The morning call., 1893-08-04
The Letter Produces Confusion in the
Defendant-He Says He Couldn't
Write That Way Now.

.. EppStelueE was cAiicu W pToVc Iuo
loan of $500 made by the Providence Loan
Society. of which he is secretary, OH Ed
wards property in Baden. In cross-exam-
ination the witness admitted that 1t vas
the custom of the society to loan money at
a very liberal estimate of the value of
property. In August last year the society
lad received payment OF $1,000 from Mrs.
Edwards to reduce the principal and in
lerest OF the loan. AfteIward 1t was ex-
planned by Mrs. Edwards that some i'm
provements were about TO be made on the
property, and at her desire and upon this
representa- the $1,000 was returned to
her. The intended improvements were
afterward made, and although the prlnci-
pal OF the loan was not reduced the value
of the security was thus far Increased.
Osgood Putnam testified to having acted
as Edwards attorney In negotiations with
Mrs. Allen. Edwards had come to him
and instructed him to draw up a deed of
conveyance Of the Baden property in favor
Of Mrs. Allen. and also TO return to her a
promissory note which she had executed.
He was to do this through Mrs. Aliens
attorney, but all offers of this kind were
refused and the negotiations f. il through.
Mrs. Aliens attorney answered that moth
ing but a money offer would be con-
sidered." This happened 10 the early part
Of this year.
George H. Buckingham. real-estate
dealer, spoke Of the South San Francisco
Land Improvement Company and men,
toned the names of several well-known
capitalists as being con ected with the
concern. Upward Of S2,OOO.O00 had been
expended by the company on property in
South San Francisco in the past three
years. He knew Edwards property very
we'll There was an established price OF
all lots in that quarter and the company
never departed from this fixed rate.
do you not kno " that Edwards did not
pay for these lots, but that they we're given
to his wife In compensation for some
equity ?" asked Attorney Barry.
mo. sir; do not"
"Well, that is the testimony given by
Mr.. Edwards himself"
Then there was dispute among the at
to look up his notes. The discussion was
cut short by Edwards. who said he was
perfectly willing to admit that his wife
owned equities in all the lots for which
money had been paid. q
Attorney Putnam was recalled at this
point to tes ify iurlher as to Mrs. Aliens
conversation with him. He said that Mrs.
Allen was accompanied by Mrs. Wilson,
one of her witnesses, and that Mrs. Will
son had repestrily 10 correct Mrs. Allen
in statements that she made and advised
her from time to time.
Rev. John Gray of the Church OF che
Advent was called next. He knew Ed
wards slightly.
What do you know of Mrs. Alien ?"
asked Ash.
''She came to ME and said she was in
terested in charitable work. From what
know of her l should say that her charac-
ter was unreliable"
Mrs. Catherine Dodge, Of 427 Harrison
street, testit to having been connected
with the Church of the Advent for some
years. Witness knew Mrs. Allen, but
said she was neither truthful nor honest
Mrs. Allen was always considered "a mys-
terry" No one even knew where she lived
Mrs. r. B. Sanchez. president of TIE
board of lady managers o. the Episcopal
Old Ladies' Home, said that Mrs. Allen
was an inmate OF the home for period of
five month Mrs. Allen had very un-
Savory reputation.
Mrs. Eliza Jameson, Of the Old Peoples
Home on Pine and Pierce streets. occu-
pied a room next to Mrs. Allen in the
home five years ago. Mrs. Allen was then
CD probation. Her general reputation"
was the subject of much discussion. and 1t
WINS not considered good
Rev. w. w. Bolton Of the Church of st.
Mary the Virgin, said he had known Ed
wards for the past three years. He had
known him intimately and had always
heard Edwards spoken Of in the his hest
terms,
Rev. Edgar Lyon gave similar testimony.
Witness also knew Mrs. Allen, but could
not testify as TO Ter reputation one way or
the other.
Revs. w. P. Case. W. P. O'Brien and
Hobart Chetwood supplemented the fore
going testimony.
Mrs. Eliza SIeiehter had met Mrs. Allen
in the Church of the Advent. This wit
ness stated in court that she never thought
much Of anybody who was ashamed TO tell
where she lived"
A number Of clersymen and lawyers
were then called upon to testify to Ed
wards good character. Finally Mrs. Ed
wards herself went on tho stand, and cor
robOrated her husbands testimony upon
the circumstances of the land deal The
witness was very nervous. She volun-
teered considerable testimony, and fin-
ished by saying that Edwards arrest had
nearly killed his aged mother.
Ed wards WAS then recalled for further
cress-examlnation. He was questioned
concerning the letter he wrote to Bishop
Potter Of New York City. introducing Mrs.
Allen. The letter read as follows:
TRINITY CHURCH.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. March %. 1892 !
To the Fight Rer. H. c. Potter. DID,, Lib
RIGHT REV. AND DEAR SIR: l take pleas
ure In commencing to you Mrs. Alice Allen.
a worthy communicate of this church, whose
few years ago, before she became 80 crippled
with rheumatism. she devoted her whole life to
aIleviat,ng he wants OF the puor and might be
seen, even late at night. vending her way 10
sOMe poor person with supplies OF clothing aud
food. Latierly, Ike many others on our coast,
she has been one OF those cor who our Savior
assures US are always with Us. Iretoicr 10
learn that the tide has again turned In this her
OLD age and that snug little foitune-enou
to make her comfortable for llfe-awaits her
This necessitates a personal visit to your
diocese, and any assistance which can be rem
dered her by your clergy will be appreciated,
and they can feel that they are helping her 10
gather some OF the bread which In former years
she cast upon the waters. Sincerely.
II. NJ. EDWARDS.
The defendant appeared confused when
con fronted with this letter, and at first re-
pudiated it. Finally he admitted having
written 1t.
BLOW do you reconcile your dffrren,
opinions Of Mrs. Aliens character P"
asked Barry.
II wrote as l felt then. I wouldn't
write in that way now after my experience
with her."
At this point court adjourned until to-
QaV.