Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-06

removing thither. While in New Orleans
in these early days Malta always remem
bers, as far back as she can recollect any
thing, being an inmate of the Garret
house and as being an acknow
ledged daughter of the house. Sht
never heard this questioned il
any way by any one. After she
went to st. Louis and after Captain
Garrett had married his second wife
having been divorced from his first wife
she overheard a conversation between
this stepmother and someone else, O
which she, Malta, was the subject. She
then learned that she was not the
daughter Of Captain Garrett, by his wife
but that she had been born to him by
another woman. Malta states that hel
father acknowledged this to her himself.
Malta states that about this time she
once saw person whom she believes tc
have been her mother. Her stepmother
sent her to store to make a small pur.
chase. On the way she noticed woman
following her and watching her closely.
This person followed her into the store,
and waited until she had made her pur.
chase, and then followed hen
home. AS she ran up the steps
to enter the house she looked
back, and saw the woman at the foot of
the steps. The woman lifted her face
up to Malia's, stretched out her hands to
her. and cried in a tone of tenderness
and grief, "Ohl Maliar" The child
dashed into the house. and the mysteri-
GUS stranger went away. Mrs. Edge
comb says she can see the face and figure
of the woman still. She was tall, was
Hrauoad IN hlook otr + ,n1xv ha
some woman, and looked like lady.
She alleges that her father afterwards
told her this person was certainly her
mother. from the description she gave
Of the appearance of the stranger.
1t was here in st. Louis, as this girl
tells her story, that the dark shadow fell
across the path of her young life and
blighted her existence. As she tells the
story, Captain Garrett was widower
again. He had been keeping girl in the
house, whose name is given as Josie
Sheridan. For some reason Josie had left
the house and gone away. Malta was -
years old or about that. She was play
ing in the yard when her father called
her in and took her to one OF the cham
bers. Here he attempted to violate her
person. but she resisted in horror. She
was but child, as she says. She was
very fond of Garrett, regarding him as
her father. At last he succeeded, and
from that time until quite recently she
has been a victim of his lust. After a
few days, when che recovered sufficient
strength to go about, she says she went
to the Mayor:.of st. Louis and told her
story, demanding the arrest of her father.
Then Garrett gained control over
her childish will and she told
the authorities it was all false story she
had told, and that she had been put up
to it by enemies of her father. Garrett
obtained this statement from her under a
promise never more to modest her, and
to send her to school. He did send her
to convent at once, and she remained
there some years. She says they never
staid long in any place. They were in
Florida and in many places.
Some three years ago, she says, she
became pregnant, and her father put
her through terrible course of treat.
ment, until an abortion was produced
This, she alleges, nearly ended her exist
ence. Then he brought her out to San
Francisco, but the people there COM
mented on her sickly appearance, and
Garrett did not like this, so when she
got little strength he came to Los An.
geles with them. Such is Malta Garrett,
or Mrs. Edgecomb's, story if she is
telling the truth. Summarized it is
this: Captain Garrett seduced her
mother, put her in house of ill.fnme,
where Malta was born and spent the first
years of her life. At IL she became the
victim of her own fathers lust, and was
o,,l1 h, 10 hin haoSinl ,,nti1 fa
months ago, nearly being killed while
undergoing treatment which produced
an abortion.
MINOR NOTES.
1t is very hard to believe the story. 1t
contains elements of baseness almost un-
paralleled in the history of crime. But
there are 30 many circumstances about it
that the mind fastens on that it is hard to
dismiss the sad recital from the mind.
Garrett never denied his paternity of
Malta until charged with incest, and then
he did. Malta Gays she never heard of
any other father. Garrett's recent story,
she says, is all new to her. To others
he has always acknowledged Malta as
his daughter. The man Camp Malta
heard of, but never as any connection OF
hers. Garrett wrote Malta letter. in
which he told her the story of woman
led astray and abandoned by lover.
The name Of the woman he gave as An
ME Lewis. This letter was written
while Malta was at Mrs. Watson's, a
year ago. Garrett, at another time, told
Mrs. Watson that Annie Lewis
was the name of Malia's mother
Garrett is said to talk at random and to
forget one moment what he said the
other. He told Mrs. Watson once, SO
the story runs, that he was relation of
Mad Robert Garrett, of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. He said that insanity
runs in the family that he did not have it
himself, but that he could see it in
Malta. An adopted child does not
usually inherit these vices of the blood.
Garrett is reported as insanely jealous
of Malta. She says he has always ex-
erted the most remarkable power over
her. She stated yesterday that she
knew as a matter of fact that Gar.
rett had for years kept girls in
the house. She said she had
denied this few days ago because he
got her to do 80. She says if he were to
get control of her again she would do the
same thing.
As to the trial of her husband for the
rape of the little girl, who is now at the
orphan asylum, she said she wanted that
to 60 on. She wanted her husband ex.
culpated, as she insists he will be.
She also claims that she can prove be-
yond question that she is the natural
child of Captain Garrett. The reporter