Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-18

The HERALD about six weeks ago ox'
clusively published the complete story
of how John Weeb, formerly q clerk in 9
Spring-street clothing store married bis
wife twice, by the aid Of alleged me-
diums. inducing her to return to him
after she secured divorce, the spirit
of her dead father telling her that such
was his wish. After being taken back
he got some money belonging to his
| mother-in-law, q Mrs. Stowe, who, with
her daughter, Mrs. Webb, lived then on
Bunker Hill avenue, and skipped out.
The HERALD later received the follow
ing letter from Webb:
WESTERN HOTEL,
4 SACRAMENTO, May %, 1925
GENTLEMEN:-Some one has pub
lished very disgraceful story in your
paper about me, have not been in
formed on just what date, but recently I;
accusing me Of bribing mediums and
obtaining money under false pretenses
is the nature of the charge. It is q lie
and / wish to answer it. Please forward
me copy Of your paper containing the
article, and oblige, JOHN WEBB.
The HERALD lately published the fact
of proceedings being commenced against
Webb and his consequent restitution of
the money, and now the Chronicle of
San Francisco publishes the following
There is q little, red-faced man in Sac
ramento whose heart is broken. His
name is John Webb, and he is employed
as salesman in Marks clothing house.
His woes are doubled, first, because he
cannot find out where his wife is, and
second, because the strong arm of an un-
relenting mother-in-law stands in the
way and will not open to him the door
which hides the idol of his heart. About
five years ago, Webb located in Los An
geles and found employment there ~
salesman in clothing house. 81
Webb was not slow in making &C.
quaintances and soon had q long list,
first among whom was the family Of the
late DR.. Francis Stowe, which consisted
Of that eminent physician, his wife and
their charming daughter ANIME. John
met ANIME only to love her, and she,
with the consent Of her parents, vowed
she would be his. On December %,
1889, they were married. Things ran
smoothly for the young couple for about
fifteen months, during which time the
father OF Mrs. Webb died. Webb did
not improve in his capacity as sales.
man and his salary was so very small
amply as she desired. He treated her
worried her with stories of her alleged
fickleness. She stood his calumnies as
long az it was possible and on the LIST Of
July, 1891, secured 3 divorce.
Webb, when he was alone, began to \
mourn and sent word to his wife that he
was willing to atone for his past eins
and would be good, loyal and true il
only she would agree to remarry him.
The young woman declined, but Webb l
was not to be gainsaid. He knew Hhat 4
the Stowe family had . weakness for
spiritualism.
He arranged with Mrs. Barrett and
Mrs. Burns, two Los Angeles mediums,
to bring about q reconciliation. In some
manner they met Mrs. Stowe and her |
daughter and produced q number Of
slate writings which proved that IMre. Il
Webb had done wrong in leaving her
husband. The spirit of DR.. Stowe and
other of her kin who had joined the |
silent msjority appeared in the gloam-
ing and, with one accord, begged the |
girl to return to her husband. Good |
Mrs. Stowe was scared. She dared not |
disobey the dictates If the dead, and 1
told her daughter that, under. the cir !
cumstancee, it were best to marry Webb |
again, and the couple were reunited. II
In the mean time Mrs. Stowe received
some 5000 from eastern relatives, $4,000
Of which she laid out in property. The
remaining $1,000 she loaned to Webb to
invest to the best of his ability. Before |
granting the loan Mrs. Stowe told her
son-in-law that whatever he did with |
the money he must do in the name of
his wife or mother-in-lay. Webb faith
fully promised and broke his pledge, for
when Mrs. Stowe asked for statement
Of affairs she found that he had invested
the money in his own name. This
aroused her ire, and she demanded the
return of the money. Webb could not
do this. He then forsook his wife and
left Los Angeles, was followed to Sacra-
mento by private detective, and,
rather than suffer prosecution, returned
the cash. ilsQ5 all ii.ea
Mrs. Stowe, during Webb's absence.
took her daughter and came to San
Francisco. She was found at sol Post
street yesterday afternoon by Chroni-.
Gle reporter, to whom she said:
MY daughter will never 60 back to
that man. want the world to know
that. He will never see her again il
can help it."
'.Can' see her7"s asked the re-
h s'No, When the time comes to pro-
duce her, I'll do 80. Nobody knows
where she is but I, and will keep
her" W.
Webb came down from Sacramento on
Sunday and began vigorous search for
his wife. He walked up and down the
streets for several hours and toward
evening saw the tall form OF his we'll
developed mother-in-law directly ahead
of him. Going up to her he placed bis
hand on her arm, saying: mamma,
where's Amme?n az A56 g
Probably he is sorfy he ever asked
her, for the good lady has temper
which is not easy to brook. She took
the small man to her room and despite
his tears and pleadings utterly re-
fused to tell him aught of his spouse.
He pledged himself by all the
promises in the gamut of human pos
sibilities, but his mother-in-law was
inexorable. The following day he sent
friend to intercede, but. he too WAS
powerless in the face Of that adaman-
tine will and only succeeded in obtain-
ing note written by Mrs. Webb, In
which che said that she cared nauRht
for her husband and would not under
any circumstances return to him. This
was decisive, .og q.
Broken.heartad and desolete, Webb 1