Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-11
SHE IS DEAD BROKE.
The Trouble of Poor Yda Adds
StOrke.
Illness and Poverty Force Her to
the Poor House.
A Brilliant and Talented Woman in
Danger of % Pauper's Grave.
Her Many Vicis-
situdes.


Examiner from Santa Barbara is as fol-
lows:
SANTA BARBARA, July S.-Weak, brok-
en- spirited and sick, Yda Adds Storke
has gone to the poor house.
The vicissitudes OF life were never pre-
when she applied to the supervisors
yesterday for county aid. A woman of
much delicate sensibilities, who has
welded with success a most facile pen,
and who has made success in the
journalistic vocation, she must feel the
blow keenly.
On being interviewed by an Exam
iner reporter, Mrs. Storke stated that
she had been out of employment for 60
long, being unable to endure the fatigue
of mental work and her bodily strength
being inadequate for manual labor, that
che had no means nor relatives on whom
to call for assistance.
G. A. Storke, she said, gave her $25
on June 19, 1891, and that was the last
money she had received from her hus-
band. She had been living since then
on the kindness of friends, and she
could bear to tax their friendship no
longer.
DRIVEN TO THE PooRHoUsE.
The step she took yesterday was not
rash one, but was pressed upon her
by pressing need of food, clothes and
shelter.
Mrs. Storke is certainly much de-
bilitated woman; her face is pinched
and wan, her step feeble and her eyes
burn with an unrestful, suffering look
that makes one pity her even before he
learns her history.
Born and raised in an aristocractic
family of one of the southern states,
she received fine education, and chose
newspaper work as her profession. She
was a splendid descriptive writer, and
handled the vernacular with ease and
readiness.
Mrs. Storke came to California. and
went into the employ OF the Argonaut,
and after awhile went to Los Angeles,
which place she made her headquarters.
While there she met Chicago journal
ist named Chesterfield, who became
quite intimate with her, and she was
eventually made one of the correspond
ents in the divorce suit brought by his
wife, which was cause celebre in Chi
cago some five years ago. To escape
testifying Chesterfield sent her to Mex
ico, where she travelled, and about which
country she wrote series of SPLENDID
descriptive articles, published in an
eastern magazine.
I EX-GOVERNOR DowNEY's DELEMMA.
On returning to Los Angeles she pur-
sued newspaper work, and became, after
a short acquaintance, engaged, as she
claimed, to Ex-Governor Downey. His
affection waned and Yda Adds threat
ened him with breach of promise suit.
To escape her he fed to the seclusion of
his sisters house, from which place the
indefatigable Ada had him taken on
writ of habeas corpus, claiming that his
sister was keeping him away from her
loving arms.
| The ex-governor finally paid her S.
600 to release him from her attentions.
| In the early part of 1890 Yda Adds
came to Santa Barbara, being then en-
gagged in / writing a history OF the coun-
ty for Chicago firm. Here she met
Storke, who formerly represented this
county in the legislature.
Storke was the plaintiff in very sen.
sational divorce suit against his former
wife, who soon after married the CORE
spondent, S. L. Law, but after he had
obtained his divorce, Yda's winning
ways and keen perception fascinated
him.
| MARRIAGE AN EARLY FAILURE.
After short courtship they were mar
ried, and had trouble from the start.
This eliminated in divorce suit being
brought by her, which was tried last
January and occupied week. Storke
put in cross-complaint, alleging that
| she was insane and therefore the mar
riage was void alb initio. Much was said
| pro and con, but Judge Cope refused a
| divorce to either, and the case is now on
| appeal to the supreme court.
| Mrs. Storke has lately done newspaper
work for different journals, but her
health has gradually failed her, she hav-
ing been for long time in the county
| hospital here. 1t is believed that her
last move in asking for aid by the county
will bring her friends to the rescue and
save brilliant and talented woman from
| diving a pauper's death.