The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-15
A SENSATION SPOILED.
An El0ping Couple Arrive. but
the Husband Stays Away.
The New Jersey Elopers Arrive on the City
Of New York, but the Shooting ro,s
Not Come Of

VI New DIX from PanaIna at the racine
Mail dock yesterday afternoon. 1t was
raining heavily when the steamer hove in
sight shortly after o'clock and the down.
pour continued all the afternoon. The
steamer made three unsuccessful attempts
to reach the wharf, which was badly
blocked, and finally Captain johnson con-
Guided TO let her remain at anchor in the
stream few hundred yards from the dock
I'LL slack tide. This meant detention Of
three hours. as the first of the ebb was run
ming out hard. and the expectant crowd
looked as unhappy as the victims of de-
layed sensation only can look when down.
pour of rain is added to the miseries of
their vigil
The tug Milen Griffith, which usually
lands the cabin passengers. was making
trips to the United States steamer Thetis,
towing bargeloads of coal, and still the
crowd waited and growled. Captain john
son came off tie steamer on the tug PUP,
which also landed the mails. The word
was passed rapidly round the crowd at the
dock that +. A. Wylie, superintendent of
the Greenwood Lake Ice Company. was in
waiting armed with a siX-shoOter of the
heaviest caliber. his intended victim being
Dr. Almeron j. Holcombc of New Jersey.
who had eloped with Mrs. Wylie, taking
along Wylie's 11-year-old son. Two or
three policemen took the precaution of
clearing the upper portion of tie dock, and
several well-knOwn detectives were here.
there and everywhere, looking for sus-
piclous walking arsenals on homicide in
tent.
TO THE STEAMER
About o'clock the Mllen Griffith, having
completed her towing, went of to the
steamer. CALL reporter went along and
AFTER brief search among the cabin pas
sengers found three persons undoubtedly
answering to the description of the news
paper accounts telegraphed across the con-
tlnent. There was Que strongly c0nfirma-
tory circumstance in the fact that the in
dyiduals used the utmost precautions to
avoid observation or the answering OF
questions. 1t was learned THAT the gentle
man who is confidently believed to be Or.
Holcombe had engaged passage on the
steamer for himself "and family under tie
name OF Williams.
Holcombe or Williams was interviewed
by the reporter and gave the latter as'his
name. He denied that he was physician
or professional man, but changed the sub
lect or remained silent when Intercepted
as to his antecedents. Meanwhile the
11-year-old boy WHO followed him per-
slstently plucked the clothes OF civilians"
and the lady with him whenever any per-
son approached TO interrogate them.
Williams looked pale and anxious and the
lady with him was so nervous that the GTna-
ments in her bonnet shivered constantly.
She looked pale but determined and spoke
not word.
Williams appeared as a stout man, OF
middle height, dressed in a long capped
ulster reaching to his feet. He wore a mus
tache and side-whiskers, both thickly
sprlnkied with gray. His entire aspect
and demeanor were those of professional
man, and especially OF physician. His
lightblue eyes had far away expression.
even when ne was spoken to in regard to so
serious matter AS the possibilities of an
lrate husband awaiting him on the landing
stage.
A SLIGHTLY BUILT WOMAN.
Mrs. Williams or Wylie conveyed the I'M
preston OF slightly built woman, with
oval chin and shapely outlined features.
Her hair was very darkbrown or nearly
black. and she wore a long fashionable
ulster of llShtblue reaching to her feet. She
appeared to be about 30 years of age, while
Williams looked fully 20 years older, Mas
ter Wylie or Williams, who resembled the
lady closely and the gentleman not at all.
was an intelligent-looking lad of II or IL
years, wearing kuickerbocker suit, and
evidently fully alive 10 the fact that some
serious trouble was awaiting the party at
the landing place.
When the Milen Griffith drew I'D at the
wharf il WAS found that ample precautions
had been taken to prevent any trouble of
the kind anticipated. At the same time il
any injured husband had been in the crowd
he would have had no diff 'ulty in drawing
bead on Williams" who stool by while
the Customs officials searched the baggage,
evidently nervous and anxious, but braced
up to meet the occasion. At length the in
spection was completed and the trio, evil
IDENTIFY relieved, moved off the dock Only
the newspaper reporters and few of the
passengers Knew, when they moved of,
hoI great sensation had been spoiled.
INTO a HOUSE AND OUT AGAIN.
Williams ordered a hack and drove off
with the lady and the boy to the
Alvin House. on Post street, between
kearny and Grant avenue. He used
the utmost care 20 avoid allowing
his destination TO become known. Besides
The CALL reporter, however, there were
two other persons who manifested a great
interest In the movements of the trio. They
were Captain Callundan of M0rse's Detec-
tive Agency and n nephew of Mr.. Wylie,
the injured husband. The latter remained
in New York, and whatever steps may be
taken now will not result in a homicide, at
all events.
Williams did not stay long at the Alvin
House. just as soon as he had secured
quarters he evidently became aware that he
was under unpleasantly close surveillance,
and moved out again without stating his
destination. Inquiry at Morse's Detective
Agency satisfied the reporter that the trio
are being Swallowed, but that for business
reasons their whereabouts could not be
divulged.
The incident which led up to the sensa-
ton was the simultaneous disappearance
from lashi0nabie circles In Jersey City of
two pr minent chur ch members. Dr. AL
meron j. Holcombe, the man. Is the father
OF number OF children. and Mrs. WyIie,
the woman in the case. was proved to have
taken an 11-year-old boy with her. The
detectives in New York obtained indisput-
able evidence that they took passage for
San Francisco on the steamer which made
connection with the City Of New York at
Panama.
1t is believed that the matter will be
settled by civil suit. Williams is evidently
man OF determination and worldly expe-
rience. and chatted freely to the press re.
porters on the incidents OF the TRIP. 1t was
only when the personal matter was alluded
to that lie became absolutely uncommuni-
catiye