The morning call., 1893-06-18
SHE FIRES BACK.
Pistol Play in Railroad
Circles.
Mrs. Josie Smith Charges Her Hus-
band, Cashier of the Southern
Pacific, With Intimidation.

Mrs. Josie Smith, wife OF Charles 81.
Smith. cashier OF the treasury depart
ment of the Southern Pacific Railroad and
nephew of Captain n. T. Smith, the
treasurer, swore out warrant on Friday
evening for the arrest of her husband on
the charge of misdemeanor in exhibiting a
deadly weapon in q rude and threatening
manner.
Mr.. Smith appeared in Police Court
yesterday and on his statement that his
attorney was out Of town the matter was
continued until the 9th inst.
Mrs. Smith, who resides at the Lick
House. afterward said that the trouble
between herself and husband was of long
standing. They had been married fifteen
years and have little boy, Armand, about
IL years old.
She claims to have got along happily
with her husband for long time, although
she says that she found out after they had
been married six months that he had an
ung overnable temper.
She says that temporary separations
we're necessary and on one occasion she
went to Europe. her husband refusing to
allow heI to come home when she wished,
on the score that he could not afford the
travelling expenses. However when she
did return after two and a half years Mr..
| Smith met her.
Snon atterward the trouble began again,
resting on recriminations involving third
parties on both sides.
II tried hard to live with him." said
| Mrs. Smith, "Dut l could not. Finally
| agreed 10 separation and To acce q cer-
tain sum monthly, which 1 received by
checks on the eAnglo-Californian Bank.
"On May % | went to the railroad
| 0ffina tn Captain fT
treasurer and my husbands uncle. about
some passes. l asked him whether Charlie
| had written me an anonymous letter that
| had received, and he said that Charlie
was nothing to me now and that ought
to be glad TO have the boy.
"The following Tuesday I had con-
versation with mutual friend which
| rather softened me toward my husband,
and | went down to the railroad office
again TO ask Captain Smith not to have
anything to do with our trouble or foment
| 1t in any way.
Il had my son, Armand. with me. and
as left Captain Smith l wanted the boy
to go In and see his father, whom have
always taught him to love as his father.
My husband was in the office, and as
he saw me be bent down and from the
regular arsenal which is kept at the treas
ury department picked out pistol and
presented II at me. | was frightened, but
he was speedily parted from his weapon
and left.
"On the following Saturday 1 received
letter from my husband telling me that
my allowance would cease. with the ex-
ceptlon OF sufficient to support and edu-
cate our son. The letter is written on
foolScap and evidently with delibetatioD,
for 1t Is carefully paragraphed. several
| lines being left between the Paragraphs.
let ne makes no charges against me. ex-
cept that l visited his Office, caused a
scene. interfered with his duties and used
insulting language. Perhaps l have been
betrayed into strong language at times, but
woman must defend herself
u cannot imagine any other reasons he
can have for casting me on the world. |
have always been gentle with him. l
| never quarreled with any of the Smith
family, but welcomed them to my nome
and never spoke i'll of them after they
left. AS he makes no charges against me
In this letter. except those mentioned, 1t is
! presumable that he has none to make
Therefore | removed to the Lick II ouse
and took these apartments. which con-
slider appropriate to my position in life
| notifying him Of my movement here. In
| return. he addressed a letter to the pro-
pretors of the house, practically authoriz-
| Ing them to turn me out into the street.
Then J. swore out this warrant. / had
res rained myself for years. but now want
10 set myself right before the public"
Mrs. Smith is tall. handsome blonde,
OF nervous temperament. and spoke with
fOrcible directnesS. She exhibited much
feeling and plainly considers herself q
much-aggrieved woman.
Charles FL. Smith, the husband, takes
the matter cOolly.
To 4 CALL reporter he said yesterday
that the matter was "all spite work" and
that Mrs. Smith was "trying to create sym
pathy." He did not care what she said
anyway. As to the alleged pistol episode
in the railroad Office he was as dumb as an
oyster.
Their little son Armand was a witness
of the alleged exhibiting of a deadly
weapon in rude aud threatening man
ner," and corIoDorateS his mothers ac
count of it.