The morning call., 1891-10-23
ACROSS THE BAY.
Mrs. Pratt Divorced on the
Ground of Cruelty.
Boogar and His Matrimonial Aliiances-Lay-
ing the Track for the Electric Line.
Outrageous Franks of Students

j ne evidence in the Pratt case was closed
shortly after the noon hour yesterday, and
an oral argument of one hour each was
made by the attrOneyS, after VIII ich the case
was submitted, and Judge Ellsworth, in
summing up Of about half an hour. rendered
his decision granting divorce to the de-
fendant, Mrs. Pratt, on the ground of
cruelty of the plaintiff, her husband. The
specific acts were The writing of the letter
to Howard in which he threw down the
gauntlet TO both the son and his mother; in
referring to the father Of his wife as having
been in State Prison, and he. the son, in
herting the grandfathers traits; in calling
her vile name in the presence Of her chill
dren. and in sending 200 or more circulars
through the mail
In rendering his decision he stated that
even ii the confession were true, and he was
inclined to believe it was, the plaintiff had
condOned the offense by subsequently living
with his wife, and there was abundant
proof to that effect, while thers was no
proof of any acts or attempt at acts of in
fidelity on the part of the wife subsequent
to the shooting of Bromwell. The alleged
confession itself. written by Mr. Pratt In
his own hand, contained proof OF his having
condOned the offense complained OF. The
decision was surprise to many, but IL
seems to meet the approval OF three fourthS
of those who have taken any interest in the
proceedings of the trial.
The entering Of the decree was continued
until the I'd of November to give counsel
time to prepare findings. On suggestion OF
Atr. Foote that he desired findings that there
was no evidence showing criminal Intimacy
on the part of the Barnes girls Mr.. Reddy
stated that when ne was given notice that
his time limit was up for argument by the
Court he was about to say in his argument
that lie would admit that fact and that he
wUuld then and there admit ii, and, FUR
ther, he would admit that the allegation in
the cross-complalnt charging Mr.. Pratt with
intidelitY was not proven. lie said he had
no desire to deal unjustly with anybody.
TAILOR BOoGAR AND HIS ALLIANCES.
In the early days in Oakland little Ger
man tailor named Philip Boogar was happy
with his wife, and they were a saving
couple. Philip stitched and stitched. and
the earnings were invested in Oakland
realty in various parts of the town until
when his wife died Philip was a capitalist.
He thought great deal of her, and wept
disconsolately over her bier. She was a
member of the First Congregational Church,
and friends interested themselves In secur-
ing quartet 10 sing and arranged service
in the chapel. 1t was not long before eli
gible widows found out that the little tailor
was a capitalist, and finally one of them
captured him. 1t was not long though until
she found out that she would rather have
oOlIlS VI Ills tuUDtJ Iudu MS COIipduy, anu
so she secured divorce and portion OF his
wealth. Philip thought that he had had
enough of widows, but it was not long
until he was inveigled into another match,
which ended in like manner, and another
slice OF his realty went.
1t was believed that Philip would
not allow himself to be dragged
into matrmOny again, but In this
his acquaintances were mistaken, for not
long after Mrs. Catherine Rule captivated
a Co.
time, but according TO her story he has been
very nIggardly with her and has recently
threatened her. She had become afraid of
him and believed from his actions that he
was insane. Yesterday afternoon he was
examined on suspicion of insanity and
Mrs. BUOgar told of Philips treatment Of
her and about his deciding 100000 worth of
his real estate to a glaZer named Marks.
The latter was present and testified to the
fact Of Boogar deeding:him the property,
the income OF which Is $500 and more per
month.
He claims that Boogar owes him $4,000,
and he took the deeds as security. He had
no notes or mortgages showing the indebt-
edness. He said he had no books, but finally
said he had a memorandum book with the
amounts owing to him by Boogar. He went
home and returned with the little book The
CGmms ssioners de ided that Bo0gar was
not dangerous TO be at large, and Judge
Ellsworth stated there was no doubt he was
Hiluy as tesIlueu 10, OUT lie WOuIu HaVt 10 Ut
discharged. An agreement was reached be-
tween the attorneys, Marks and Boogar to
meet to-day ana arrange matters.
Marks will deed back tha property and
take proper security for what is due him.
and settlement will be made upon Mrs.
Bnogar. 1t is generally believed that BoOgar
did not owe Marks anything. but that the
whole thing was a scheme to place the
property out of ,he way of his wife. Marks
testified to making $4,000 a year the past two
N-E 1t l.,.s, e,lnr
and above all expenses. This is believed to
be very large net income, and there is no
doubt Mr. Marks will soon have many COM
petitOrs.
J.R. vAIL's TESTAMENT.
The last will and testament of John Ran
doph Vail, who died at San Francisco re-
Gently, was filed yesterday afternoon by his
widow, Mrs. Susie Thomas Rising Vail.
The property is situated in the State of
Nevada, but the value is unknown to her.
The will was made in 1887, prior to the
marriage, but tes tator states in the will that
he was about TO be married TO Miss Rising,
gave her full name and left all property 10
her, also nominating her as executrix with
out bonds. There are two children. aged
and year respectively. The PARTIES were
residents of Berkeley and Mrs. Vail resides
there yet.
Nahmen Jenson, engaged in farming be-
tween Haywards and Livermore, in Ala
media County, has filed his petition In in
sOiyency on account OF poor crops, low
prices and high rent paid for farming
nnds. His liabilities are $500 70 and
assets S12OO, Of which 500 is claimed as
exempt
Frank j. Mclaughlin was arrested yes
terday for refusing to pay city license tax
OH two billiard-tabl at the Crellin Hotel.
The remains of Mrs. j. Ii. Strobridge of
Haywards, who died suddenly at Yoko-
hama, have arrived from Jaran for inter
msnt.
LLoYDs ANSWER FILED.
Charles r. Lloyd yesterday filed an answer
and cross-cOmpaint in the suit OF A. j.
McGOyern against him. McGOyern sued
for balance of S4100, alleged TO be due on
two notes. Lloyd claims that inducements
were held out to him that influences would
be brought to bear on the City Council such
as that 1t wonld pass an ordinance Tor
lighting the stleets OF the city by electricity,
or advertise in such way that his COM
pany would obtain the contract for street
lighting If he would furnish certain sum
OF money. He claims that these representa-
tiunS were false. and that instead he had TO
sell out at a sacrifice of S2l, 80, and he
asks for Judgment in his cross complaint Tor
S1S,454 70.
Harriet NJ. Davies has sued Constable w.
X. Solts to recover horses, wagons and bug
ges attached by him at the Tubbs Hotel as
the property OF j. Meredith Davies. She
claims that the property Is hers and Is OF
the value Of $500 or more.
Julia Bradley yesterday sued for divorce
from Richard Bradley. They live in Ala
media ard he Is wholesale commission
merchant in san Francisco.
}. c. Martin of counsel for the Southern
Pacific Company is laid up al his home by
fractured arm.
sEssIONS-VANDERCooK LINE.
The work Of laying track on the Sessions
Vandercook electric line on Eighth street,