Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-05
a FEMALE sPENDTRRIFT.
The Widow Of william RaIston Squan-
derinS One Hundred and Twenty
Thousand Dollars In Three
Years-SuiBg for n Guar
dian for Her.

San Francisco Chronicle: about year
ago the once handsome widow OF the late
William G. Ralston attracted a considerable
share of public attention and comment by
reason of statements that she had fallen into
the tolls of certain skillful and adventurous
young and needy gentlemen of the world,
and particularly into those of New Yorker,
who abandoned wife and children for this
more profitable affection. This unfortunate
woman is again brought prominently before
the public, this time in the role of person
incapable of taking care of the liberal means
provided for her support by the friends OF
her deceased husband, an appeal having
been made to the probate court of this city
to provide guardian for her person and
estate. The action was brought some months
age, and was on the point of being compro-
missed through the Intervention of Mr.. A. A.
Cohen, who was acting in the capacity of
friend. 1t was arranged that she was to
have the benefit of the proceeds from an in
vestment of one hundred thousand dollars,
contributed by the friends already referred
to, but that she was not to have access to the
principal. Subsequent to this she made
demand upon Mr.. Cohen for the sum of
twenty thousand dollars. This he declined
to furnish, saying that she could only receive
five hundred dollars, the amount Of her
monthly installment upon the investment for
her benefit. Thereupon she withdrew from
Tue tTEdDSeuSHl, sGCuISu Two law
yers to represent her. To make the cause of
the action clear, it will be necessary to re-
hearse little OF the history of Mrs. Ralston.
After the financial ruin and tragic death of
her husband, W. G. Ralston, she was, through
the generosity Of has wealthy friends, en-
dowed with a fortune, the income of which
was sufficient to enable her, with ordinary
prudence, to live In the elegant stylet to which,
as his wife, she had always been accustomed
But little of this fortune, it is represented, is
now left, and to prevent the too rapid dis
bursement of that little the appeal has been
made. This action was commenced by A. J.
Ralston, J. D. Fry and ]. c. L. Wadsworth,
and the pleadings allege that of the fortune
of something like one hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars given to her Mrs. Rails
ton has already squardered about one hun
bred and twenty thousand dollars in reckless
living and supporting and maintaining one
or more persons having no legal claim upon
her. 1t is also alleged that there is in the
possession of Wells, Fargo & Co. some forty
thousand dollars belonging to Mrs Ralston,
and of which she has demanded payment;
and the prayer is that, in order to prevent
Mrs. Ralston and her children from becoming
beggars and charge upon public or private
charity, and because OF her mental incompe-
tence to manage her estate, guardian be
appointed to take charge of her estate and of
her pers On. The order forbidding the pay
ment by Wells, Fargo d Co. of the money
was made until the action should be disposed
Of, but 10y subsequent order Mrs RAlston
was enabled to obtain four thousand dollars
of the money"