Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-26
4 BRUTAL BROTHER.
The Terrible Treatment Of a scotch
Baronet's Niece.
san Franeisco ohroaiels.

San FTancIsco Chronicle.
The British Consul sent word to Chief
| Crowley on Monday afternoon that
James Leslie, living at No. ~ .Minna
street, was using his sister, Mrs. Chris
tina Duesberry, in manner that called
for police interference. The Chief &C
cordingly detailed Officers Bee and Brad
ford to look up the case, and from their
Investigations of Monday and yesterday
they obtained information that amply
Justified the Consul in expressing the
opinion which he did. At the house, its
owner, Mrs. Ann McManus. was inter
viewed, and from her the officers learned
that Leslie, his two boys. aged nine and
eleven years, and Mrs. Duesberry slept
IN one medlum-sized room, in which
there were two single beds.
| Leslie. she said, was in the habit of
beating his sister on the slightest provo
cation, and appeared to keep her close
prisoner in her room, as she had never
been seen outside of it. On the 18th
| instant Mrs. McManus asked for the
money due her, some $36, and when
Mrs. Duesberry appealed to Leslie
to pay the bill he savagely refused and
then knocked her down. The unfortu-
nate woman experienced similar treat
ment on the 9th, in the presence of
Bridget McManus, also a resident of the
house. The two women expressed their
disapprobation of Leslie's brutal con-
duct, and but little difficulty was expert
enced in inducing them to swear out
warrants for his arrest on charges of bat
terry, which were served yesterday.
When Bee and Bradford were attempt
ing to make the arrest Leslie barred the
door, and, when it was finally forced
open, fought the officers tooth and nail
until overpowered and subdued.
| After getting Leslie out of the way,
his sister was interviewed, and though
she endeavored to shield the prisoner as
much as possible, enough was ascer-
tanned to show the case to be one of ex-
traordinary brutality. Her story was,
briefly, as follows: Her husband. Jas.
| Duesberry, was an officer in the British
army up to the time of his death in
| Scotland some two years ago, when she
became entitled to a pension of e15 a
month. About the time of her husbands
death Leslie's wife was found hanging
from gas fixture in her room ON Mis-
sion street, verdict of suicide being
afterward returned by the Coroner's
| jury. Both being left alone, the brother
made proposition to his sister to come
to San Francisco and keep house for
him. The lady. who is niece of Sir
William Pemberton, of Scotland, at first
demurred being comfortably situated
where she was, but finally accepted the
offer, and came out to live with her
brother.
Finding that he had no home prepared
for her reception. she at first stopped at
| the American Exchange Hotel, but was
finally compelled to leave there on ac-
count of lack of funds with which to pay
her bills, Leslie having succeeded in Sc
curing her monthly drafts as fast as they
arrived, and retaining the money for his
own use Her trunks were kept at the
hotel as security for her debts, and the
poor woman has since been unable to
obtain decent clothing for herself. When
| she left the hotel her brother was resid-
ing at No 315 MinDa street, and per-
| sons there also give evidence of his bru-
tai treatment 1t was Leslie's habit to
| force Mrs. DuesberrY to sign the orders
for her remittances, and then to spend
the money in drinking and carousing.
Whenever she entered any protest he
would beat her in the most heartless
manner Three months ago they re.
moved TO No. 81 Minna street, where
they have since remained.
The room, when visited yesterday, was
in most horrible condition, and looked
as though it bad been occupied by a
dozen people instead of by four. The
woman and the two children did not
have decent clothing. Police Surgeon
Stambaugh visited the place during the
afternoon, and found Mrs. Duesberry
suffering from high fever, which is Sc
verely aggravated by want of medical
attendance and proper nourishment Her
body was perfectly covered with the
marks of her brothers acts of violence,
her arms and legs being literally black
and blue from blows. Her face, also.
still bears evidence of the brutal blow
which he struck her in Mrs McManus'
presence on the 9th inst Leslie is about
fifty years of age, and was under the in.
huence of liquor when arrested. Mrs.
McManus says that he has frequently en-
deavOred to force his sister to drink, and
appeared to desire to keep her con-
stantly under the influence Of LIQUOR.
Some time ago he induced her to make
her will in his favor, and it is believed
by those who have known of his treat
ment of her that he was endeavoring to
kill her or drive her to suicide in order
to come into possession of her property.
Since she has been here he has done
nothing towards their support, but has
lived on her scanty income. Mrs. Dues
berry is woman of prepossessing ap-
pearance and manners. She has hitherto
had no opportunity of making any com
plant against her inhuman brother. he
having kept her a close prisoner and
refused admittance to all callers at the
room. Mrs. Duesberry is daily expect
ing considerable remittance from Scot
land, and will at once take occasion to
get into more comfortable and congenial
quarters