The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-03-30
SORCERY AND A LAWSUIT.
MTSS HILLS AELEGBD ArTRNPfS I'd
CHARM aRNdTOH SHARON

Du~y'us - Hu~d's 81 Ciatha.s IN . Draw ,.
Order 10 Exevesse = speii-Maeieisas aaS
voodso Doetors Said 60 have been Csn.
suiied-Ths Young wsnaa's Denials.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 20.-All San Fran
cisco. from Mob Hill to the Chinese quarter is
agitated over tho revelations Of the past two
days In tho suit Of gnrah Althea Hill against
ex-senator William Sharon for divorce. Il has
been known In general way for q long umo
that Miss HUI had resorted to sorcory In her at
tempt to regain the Senator's affections. She
had made q confdants of q negro woman from
whom she had purchaseda "voudoo." and she
had INDUCED In various weird incsntations
both In public and In private. To the sooth-
sayers. sstrolocers mind readers. spirituaiirts.
seers fortune teliors. and clairvoysnts Of tho
city she has for some time been source Of
greut revenue. The developments in court.
however. show that sho has carried her super
stitions much farther than was supposed.
When It became clear that Miss Hill intended
to push her suits against the Senator his at
torneys set about most thorough investiga-
tion Of her sorcories. believing that they could
show that her ambition from the first had been
to secure an unfair advantage over him. and
that her attitude was very far from that which
a woman. knowing herself to DO a wife. would
have taken. They ran down many Of her
clairvoyants and voodoo doctors. but failed to
secure the expected sensational evidence.
When they were on tho point Of giving up that
branch OF the case MS about worked out they
received hint that George Glllard. the sexton
OF the Masonic cemetery. could give thcm some
information that might prove valuable. He
was promptly interviewed. and after much per-
suasion he told his story.
About year ago Nellie Bracket. a young
woman whom Gillard has known since child
mn nj nl hv lad
whom no did not know. called on him at the
cemetery and explained to him that they had
| a scheme in which they wished his assistance.
In the course Of conversation 1t leaked out that
| they wanted to charm rich man. The grave.
| digger laughed ut them and expressed
| his unwillingness to have anything to
do with the matter. Then the young
woman whom he did not know and who
seemed to be more interested than Nellie
you do itf" lie replied in tho aiiirmative.
snnyhns A' Ts s
that all they wanted was the privilege Of put
the coffin of some person who was 10 be buried.
This ne asseP1od to- though ne 9d them was S
next internent they left him.
The rst By burial wa on the o IT. Of MNa1 1889
sa.n gave s1s
due warming and at 10 o'clock In the forenoon
OF that day they arrived at the cemetery. Going
and pushed small! package. done up in II
newspaper. under tho head OF tho pine box
properly located they climbed ont Of the grave.
lard lard for his ssryiees. lie declined eoursnsa-
ton Of any kind. but the women insisted that
not be- etfectual. Finding that he could not sat
isfy them Otherwise he received and put In his
ss TO The wasa .os on
did did not reach the cemetery until z. NJ; but
the the grave had been flled ap. .''' "',' '' '.,1
Gillard was taken to court one day recently
Woman In the crowd. lie lmme diatel y pointed
Miss Hill the Rspn, saying she was the
they had struck an important trail. the attor-
ior SasSn stated their e Si 70 Dr. Mears
day Dr. Mesrs. two or three Of sharon's law
s%f s 81 s ss
.ions Of f2ur sraysdiEssrs who had b zen en-
did Ii. not sss SnT to the as
ent attsstsd to the senuineness Of The And. and
e n ONCE IN M the pr rs Of ALL Ths outside
wrapper, as has been said, was paper. Tho
two feet square. tightly pinned at every fold.
In this wers a standing collar. showing that Il
stocking. and a piscs Of linen = foot square,
evidently cut from shirt, All were soaked
With water and dsoorsa but no attempt was
up in another package. the wrapper OF which
was sealed with wax in as many places as there
sn To asah
Mears. aud the dssecratsd grave OF poor old
nation Of Miss Hill Mr. Evans nc Tor the deiance,
sspsd
she AZ Sid mot know wi, What he meant v,.,u
:Qn! " his medicines"
you eyer U wsar sr E q his clothing
when he was 81 Sick" gums 01' N'' O'''''"S k'""
Tie attorney for the pls!ntin. knowing what
chat Miss Hi had worn the senators shirts
linn % an ide
ton which women OF aii ages and countries
poes
asked what II would profit tho defence II they
DID show that the plaintiff i had had an abiding
ers aud spell workers had filed her head,
-, III reply Mr.. barnes for the defence. said that
the evidence sought to be introduced was OF
this, utmost Importance as going to show the
; probable relation between the plaintiff and the
friendly terms with Senator Sharon 1t can be
shown that she resorted to sorcery to gain an
be made awarsasi it. The deience Intended t.
show that she did doctor his wine and his fool
At time when he was already sick. She scour.
ed the city In search OF fortune tslers and pso
pie who we're dealers in magic. spells. blessings
and curses. and spent her money IN buying
drugs and notions medicines, and all mnnns,
q woman who bore to u man tho honored rela
tion of wife.
At the conclusion OF the arguments tho Cour
ruled that the testimony was ADM ssable, ant
MIR. Evans proceeded with the crosse am ma
| ton. He asked Miss Hill with great particu
0 larity concerning the allegations that she hat
worn portions OF the SENATOR'S wardrobe ant
. that she had employed other people to worl
!, | charms on him. but she denied that she ha,
! ever resorted to such eXpedients.
Turning suddenly on his heel. Mr.. Evans ad
dressing the Health Officer, said: " DR.. Menrs
will YOU please come here9" The Doctor. ca,
: the crowd to the side OF the lawyer. mr. Evan
g took the bundle and put Il on the Judges b.ncl
ssid 70 me , Judge thss shas package ,s scale,