Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXVII, Number 314, 11 August 1900 — BALLONA WATER CASE Contempt Proceedings Fall to the 6round Principal Witness for the Owners of the Injured Dam Mnkei Out i Bud C'aae for Ills Side [ARTICLE]

BALLONA WATER CASE Contempt Proceedings Fall to the 6round Principal Witness for the Owners of the Injured Dam Mnkei Out i Bud C'aae for Ills Side

Tha Ballona irrigation case promised something of a sensation yesterday in Judge Allen's court, on the hearing of the contempt proceedings and the sensation came but not in the way expected. None of the lawyers thought the parties who tore out the dam in Ballona creek after the court had issued a stay of execution, would be adjudged guilty of contempt, but the chances were that they would be on the showing that was expected. All the afternoon was spent in examining those who were on the ground when the dam was torn out and the opposing attorneys had made about an even showing until Constable Wilson, who was guarding the dam, was put on the stand. He had been coaching the attorneys for the dam builders and was considered an Important witness, as he read the stay of execution to the party that was about to tear out the dam» He . gave some good testimony but when he! assayed to read to the court the paper he read to the party of men, the contempt proceedings fell to the ground with a crash. The stay of execution was for five days and Wilson, in reading it for the court, gave the defendant's names and that the order was for thirty days. Kealizlng that he was badly rattled he corrected himself by saying ten days. He mumbled and Jumbled his words together, mispronounced names and altogether tangled his tongue in a fearful manner. "I don't wonder those men couldn't understand that paper," interrupted the court. "You may stop reading, for If you read it no better than you are now trying to, they could not possibly know what it meant." The court lawyers and spectators grinned and although the attorney for the dam owners tried to patch up matters by stating their case, the damage had been done and the court concluded the matter by dismissing the citation, but ordered that the stay of execution continue in force Ave days longer. Meanwhile, trouble Is said to be hatching on the Ballona rancho and there may be war down there any day, over the right to use the water in the creek..