Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-06
WHITTIER'S DENIAL.
A Scandal Among CONNER
cial Magnates.
w. F. Whittier interviewed by
a Herald Reporter.
A Pretty Trained Nurse Causes All
the Trouble.
Whittier Makes n Very Conservative
Denlal-Judge benson Caught in
Trap by the Nurse Girl.
A Queer story.

The firm OF Whittier, Fuller g. Com.
pany, dealers in paints, oils and the
like, has been known on the coast fol-
many years. The Examiner OF Sunday
contained a very sensational article
about William F. Whittier, of the firm,
which has q branch in this city, from
which the following synopsis is made:
William z. Fuller, of the well-known
firm of Whittier, Fuller & Company
died on the 18th of May, 1890.
Whittier and Fuller had been associ-
ated in business for more than twenty
years, but on the 9th of January, 1886,
4 an agreement was made between them
whereby it was arranged that in the
event of the death of either of them the
survivor should have the right to pur-
chase his deceased partners interest in
the business for the sum of 81 1884, 600.
This agreement was good for two
years, and consequently became void in
January, 1888, and was never renewed.
=. a. When it was found that no
| satisfactory terms could be arrived at
with Whittier, the executrix of the es-
tate sold the three-eighths interest to
w. P. Fuller, Jr., for the sum of 81 AGO.
600.
Thereupon Whittier commenced suit
to compel Mrs. Fuller to sell her de-
ceased husbands interest to him for the
amount named in the hope of upsetting
| the purchase OF young Fuller, which
was ratified in the probate proceedings
by Judge Coffey.
Shortly after this rumors got abroad
of very startling character, in which
the name of young Fuller and a Miss
Justina Kendall were freely and compro-
misingly mentioned.
Miss Kendall was trained nurse who
had attended w. P. Fuller, ST., during
the illness which eliminated in his
death.
But the story found its way into print,
nevertheless, and the newspapers that
used it were industriously circulated all
over the country.
Just prior to the appearance of these
articles, however, w. P. Fuller left with
his wife and child and maid-servant up
on trip to Europe. Upon their arrival
at New York they found marked copies
Of the papers containing the story
awaiting them. This was the fret init
nation Fuller had of the serious charges
that had been made against his reputa-
ton. :. :.
Fuller arrived in this city little more
than two months ago, and by day and
by night he has been working to the one
end OF indicating his character.
But in the meantime Miss Kendall had
left for the east with an invalid lady. A
detective was at once sent in quest Of
her, and after more than a months
search, rendered necessary by the death
of the lady with whom Miss Kendall was
travelling, she was located in Minneapo-
lis. She at once consented to return to
the city.
The story then says that after her re-
turn she was waited on by Judge Dem
son, Whittier's attorney, who offered her
| 500, 900 if she would admit having been
seduced by young Fuller and would give
benson charge of suit for damages.
She refused to sign this document, but
advised benson to go to young Fuller
and hear what he had to say. Mr.. Full
ler's attorney refused to consider any
proposition.
benson is said to have continued ne
gotiations with the girl, and on Friday
by appointment called at her rooms.
She had been ill and was in bed, but
consented to see him, having first con
cealed young Fuller, his attorney, Mr..
Bell, detective and reporter in an in
side room. 1t is claimed now that Den
son made an attempt to assault Miss
Kendall while she was in bed, and that
cries summoned the watchers in the
next room.
1t was then, says the San Francisco
Examiner, that benson broke down,
and making his way to chair on the
opposite side of the room he begged for
mercy.
The interview that followed lasted
nearly three hours, and in that time
benson told the story of Whittier's eff
fort to secure the ruin of his young part
ner-the son of the man whose shrewd
and honest business ability had built
up for him one of the largest and most
lucrative businesses on the coast.
benson states that the whole affair
was the work OF w. L. Whittier. Whit
tier had, he said, by reason of close
acquaintance with the family, become
cognizant OF some domestic difficulty
that existed between young Fuller and
his wife-which, however, had at that
| time been settled-and upon their de-
| parture for Europe he took this upon
which to base the calumny intended
to ruin Fuller and drive him from the
state.
| S. G. benson, the attorney for Whitti-
er. before he removed to San Francisco
from Sacramento, ranked as one of the
best lawyers of that city and occupied
the position of superior judge for two
successive terms. He is man about
so years of age, has always been regard
ed as an ornament to the profession and
has built up a large practice since his
removal here.
WHITTIER HERE.
w. f. Whittier arrived here this
morning from San Francisco. He carried
his grip in one hand and Sunday Elk
aminer in the other, and went at once
to the office of San Jacinto land com
pany in the Baker block, in which he is
interested.
When the HERALD representative was
admitted to his Office he was with Col,
E. L. Mayberry, the president OF the
land company. Mr.. Whittier was de,
void of any nervousness and came al
once to the point.
81 suppose you want me to talk about
that story in the Examiner OF Sunday
knew nothing about the matter until
on the Oakland boat on my way to take
the train. was with Mr.. Stetson, anc
we had arranged to take this trip some
days before and could not change oul
l~~l