Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-31

A suit for $50, 900 damages for breach
OF promise OF marriage has been brought
by Carrie l. Lusk against Orestes ].
Orena, says the San Francisco Chronicle
of Thursday. The parties to the suit
are connected with two well-known and
wealthy families of this state, Orena be-
ing the son of Gaspar Orena, the head
OF an old Spanish family of that name,
which owns large tracts of real property
besides stocks and bonds aggregating a
value we'll up in the thousands.
This is the second suit brought by
Miss Lusk against Orena, the first hav-
ing been compromised. Both actions
grew out of a Irritation on the seashore,
but the stories as to the events following
the Irritation, which is admitted by
both parties, differ in almost every es-
sentisl particular.
Miss Lusk alleges that in 1886 she went
to Santa Barbara to live, first with a
Mrs. J. A. Salazar and later with Mrs.
Tom Moore as a governess. One day,
while walking along the shore with the
children confded to her care. Miss Lusk,
who poses as the then timid goveiness,
was approached on the shimmering
sands by the defendant, Orestes Orena.
They walked and they talked, pre-
sumably about the weather.
Miss Lusk alleges that the scion Of the
house of Orena "didn't make much OF
an impression on her," but AYERS she
must have fascinated him, for he fol-
lowed her and strove to keep alive the
fiickering flame of friendship.
Miss Lusk alleges that she returned
here pure and virtuous girl, and lived
with her parents as such until one day
Orena met her on Kearny street. He
persuaded her, she says, to 60 to lun-
cheon with him, and she went. She
drank wine freely until, she alleges, she
became unconscious, and then Orena ac-
complished his evil purpose. When she
realized her condition, Orena, who was
still staying in the city, paci6ed her,
Miss Lusk says, with many promises of
marriage, and contributed to her sup
port until the birth of little daughter
on September 10, 1889. Afterward be
paid her sums of money from time to
time until May, 1890, when he ceased to
provide for her. She then sued him for
seduction and $4,000 damages, but on
June 30, 1890, compromised the suit for
$1,000.
Orena's story differs, as stated, very
widely from Miss Lusk's. He admits
the seabeach filtration and also the
meeting here in San Francisco, but he
claims that Miss Lusk was not pure
girl when he met her and that he is not
the father of her baby. From testimony
III the hands of 0rena's lawyers it ap-
pears that Miss Lusk was as far back as
1886 the mistress OF Bob Cooks. She
was also an inmate of Winnie Fields
house and also of Mollie Woodward's
place.
Part of the story is that Carlos f.
Montealegre and John H. Dibbern stood
sponsors forMiss Lusk g baby when it was
christened on November "a, 1889, in the
Spanish church. 1t will be remembered
that Miss Lusk figured in the celebrated
Montealegre divorce suit of several years
ago, but in rather hazy way.
In explaining his compromise of the
former case brought against him by Miss
Lusk, ,Orena claims that on account of his
family he felt he would rather suffer in
pocket than have them exposed to the
scandal OF suit in court. He says he
now feels that he can no longer tempor-
ize, and proposes to fight his fair opponent
in any and every court she may see fiji to
enter.
The case, which will be tried in Santa
Barbara, is exciting considerable COM
ment here on account of Orena's family.
1t is said that Miss Lusk's wealthy and
influential relatives have long since re-
fused to recognize her in any way.
Dispositions are being taken in tine case
here, Miss Lusk herself being on the stand
all of yesterday. In her testimony she
admits going to Mollie Woodward's house
and staying there the greater part of one
night, and both denies and admits the
intimacy with Winnie Field.
In Orena's answer to the complaint in
the suit he describes the meeting with
Miss Lusk on Kearny street, and says
that she most willingly went with him
to the Gailhard hotel on Pine street,
walking all the way, and that she re-
manned in his company all of the after
no1n, showing remarkable readiness to
meet the situation, and expressing no
fears or,regrets, nor did she make any
such protests as virtuous woman would
have made.