Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24
UNDER THE SPELL OF TRAMP

He Carried a Bible, Preached a New Re-.
hgion and Infatuated Mrs. Chambers.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
Mrs. Fernando NJ. Chambers is vary nal,
known In religious circles in Oakland Che -
member OF the Salvation Army in OAKLAND
one OF the leaders in the Holiness Band ana
one OF the organizers of the Gospel Union on
9Th street. Every night in the week she a.
votes to the cause Of religion. She is a pubhc
speaker and very enthusiastic woman in
the ranks. Mrs. Chambers has lust passed
middle life. She is not particularly striking in
her looks, and yet she has pleasant face.
In view of the fact that she is such n re,;,io,,
woman here friends were considerably shocked
yesterday afternoon when she instituted nro-
ceedngs for a DIVORCE against Alexander ]
Chambers in the Alameda superior court. The
hilng Of the complaint recalled a most remark
able story in connection with the woman-s life.
Alex. Chambers was a well-known citizen of
North Oakland. and had wide circle of friends.
In 1859 he saw a chance to go to South America
and make stake. He decided his fine home to
his wife and sailed away. He made a great
deal OF money in the southern country. and
every month he used to send his wife 800 for
her expenses. As the couple had no children,
TINS seemed to be a. very liberal allowance.
After toiling very hard for a couple of wears
Chambers made a small fortune. He was said
to be the happiest man on earth. At that time
ne was just making cleanup preparatory to
coming to Oakland and joining his wife. But
ne never came, and there was reason for his
absence. A dark shadow was cast over his life
py reason OF letter received by him from a
friend explaining all his wife's actions
During his absence Mrs. Chambers became
very lonesome. She had never thought very
much OF religion. One day an old tramp hap
pened to call at the house and asked for bit
TO eat He was not refused. and. indeed. he
was given a little work at chopping wood IL
happened that he carried Bible and this ex-
cited the curiosity of Mrs. Chambers. She
talked with the tramp, who gave his name as
William Warner. His ways were gentle and
bis voice soft and tender. Ke preached a new
religion to Mrs. Chambers. She listened TO
his story. and seemed to be hvpnotized. In
deed, she must have been under a spell. for
she invited the tramp TO make his home in her
house. Day after day he preached TO the lady
OF the mouse on the new religion, and she be-
came convert and an admirer of the tramn
In the meantime Warner was living in luxurv
at the Chambers home, never doing a stroke of
work. but spending in the most approved man
ner the money sent by the husband in South
America for the support Of his wife, One dav
he suggested to Mrs. Chambers that they get
married. There seemed to be a barrier in the
way in the person of Mr.. Chambers. Warner
asserted, however. that the husband in South
America did not count because his religion did
not recognize any ceremony performed by man.
His marriages were all spiritual ones and SO
Mrs Chambers and William Warner were mar
ried under the new religion. The ceremony
was short. 81 take thee for my spiritual hus-
band" said she. II take thee for nv spiritual
wife," said he.
So they were married, and the nature of the
ceremony was told to the people The con-
duct of the parties seemed to be SO scaudalous
that the neighbors protested. and there was
considerable talk about mobbing the tramp.
The neighbors did not go a cent on the tramp
or his new religion. At last the people in the
northern part OF the city sent a unanimous
protest to the district attorney, and tina. off,
cial caused the arrest of Warner on charge
OF vagrancy. He was promptly convicted of
the charge and sentenced to serve six months
in the county Jail. The tramp served his time
and said never q word. When asked how he
liked prison life he would simply reply, Christ
was prosecuted"
Mrs. Chambers, however, remained faithful
to her spiritual husband. When he was re-
leased from prison she at the door to meet
him with open arms. and they went away to-
ge;her and have since been living up to their
new religion.
Alexander Chambers heard of the new re-
ligion and the tramp, and that is why he has
never returned to Oakland. He has made
but he lost his wife. Now Mrs Cham
bers says he has deserted her, and she wants an
absolute divorce