The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-02
HOME AGAIN.
Pr0saic Ending of Mrs. st. Den-
MIS- Disappearance.
She Went Into Retirement for Private Rea-
sons, Leaving Her Bsb,s to Be Cared
for by Strangers

Mrs. st. Dennis, wife of ]. B. St. Dennis,
who is now in the County Jail serving a
sentence of 100 days fer an assault with a
deadly weapon, returned to her home at 100
Perry street on Monday night after an alb
sence of nearly one month She disap-
peared mysteriously on the last day of Feb
ruary, and no trace of her could be found
by the police, who searched in all likely
places for her.
Her disappearance created deep sympa-
thy among her neghbors for her three
little children, who were left motherless
by her desertion. The youngest child
is baby girl of Is months, while the eldest
is only years, and the second eldest
years. They were apparently utterly desti-
tute when she was gone, and their father,
in jail, unfortunately helpless to give them
bread. The neighbors on Perry street very
kindly looked after the forlorn youngsters.
and saw that they did not feel the pangs of
hunger nor miss mothers care.
But there was still another sad feature
supposed to be connected with her disap-
pearance. 1t was generally supposed by
those who knew her, and the police as well,
that she lost her reason because of her lIus-
bands conviction and disgrace, and in fit
OF dependency or insanity wandered away
and committed suicide
THE Willy LA BELLE.
Oscar la Belle, roomer in her house,
gave circulation to this report, for he had
stated that since her islands arrest she
had been completely Frustrated with mem
tai anguish, and occasionally seemed bereft
of her senses. Yet up to the time of her
disappearance she cared for the children
with motherly solctude.
The husband is carpenter, who came
here from Canada about four years ago,
and his wife followed year and a half
later. He was employed at the time OF his
arrest by 5. NJ. Hill, the contractor, and was
reported sober man generally, but his
neighb0rs say he did not give enough of his
earnings to his wife and she had to work to
help support the family. On the 18th of
February he became involved in street
row with hoodlums and to defend himself,
as he claimed, fired a shot from his re-
volver.
The police soon had him under arrest on
charges of assault with deadly weapon
and carrying tile same concealed, which lat
ter accusation was subsequently, dismissed
by Judge Xix owing to the circumstances
of Mrs. st. Dennis disappearance. For the
assault st. Dennis is now in the County
Jail serving out hundred days sentence.
ACTIVE SEARCH ABANDONED.
In the afternoon of Friday, February
2Sth, she left her home, telling La Belle
that she would return in ten minutes, but
as she did not appear next morning, he in
formed the police and searched for her all
over the city. Not the slightest clew, how
ever, could be discovered, ana active search
was abandoned by the detectives, who ac-
knowledged themselves completely baffied
and unable to advance theory for her dis
appearance.
Then it was that La Belle gave out that
she was very pale and haggard when she
left home, although appearing perfectly
sane. He did not believe that she had COM
mltted suicide nor become suddenly insane.
Now, 1t seems, she was in the city during
all this time with family named Daniels,
hiding from public view, hoping thereby to
excite the sympathy of the Police Court
officials and by that means secure lenient
treatment for her husband. But her neigh
bors also say that she hid merely to escape
publicity in court in connection with her
husbands trouble. He was jealous of La
Belle, though it is not known with what
reason.
VISITED WHILE IN HIDING.
La Belle visited Mrs. st. Dennis every
evening while she was in hiding and took
small parcels to her. When she went away
she had no package. but on Monday night
La Belle preceded her into the house with
a large bundle. He cared for the children
in her absence and made use of money
given for their support by the pastor of the
French Catholic Church in buying them the
necessaries of life.
When CALL reporter called last night
az the mouse lie was informed that Mrs st.
Dennis was not there, nor had she returned
This, however, was not true, for she had
be en- seen repeatedly by the neighbors yes
terday. She and La Belle were busy taking
down the furniture and preparing to leave
the place, but their destination OF reason
for moving could not be ascertained.
The neighbors are all highly indignant
over her action in leaving the young children
to be cared for by others. Mrs. st. Dennis
had refused to explain to them her strange
conduct, but said she had been nursing a
sick friend across the bay.