Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-08
CUT OFF HIS WHISPERS.
COUNT RULOHvASBASK FAILED TO
SUICIDE so HE SHAVED.
The San Francisco Side of the Story-The
Identity of Mrs. Clarke-O. w. Hun
saker's Statement.

Peter j. Rulohvasbask, who calls him
self a Russian count and who on
Wednesday last left young infant at
the city prison, stating that he was its
father and unable to provide for it, has
been heard from in Los Angeles, says
the San Francisco Chronicle of Sunday.
When he left the little one at the police
station, he stated that he had been mar
ried about year and had lived at 700
California street. Five days after the
babe was born, he said, his wife desert
ed him, taking the child with her. He
said he found the little one after tedi-
Gus search, with family in Oakland,
but his wife had disappeared.
Subsequent Investigations fail to bear
out the counts" statements. A dis
patch received from Los Angeles Friday
night stated that the count" was there
in search of his erring wife and that he
charged Ben Hunsaker, of that
city, with enticing her away. He also
charged that before leaving San Fran
cisco, she had drawn $2500 from a bank
and given it to Hunsaker to purchase a
saloon on Spring street, in Los Angeles.
A Chronicle reporter called at 700 Cal
ifornia street yesterday, and in response
to inquiries the landlady stated that size
knew the count" but that the lady
whom he called his wife was not bis
wife. Her name was Clarke, and she
had lived there prior to August 10th or
thereabouts. The "count" came there
two or three davs after Mrs. Clarke left,
and remained until afew days ago, when
he left for Los Angeles. The two did
not live at the house at the same time.
Mrs. Clarke had not claimed the ''count"
as her husband, but he had said she was
his wife. The landlady laughed when
asked if either party had baby with
them, and answered in the negative.
The Mrs. Clarke referred to is Mrs.
Sarah j. Clarke, formerly the wife of
Charles Clarke, OF this city. On June
oath last she commenced suit for divorce
from her husband, alleging desertion,
and praying for a division OF the COM
munity property, which was said to be
worth $2l 900. She had married Clarke
in Manchester, England, on March IL,
1879, and they came to San Francisco in
1881. The couple had no children. On
July 9TH last Superior Judge Wallace
granted her divorce, and on the Sth
satisfaction was filed by Mrs. Clarke's
attorney, 0. F. Hunsaker, to the effect
that she had received $40, 900 in money
as her share of the community proper
ty, $3.50 as attorneys fees and $31 costs
of suit This is the woman whom the
''count" claims to have married over
year ago, Notwithstanding the fact that
she was divorced just two months ago.
0. w. Hunsaker, son of Attorney
Hunsaker, stated yesterday that he
knew, as a fact, that the ''count" and
Mrs. Clarke were not married. "Mrs.
Clarke left this city day or two before
the count got outsof JAIL" he added.
II know this, for checked her trunk at
the ferry. My father was her attorney
in her divorce suit, and the count"
as Rulohvasback calls himself, is only
trying to get some OF her money. 1t is
ridiculous for him to say that she is his
wife and the mother of the babe he left
at the city prison. and others know,
as fact, that his statements are false.
Only a few weeks ago the ''count" tried
| to shoot the woman, and was arrested.
/ My father assisted in his defense, but
never got paid for his services. The sa-
loon in Los Angeles belongs to me, and
my brother Ben is managing it for me
during my absence. 1t was not bought
with money furnished by Mrs. Clarke. :"
The records of Police Court / show
that the count" was held to answer on
July 10Th on charge of assault with a
deadly weapon, with bail set at $1,000.
In lieu Of bail he sojourned in the
county Jail until August 18th, when his
trial took place before Superior Judge
| Hebbard. The jury returned verdict
of not guilty, for the reason, as several
of the jurymen afterward explained,
that the prosecuting witness, Mrs
Clarke, failed to appear.
Mrs. Gilmore. matron of the city pris-
on, says the babe had been sent to the
Founding home, on Minna street.
When the "count' took it to the prison
he did not ask where it would be sent.
81 thought" said the matron, "that he
did not appear to care very much. He
said he was count, and some day the
little one would inherit fortune. When
asked about his wife he said they had
had some trouble, and she was afraid of
him, but he refused to give any reason. y
AT the Russian consulate the count"
is unknown, but the statement was
made that in Russia there is no noble
family by the name of Rulohvasbask.
About two weeks ago the count
made sensational but safe attempt to
commit suicide at the Oakland ferry.
Since then he has shaved off his whisk-
ers.