The morning call., 1891-10-28
MR.. PONS' DOUBLE.
A Supposed Dead Man Walks Into
the Morgue.
Who Was the Man Weeping Wife Buried
Few Days Ago After Identifying the Body
as That of Her Husband.

To 90 to the Morgue and identify dead
body as that Of her husband, bury the re-
mains and don widows weeds and then
three days later to have the mourned one
turn up alive and we'll is an experience that
few women have.
That, however, was the experience of
E5telle NJ Pons, a pretty, young French
dreSsmaker who rooms at 1917 Polk street,
Most women would have been 0verjoyed at
such piece Of good fortune, but the con-
trary seems to apply to Mrs POns, for
the news that PoDs was alive so over
came her that she pleaded illness last night
when a CALL reporter was announced at
her rooms and positively refused to be in
viewed.
The truth of the matter is that Mrs. Pons
and her husband are divorced. She volun-
tarily left him some time ago and procured
a legal separation and the custody Of her
child. Why, in the face of these circum-
stances she afterward bore the expenses OF
a funeral of one she believed TO be her dead
husband was a puzzle that the CALL re-
porter sought to have Madame Pons solve,
but she was inaccessible.
SHE PAINTED.
She has not yet seen her husband, yet so
poignant, evidently, was her grief few
DAYS ago on identifying dead body at the
MOrgue as that OF her spouse that she
tainted.
Monsiear Pons, on the other hand. after
duly announcing himself alive and kicking
as vigorously as ever at the Morgue yester-
day, also did not take the rains to correct
the mistaken imp esson of Mrs. POns, but
calmly returned to his daily ayocation Of
broiing beefsteaks in a California market
restaurant.
A few days ago an unknown man dropped
dead at the corner of Stanyan and Fell
streets. He WAS removed to the Morgue
and for two days the Swarthy CompleXloned
remains lay there unidentified. A deScrp-
ton OF the body was published IN The
CALL, and among other marks noticed on
the man was "a waTt on the left side OF his
nose. This attracted the attention OF Mrs.
Pous, and as her once husband was similarly
marked. she fastened to the MOrgue and IN
the body on the slab she claimed to Identify,
with much nySterical affectation, he who
had once been her husband, Frank V. Pons.
She had the remains removed to an under
taking establishment, and the following
day caused them to be buried In holy cross
Cemetery.
THE REAPPEARANCE.
Yesterday the living image of the man
buried few days ago walked into the
MOrgue office.
Deputy Coroner BridgGwood nearly fell
off his seat. He thought he beheld ghost.
I'm dead, ehY' was the appariton's
greeting, with very life-like grin.
I'VE buried you the other day the
startled official managed to falter. "How
did you get out?"
Then explanations were in order. The
man said he was Frank V. POns. He is a
cook, aud had never been out of the city
since his reported death. He heard only
yesterday that he was believed to be dead.
and so came to see about it, and as he told
his story the fatal wart on his nose became
fiery red. He was surprised to learn that
his wife, who had obtained divorce from
him, had gone to the expense OF first-class
funeral, and was inclined to be incredulous
until shown the published accounts. Then
he shrugged his shoulders and returned to
his work.
MRS. PoNs INVISIBLE.
Mrs. Pons was not in when a reporter
called at her room. 1417 Polk street. She
was at the store of f. IL G. Thomas, down
stairs, where she is employed.
When the reporter announced himself a
female form hastily skurried out of sight in
the rear rooms, and Mrs. Thomas placed
herself In front Of the door.
'What do you wantP' she asked.
The reporter told.
'YOu cannot see her. She Is very sick.
| The Coroner had no business to tell you
where she lived. | have nothing to tell you.
Mrs. POns thought her husband was dead.
and she buried him. Good night" and Mrs.
| Thomas huwe1