The morning call., 1893-11-30
FREED BY THE LAW
Alice Johnson No Longer
a COnviCt's Wife.
DR.. PriestIy on Trial for Perjury.
What Killed Ernest Albert.
The Acme Races.

OAKLAND.-Mrs. Alice johnson was
granted a divorce YESTERDAY from her hus-
band, Harry Johnson. on the ground that
he was a convicted felOn. The parties
were married In June, 1888. The bride,
who was an Oakland girl, was formerly
Alice du Rose. After a month or two of
comparative pleasantness the husband be-
came abusive, and the life at home was
anything but congenial. In 1892 Mrs.
Johnson. then but 10 years old. concluded
to brighten her husband into better deport-
ment by leaving him for awhile. After a
few months of her absence johnson sud-
denly disappeared and when, upon inquiry,
his wherea bouts were discovered, it was
found that he had been convicted of felony
aud was serving time. After two years in
Folsom prison he was a second time ar
raigned before Judge Henshaw and sem
fenced to five years more for burglary.
This was too much trouble for the wife,
and she applied for divorce and for per-
mission to resume her maiden name. Both
requests were granted.
The PriestIy Trial.
The trial of DR.. J. W. Priestly upon an
Indictment by the Grand jury for perjury
began before Judge Henshaw and a jury
Yesterday. The Ieople are represented
by Drputy District Attorney Prick and
w. NJ. Gibson of Stockton, and Priestly
by Reed and Nusbaumer.
The charge against Prestly is that he
swore in complaint for a divorce from
Helen Prlestly that he had been n resi-
dent of California one year. and of Ala
media four months prior to the commence
ment of this suit. that is. from tie LIST of
June. 1892. The fact appears, however.
that Priestly was at hat time and had
been for the four months previous resi-
dent of San Joaquin County.
Much interest is being shown in the
case. and The courtroom was fairly well
filed during the day. The greater num-
Der of the witnesses came from Stockton
and other paris of San Joaquin County.
PrieSty's enemies are legion and are max
ing supreme effort to down the doctor at
this trial.
Only Rheumatism.
Coroner Evers went TO Alameda in a
great rush yesterday afternoon to hold an
inquest over the remains of a man sup
posed TO have poisoned himself. The mans
name was Ernest Albert. and at $50
o'clock yesterday morning be told his
wife he wanted only cup of coffee for
breakfast, but that it must be good and
hot, as he felt pains in his Dunes.
His request was complied with, and soon
after Ernest was taken with commissions
and expired in short time.
He had been out of work and desp0nd-
ent for long time, and 1t was supposed
his depre ssion caused him to put some
poison in his coffee and thus end his
misery. The CoroDer's AUTOPSY, how
ever, revealed no indication of poison, and
a careful! examination showed that death
was caused by rheumatism. from which
the deceased had long been sufferer.
Races Postponed.
The field day of the Acme Athletic Club,
which was TO have come off to-day, has
been indefinitely POSTPONED on account of
the rainy weather. 1t is regretted very
much that this had TO be done, but the
weather is such that the track at the Oak
land TrOtting Park is in the most fright
ful condition. and it would be impossible
to attempt to run on it to-day. The direc-
tors of the club have spent over 5000 in
advertising the eyeEt and the men have
been preparing for ii for the last six
months
The smoker" announced for tonight at
the clubrooms is also declared off. This
was arranged for the visiting wheelmeu.
but as the weather is so bad there will be
none. and the boys will have TO put in
Thanksgiving day in a lonesome manner
Fire Department Changes.
The following have been dismissed from
their positions in the Fire Department by
the Police and Fire Commissioners Jacob
Smith, eXtraman of truck !, for gross
neglect of duty; Charles Carpenter, extra
man of hook and ladder /. failing to report
at fires; Mike Hanley, eXtraman of hose
l, incompetency; Driver ID. Z. Jones Of
engine l, neg lect of duty.
Upon recommends OF the Chief the
following were appointed To the vacant
positions: Extraman John d. Dramsr.
driver of engine .; William McCurdy,
extraman of engine 9; J. H. Murch. extra
hose /; Charles Freeman. extraman Of
truck l.
Thanksgiving Day.
To-day being n legal holiday bu siness
generally WILL be suspended through
out the city. There will be one mail de-
livery in the morning. Most of the
churches have arranged some sort Of cele-
b1atiOn and the benevolent societies have
all done som etGing to make the day pleas
ant for those who cannot do so themselves
through sickness or poverty. Many hun
dred turkeys and other good things have
been distributed among deserving families
and there is little prospect that any one
will have to pass the day hungry.
A Busy Day.
The attendants at the Receiving Hospi.
tai were kept on the jump yesterday with
several SfDaH cases. JOnn DOIan had an
eye dressed that had become bruised by
contact with a club; A. p. Coughlin, a
boy. had smashed finger that may yet
have to be amputated; j. Cahill had bad
wound on the hand, the result of letting
his ak slip while attending to his business
as lineman; John DoZier was brought in
suffering severely with inflammatory rheu-
matism. He is too Ill to be moved to his
home.
An Appeal Taken.
The Walkerley heirs are not satisfied
with the decision of Judge Greene in re-
gard to the will of William Waikerly and
have appealed the matter TO the Supreme
Court. Attorney Newman. who represents
the heirs. declares that the will was ad-
mitted 10 probate over six years ago, and
having stood over year lis terms cannot
be changed under he law. II will now be
several months before the case is settled.
At the Marlborough.
The sale of seats for Fanny Dayeuport's
engagement at the Macdonough will com
mence this morning at 8 O'Clock. The
propects are that it will be the best at
tended production that has ever been pro-
duced in Oakland cleopatra" will be
given The fir If fnur nirhfs nf Deyi yveaE apd