She Dodges the Officers Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 1904 p. A6
At the Courthouse: She Dodges the Officers. Mrs. M.A. Hotchkiss Objects to Testifying; Arises from Sick Bed to Skip to Santa Monica, and There Leads the Attorney a Merry Chase Through the Hotel. The Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 1904 p. A6
Mrs. M.A. Hotchkiss is a very hard woman to see. Of course being of goodly proportions she is very easy to see if within the line of vision, but there's the rub.
For a number of days officers have been trying to serve subpoenas upon her, but apparently Mrs. Hotchkiss smells anything in the nature of a legal document and at once melts into thin air. And in performing this disappearing act her husband, Col. A.B. Hotchkiss has been her earnest, if not very agile, coadjutor.
Some time ago Mrs. Hotchkiss began suit against the Hamberg-Bremen Fire Insurance Company to recover a big wad of money for the house and furniture that was burned down at Santa Monica. The company, either rightly or wrongly has yet to be determined, refused to make good, and pending the trial it was desired to take the deposition of Mrs. Hotchkiss. But that was easier said than done, for no one could get service on her. Then the attorneys fluttered into court and filed affidavits, and Mrs. Hotchkiss has been cited to show cause why she should not be punished for contempt.
Among the affidavits filed is one by Attorney W.R. Leeds. He thought he knew the secret of the vanishing lady, and could succeed where others failed and he tells about his adventure in the paper on file.
He first had a try at the Hotchkiss mansion at No. 400 South Grand avenue, and in answer to the bell Col. Hotchkiss came to the door and said that his wife was sick in bed and under no circumstances would he or could he permit service to be make upon her in her then existing condition. And he didn't.
That same afternoon the wonderful recuperative qualities of Mrs. Hotchkiss's constitution stood her in good stead for she left for Santa Monica, and put up at the Arcadia Hotel. Attorney Leeds followed her, but could not gain access to her, and after a long and weary wait he went into the dining-room to refresh himself, assuming that even Mrs. Hotchkiss not to mention her husband, would have to eat. Sure enough the Colonel and his wife presently sailed into the dining room, and then Leeds was happy. He enjoyed his dinner while keeping one eye fixed on Mrs. Hotchkiss for feat that by some occult power she might give him the slip again, and do the vanishing act.
After dining very comfortably the attorney took his stand outside in the corridor and awaited developments. Presently Col. Hotchkiss came toddling along--his agile days lie far behind--and with him his wife. Then was the opportunity of Leeds' lifetime. He went forward and attempted to serve the papers on the lady, but she gave a little scream and went skipping up the wide stairway as fast as she could while her spouse came slowly after while breathing out threatenings of slaughter against the disturber of his peace.
Even Attorney Leeds was not quick enough to head off the runaway, and at the last moment only he succeeded in placing the paper on her arm. She brushed it aside saying that she would't take it, and next instant a door slammed in the face of the attorney. An instant later, however, the subpoena fluttered through the transom and fell at the feet of the vanishing lady. She had been served.
To say that Col. Hotchkiss was furious would be to put it mildly. It took him some time to climb three flights of stairs but he got there finally, and shook his stick in the air and pompously spoke of resenting insults and then--did nothing.
And now it is probable that Mrs. Hotchkiss will have to appear before the notary and allow her deposition to be taken.
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[KR: Note the athleticism of both Mrs. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Griffith in dealing with the Arcadia Hotel. Was this the time during which Archie Wright was the manager of the Arcadia?]
