Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-08-16
A VINDICTIVE MAN.
PRESTON HAS HIS OLD SWEET
HEART CONFINED IN JAIL.
Because Being Tired of Him, She Wrote
Him a Plain, Though Obscene Letter
From San. Diego.

Pearl Hinton, an unfortunate young
woman who some years ago left the
paths of virtue and has since been the
victim of the creatures who prey upon
courtesans. was yesterday brought before
US. Commissioner Van Dyke for exam
ination. She was charged with having
sent a letter through the mails from San
Diego to one John G. Preston of 412
North Main street in this city, which
the U. S. district attorney in his COM
plant, characterized as lewd and indec-
ent. Pearl Hinton, who goes, or went
at several times under the name of
Mary E. Anderson and Pearl Preston, is
a tall blonde who does not appear to
possess more wit than is necessary to
carry her through the slums of this
world. She was represented in court by
G. G. Stephens and acted very much as
if she had come out to a picnic. Her
reason at one time for calling herself by
the name of Preston, was that she had
unlawfully cOhabited with the fellow
Preston.
This man, who is an emaciated look
ing individual, with hair plastered down
on his head by means of oil, took the
stand. He admitted having known
Pearl since December last and that he
had resided with her on New High
street. He was not willing to admit at
first that he knew she led life of
shame, but under judicious cross-exami-
nation he had to acknowledge that he
knew it very we'll. He was persistent
however, in his denials that he had
lived on the money that Hinton earned.
He said that he had worked all the time
since his acquaintance with the woman
and according to his evidence, he was
Jack of all trades. He has been livery
stableman, has had restaurant
and also toyed with junk shop.
He would not admit that he
had written letter to Pearl which
caused her to respond with the missive
that caused her arrest, but the letter it
self shows that it was in answer to a
disagreeable one from the fellow. The
defense claimed that the reason of Pres
toms prosecution was revenge, because
Pearl Hinton had left him to follow
another man of a similar stamp, whom
she liked better than her former par
mour, but this the complaining witness
denied and he claimed that he was the
one who left her because he was tired of
her beauty and Establishments. The
letter written by the woman was intro
duced in evidence. Against the very
remarkable protest of U. S. District At
torney Cole, who has been most unwill
ing to show the document which is the
basis of this prosecution to newspaper
reporters, Commissioner Van Dyke al
lowed its persual by a HERALD man.
1t shows the whole reason OF the conduct
of Preston against Hinton. In no meas
ured terms but in the plainest Shakes
pearian Saxon she accuses him of hav-
ing been her lover and of having at that
time helped himself to her earnings. She
warned him not to write any more as he
would only cause himself trouble and
that she intended to keep out OF his way
because she did not want to be half
killed by him. The language was just
what might be expected in the cores
pondence of such a couple.
Mr.. Stephens did not place his client
on the stand and the commissioner took
the matter under advisement until today.
The woman has been in Jail nearly a
month now and unless she can secure
bail, if Commissioner Van Dyke holds
her, will have to remain there several
months before she can secure trial.