Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-20
HER FATHERS FAULT.
Driven from Home a Year
Ago.
A DAUGHTERS DESTRUCTION
How 1t Happened that Miss Raila
Garrett Was Led Astray
by EdgecOmb.
DAUGHTERS DESTRUCTION

Further facts regarding the se-
duction of Miss Malta Garrett by Edge
comb, the particulars OF which were pub
lished a few days ago, came to light yes
terday, and will throw at least a portion
of the blame for the young girls down
fall upon her father, Captain F. M. Gar
rett. 1t is just about a year ago that
Captain Garrett cast his daughter off,
and told her that he did not want to see
her again until she became OF age. Up
to that time Miss Malta had been duti-
full daughter, and was perfectly innocent
of wrong doing, but for some fancied
cause Captain Garrett determined TO
have nothing more to do with her. just
what that cause was, even Miss Malta
did not know. One day in July
a year ago Captain Garrett took her to
Mrs. Watson's house on Sand street and
left her there, saying that he did not
want anything more to do with her, and
did not want to see her until she became
of age, which would have been about two
years. A short time later he wrote her a
letter which contained statements which
no father would write to daughter not
yet out of her teens. 1t contained charges
that she was going to her ruin, and that
she would follow in the footsteps of
woman whose story he told. This woman
had left home with a young man, and
had been finally placed in house
of ill-fame by her lover. Shortly
after this letter, Captain Garrett
sent Miss Malta her trunk, and
complained OF the condition in which he
found her things, stating that it was indi-
cative that she was on the downward
road. At this time Miss Malta had ab-
soutely no clothes. and Mrs. Watson had
to obtain supply for her from several
sources. Then Mrs. Watson applied to
the Court for the guardianship of the girl
and obtained it. Shortly after this there
was considerable talk of the appointment
of Capt. Garrett as Chief of Police, and
he was praised as highly moral man
and fully capable of occupying the posi-
tion. Miss Malta, however, was taken
to Mayor Workman, who was also a
Director in the Girls Home, and she
told the story of her treatment
by her father. People about that time
wondered why the name of Garrett was
dropped so suddenly as possible candi-
date for the position of Chief of Police.
He had his position to keep in the Office
of the Superintendent of Streets, and, be-
| coming aware of the fact that comments
| were likely to be made regarding his
| conduct to his daughter, he visited her
frequently, and Notwithstanding the fact
that she was afraid of him, Miss Malta
finally returned to his house. The con-
duct of Garrett with relation to women
after this time was not such as to in
still into girls mind strict ideas
of virtue, if what is said is true, for
not only did Garrett behave in an outra-
geous manner toward two girls who were
in the house. having been left orphans,
but be introduced into the house a girl
named Nettie, from Ventura. Both of
his daughters, Malta and her younger
sister, knew that their father was living
with this girl as if she were his wife,
and Miss Malta spoke of the fact several
times to other parties, and said that she
did not like it, but she was afraid of her
father. This was kept up for some time,
and then Captain Garrett put the girl on
the train and sent her home.
Not long afterward Captain Garrett
brought another girl to the house,
and she staid there some time.
Miss Malta and her younger sister both
said that she was thele in the same
position as Nettie was. The girl soon
afterward said she did not like Captain
Garrett, and left. In the meantime,
Edgecomb had become acquainted with
Miss Malta. He became aware of the
state of affairs in the Garrett house, and
he used his knowledge to. lead Miss
Malta astray under promise of mar
riage. Captain Garrett, it appears from
statements made, did all in his power to
throw Miss Malta ON the hands of Edge.
comb, for on one occasion he told Miss
Malta, in the presence of another party,
| that if Edgecomb came to the house
he didn't want her to bring
him in. She could take him to
the corner or to some house, or to any
| place, he didn't care where. only she
must not bring him into the house. This
apparently was just what Edgecomb b
wanted, for he took Miss Malta to sew
eral places, and after some time had
pass ed he even tried to compromise her
with other men, but she believed
in his intention to marry her
up to the last minute. Miss Malta told
all her friends that she was to be m ar
ried to Edgecomb, and even exhibited
to some of her friends dress he had
given her, and said that he had given
her money. She denied, up to within a
short time of the expose, that there was
anything out of the way between Egde.
comb and herself. and she only ad.
mitted it after her condition became sucb
as to be noticeable.
Inquiries were made in round. about
way OF Edgecomb as to his intentions
with regard to the gid, and it wss found
then that he had never intended to marry
her, although she had received letters
from his mother showing that he had
written as If he did intend To
marry her.. The fact that he did
| not intend to marry her was
communicated to her, but she did moi
believe it. On one occasion a friend
visited her and asked her to go out
walking. She asked her father if she
might not go, and he replied that he did
not care if she went awav and neve,
came back. She might 90 to anv nIace
SO far as he cared, and if che wanted n
she could come back. If she went wher
he was not there she was to leave the
key to the front door under the doc,
mat, and when she got tired and wanted
to return, she would find it there. Ther
he told her that if she went ont she
would not find her sister there when she
came back, for he would send hel
to the Sisters school. It appears
that she was subjected to other treatmen
| VI hiph m ada har afraid of L a.. f..L-- e.,