Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-24
YDA Adds.
Her Alleged Engagement with
Governor DOWneV.

sASA AhsSh ASh > - - ChlCbs NAsh
Governor DOwney.
The San Francisco Examiner pub
fishes remarkable letter from Miss
Yda Adds, dated at Xalapa, April
Sth. She says that her declining
health is hurrying her on to the grave,
and impels her to give to the world
before she dies the true story of her
marriage engagement with ex-Gov-
ernor Downey. Early in 1888, she
says, he made unmistakable overturee
to her. But the then recent death OF
his wife by the Tehachepi accident
caused her to repel them. Sub
sequently she agreed to marry him
at the end of two years of mourning
Aware OF her circumstances, he caused
to be conveyed to her q considerable
sum Of money; but this she could not
receive, and returned it to him. She
then goes on to detail the impedi-
ments that were thrown in her way
by the nephew of the Governor, who
resorted to a series OF devices
to prevent her from communicating
with him. In two or three months,
however, they met and mutual
explanations satisfied them. that they
had been the victims of third parties,
who had intercepted letters that
would have explained the circum-
stances that kept them apart. She
goes on to say that they had very
satisfactory interview one Sunday
early in August, 1884, parting with
the mutual understanding that
the marriage would take place
in few months. She was never
permitted to see the Governor
After that, she then declares that
she was subjected to persecution and
espionage, and that she determined
to exile herself. She wentto Mexico,
and set about earning her living
under the most adverse circum-
stances.
She returned to Los Angeles in
August, 1887, where the learned that
Mr.. Downey had disappeared from
the city and was held in restraint by
his relatives in San Francisco. At the
advice of friends she went to thai
city, where with a number OF friends
of both parties, she tried to have an
Interview. But all efforts to that end
were frustrated. She says she was
urged to bring suit for breach of prom
Use against Mr.. Downey so as to get
him out of the hands of his relatives {;
but she deemed such course incon-
sistent with her antecedents and dig
nifty, and refused to do so. Miss
Adds concludes her remarkable letter
as follows:
GAS for my position, it is obvious,
and my motive is in very little self
ish one. l do, it is true, desire that |
be set right, and my truthfulness vim
dicated; for forged letters, fictitious
kilograms purporting to emanate from
me, and divers other devices have
been employ ed to place me in a false
position.
"For the rest, my sole desire is to
save and serve Mr.. Downey, who,
whatever his faults, with me was kind
and generous. am no longer in a
condition to think of ms rryir e o civ
ing in marriage, and as 1 have tried
to live honestly and without injury to
others, the close prospect of death has
no terrors for me, but rather the
promise Of rest from a Weary struggle.
"Mr. Downey's friends have urged
me to this step. and have consented.
In this l cannot be accused OF inter.
ested or sordid motives-I am beyond
that. Others have promised to take
up the work if l would but initiate it,
and 30 l have written this recital, dur
ing long interval and with many
halts, as required by my bodily con-
dition."
In this connection we may cay that
Governor Downey has been in this
city for several days and has rooms at
the Nadaau