El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-24
LAW INVADES
LILLIPUT LAND.
Twin Midgets Are Hailed to
Court For Habeas
Corpus Hearing.


I'VE want to 20 with Mr. Schaeiier;
We don't like Mr.. Rose
This is not a suggestion for popu-
lar song tide. 1t is the song sung by
Mathew and Bella Matina, twin midgets
when fhev tool, the stand Thursday
afternoon i'm Judge p. r. Price court
to testify i'm the habeas corpus pIo-
ceedings instituted by Ike Rose TO Sc
cure their possession IRON Charles
SChacffer.
Three Feet High. Weigh 30 Pounds:
Mathew and Bella stood side by SIDE
on the witness stand. barely lhtee-AeSt
fin height and weighing less lhan 'V
pounds each. Lined up I'm row on d
bench farther back i'm the court room
were five more midgcts OF various ages
and sizes. together with several ol.eI
show people and score OF lilel $50
spectators over all lowered the SIN
feet of Judge Price, interested-ahu
unused II was the most unique court
room setting i'm the annals OF the olu
small Town stuff.
'Vyhv don't you want TO 20 with MI
r,osea-- asked attorney Charles owen
FOR the defence, addressing himset 10
lie very bad man." answered mid
You ou'''' want to stay with Mr..
Schaefferc'
sure
Don't YOU want to 90 home
NO. it's too small town for me
The crowd laughed and judge Price
smiled before calling for order
Wouldn't YOU like to see your father
and mother and your little brothers
asked Eugene L. Harris, attorney Tor
Mr.. Rose.
81 like TO see my little brothers. but
] like 10 stay here best ] like 70 20
from town - town
Both boys declared they were wen
treated by Schaeffer and were SATISFIED
with their lot.
Ike Rose. theatrical manager. APP
peared iu FL paso several days ago
with what purpOrts TO be n power OF
attorney document signed by the rather
or the Natina boys. tailor In small
Hungarian town. on the stand Ihurs-
day afternoon he declared that he is
seeking the custody of the midgets TO
"a ke them back to Hungary.
Vinched BY scotland Yard.
Tn the cross examination he stated
that nc bad had difficulty I'm getting
into Hungary because Of the war.
You We're arrested several times as
n SPY. were YOU uot2' asked Mr.. owen
ct was once taken for a spy I was
detained for five minutes in Scotland
Yard" he replied.
Family Of NIdEetS.
Charles Schaeffer on the stand, stated
that hc -o- Mathew and Bella Matlna.
midget 23 years OF age, under contract
dated July. 1918. He had had the mid
gets nearly three years. lie had taken
good care Of them and wrote home
every week lie paid 100 crowns per
month the first year to the parents
and 120 crowns the second year, he said.
lFe sent the money to his wife in Hun
gary and she turned it over TO the
parents.
on cross examination he admitted
o D. lie 70 he 60 ST
the contract with the parents. He said
that he had been employed by Rose for
time. having been engaged by Rose
~ Budapest
How TO Act.
George Heros. another midget,
climbed into the witness chair long
enough TO tell how well he and the
other midgets are treated by Schaetter.
Tie knew Mr. Rose. he said. He told
ms we weren't putting on good show"
the witness said and said il we were
his he'd show us how to act"
Lajas Matina, % years OF age, who,
by the way. is 10 be married Saturday,
being engaged to a handsome little
midget of 20 summers. had some diff
ficultv I'm climbing into the witness
chair. but was perfectly at home after
he landed there. All Of US like Mr..
Schaeffer." he said. "anG I'd rather
have my little brothers with Mr.
Schaeffer nthan Mr.. Rose
Continued Until Saturday.
K. Maniatapulos declared that he had
known Rose i'm Europe He told me-"
the witness said. that II I could get
charge Of the little boys he would make
50 worth my while"
Did YOU trvg'
NO. sir. and few days later he ac-
cuscd me Of trying to steal"
IT. W. Campbell stated that Schaeffer
was kind to all the midgets. that none
OF the midEets had complained. and
that Schaeffer was Of good moral
character.
The hearing was continued to Sat
urday.
ARIZONA CIIAPD OPENS