
things are getting too hot for me.
We'd better disconnect
"she didn't want me to go. told
her that had tothat I had fu-
ture, family and business to pro
tect and that was going to Los An
geles for while and give public opin-
icn a chance to die down.
"a few days later she called me up
and asked me why | was still in town.
told her that I had some buildings
in construction and that there were
details in connection with them had
to look to.
about week before we went to
Reno, Diepenbrock, my landlord, told
me that the janitor Of the building
and the policeman on the beat had
had complained to him about my TAX
ing girls to my office. The same week
i took an auto ride with Miss War
rington on the Upper Stockton road
We saw another machine behind sus
and / told her it was my father with
an officer Of the juvenile court. We
travelled so miles an hour for some
minutes and left them.
my father was in town then, and
knew he was looking for me. I be
lieved what told the girl She said:
Believe me, you're not going away
and leave me here.
Do just as you please, said.
I'm going, and I'm going alone. I've
got too good family here. I've got
to think Of them. I've got lots before
me in this town. and want this to
blow over.
Marsha said no, she'd got to 90,
too, and Miss Norris with her. Miss
Norris never would have gone to Reno
If Miss warrington had not insisted
on It from the first"
Il got the machine continued
Diggs, and rode around in it all day,