The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-31
A TERRIBLE ORDEAL.
Widow and Mistress of Suicide
Ker Face to Face.
Some Letters Written by the Deceased to His
Parsmour-The Widows crisF
Close Of the InqEsst
One of the saddesr scenes ever witnes.ed

One Of the saddest scenes ever witnessed
at COroner's inquest in this city was one
yesterday, when Mrs. Mary Ker faced In
the Coroner's office the mistress Of her dead
husband and heard read the proofs of the
dead mans love for Mrs. Julia Craig, the
salOOn-keeper at 233 Stevenson street, for
whom he deserted and deceived her.
The poor widow was well-nigh Frustrated
with grief, and her constant means during
the hearing of the testimony were heart
rending. Once or twice the Coroner's
deputies and her friends coaxed her to leave
the Office but she remained in the hallway
and within hearing.
The first witness was Julia Craig. She
testified as to her being the proprietress Of
the place at 2S3 Stevenson street, and said
she had known Ker only four months. She
did not know he was married. She had
never lived with him. Ker had often told
her he would commit suicide. and once
tried to kill himself in her presence with a
revolver. About three months ago he
wrote her a letter threatening TO drown
himself. She visited KERN prison after his
arrest last Tuesday, sent him food, cigars,
etc, and finally, after much questioning,
admitted that she had received letter from
ker on Tuesday afternoon. She was sent
home TO get the letters and produced them
later.
KER's PREVIOUS ATTEMPT.
The letter written. as Mrs. Craig claims
three months ago. shows that Ker's attempt to
commit suicide by poison was probably due
to his quarrel with his mistress and her re-
fusal tn make uD with him or TO come ana
see him. Instead of drowning himself, as
he threatened he took laudanHm aud was
saved at the Receiving Hospital Inc let
ter reads as follows:
Darling: | guess have run the last race at the
pace 10 Kill and old woman, Tom has got 10 the
me, and above all please keep your mouth
closed about our private business L am
sorry things have turned out the way
hour. just leap from the Oakland boat ana
everything VIII be o. X. l would ike 10
see you very much, but can't come down:
wish you could come. / will wait for 1OsmInutes
to get answer. Please give one OF som kihu
Don't. for Gods sake, give away our business.
Goodby, my darlngi IL you wont come say
good.by, Your -
Tom.
PSI thought at one time you were going to
be NV - but those happy thoughts are dis
PEELED after your glass-throwlng. Please burn
this rigat away.
Z. S.-Don't forget the TUG o. WAR.
THE DEAR OLD GIRL LETTER
The reading of the letter affected Mrs.
Ker terribly, and she was taken TO the hall
way. but there she heard read the last
message of the man who had married her.
and who died without leaving her word
of farewell but wrote instead to Mrs
Craig, as follows:
Dear Old Girl: / think we have done all we
can 90 now, so il will be case of from three to
six years. III that old - had done as I wanted
hm 10 do everything would have been all right.
You cannot Imagine how sincerely regret IN 7
shall never forget what YOU have done for ma
can't stand IL, julia You know how full of hfs
am, and 10 De cooped I'm here like this would
XIII me. III L could have procured the means 10
nave inade away with myself since 1 have been
neae l Woulo nave done SO. There is Que thing
Gnu ssiey say, and that Is that the happiest
Ways oi my lie were spent in your company.
You VIII never Know the depth of nv passion
your friend has just been here, aud has been
xely klho. Don't trouble yourself any more.
Iou nave done enough. would ike to see you
tonight Tor probably the last time. / deserve
All Will get, although il was not me that done
u, bui whisky. Think kindly OF me. My whole
NE mas been complete failure, and l have
oeen one who has been a disgrace TO the family
he belongs to, instead of a credit. Do see me To-
night. TUG-o'-WAR
Following the reading of the letters Mrs.
Craig retired from the stand and w. NJ.
CarnahaH, a ceIlmste of Ker's on the night
he killed himself, was called. Carnahan
told how ker had talked with him the