The herald., 1893-12-23


Mr.. Abecco engaged. two state rooms.
| stayed in company Of the captains
wife; 1t was arranged that we were to
be married after dinner, at 8 o'clock.
At 4 o'clock I heard gun fred, and
our boat stopped; some strange men
came aboard and told me had to go
back. Our boat was bound for Aus
trslia.
Mr.. Abecco l never saw again; he
died soon afterwards.
When returned my parents received
me with open arms they have never
mentioned the affair since.
The charge thatI ever had child
before my marriage is false. have al
ways understood Mr.. Abecco was un-
married.
Mr.. Abecco was q singer, but not
Niger minstrel. l was subsequently
married to Mr.. r. @. Goodspeed, SUPER
intendent OF my fathers ranch. My
husband always knew Of Mr.. Abecco.
have never kept bad associates, and
no one has ever limited such thing un-
til came into this court room. Mrs.
Cross was always very nice until this
suit began. Mrs. Gross always spoke
well of Mrs. Catlow and spent much
time In her company, during her visits
to me.
1 never told obscene stories OF any
kind.
objected to my daughter going to
the ball with Mrs. Hayes son because
he was disreputable, and was careful
OF my children. am just as able to
transact business now as before.
Mr., r. 9. Goodspeed has managed my
property until my fathers death. My
father and mother we're divorced about
1875.
IfIwere constituted guardian should
appoint Mr.. Goodspeed to continue in
charge Of the property.
/ am no longer married to Mr.. Good
speed we are divorced.
Since my father died my husband has
treated me very badly. got my divorce
from him in Judge Murphy's court.
Attorney Hanlon then showed Mrs.
Goodspeed a letter addressed to J. Cross,
and aeked her II it was in her handwrit-
ing.
Mrf. Goodspeed Indignantly denied
the authorship of the anonymous letter.
Mrs. Gross never showed her the letter
before nor had anyone ever done so.
II never wrote an anonymous letter
in my life to any human being" de-
clared Mrs. Goodspeed, and there were
few people in the courtroom who were
not convinced by the lady's statement.
Mrs. Goodspeed continued: 81 had a
female nurse in San Francisco. Mrs.
Cross never upbraided me for not hav-
ing one. She would never have dared
to. My mother used to take Dams arm
and walk with him, and / was not
ashamed to do as she did. Since my
divorce. and before, have lived the life
OF pure woman, and have tried to be q
good mother to my children.
never knew John t. Teal except as
a diehwasher, who once had the as
surance to accost me.
never told Mrs. Mansfield my mother
was a nightmare to ma. Until my
mother went to the Mansfield house
she always seemed very fond OF me.
have never received cent of money
from mother, or drawn money from the
bank it was too we'll guarded, said Mrs.
Goodspeed, significantly.
At no time in San Francisco has Sui
livan ever performed the Offices of female
nurse. never told Mrs. Mansfield any
thing OF the kind.
| have Eot been allowed to see my
poor mother alone since l came here.
Mrs. Mansfield has always stayed in the
room watching me.
at this stage, anticipating q question
Of Attorney Hanlon, Judge Clark stated
that he had instructed physician to
examine Mrs. Pratt out Of the presence
of Mrs. Mansfield and Mrs. Gross, and
report to the court Tuesday morning.
Continuing the witness' examination,
Mrs. Goodspeeds stated that her young
eat daughter had slept with her contin-
ually. Ex -. -
Judge Clark here stated that he had
heard sufficient upon that point. He
should certainly not, from the evidence
before him, find there had been any i'm
proper familiarity between the servant
Dan and Mrs. Goodspeed.
-
The New sespe Trail Ready for Use.
The Ojai: The new Sespe trail has
been completed to the top OF the mount
ain, and connection made with the
trail descending on the other side. The
$500 limit of the board OF supervisors
is exhausted; while much more work
should be put on the trail in places, and
would be If board could be provided for
the men who have volunteered the la
Dor, the work will cease this week, un.
less and extension is made to the limit
Mr.. ]. B. Fox informs US the trail has
now cost, in surveys and other labor,
about $4,000; but heavy work hae been
necessary in many places, as the survey
did not allow for grade of more than
10 feet to the 100 in any place. The
new trail, while little longer than the
old one, is an easy grade all the way.
The distance from Nordhoff to the top
Of the mountain is little less than
nine miles.
We congratulate the people living on
the other side of the mountain, on their
improved facilities for communication
with the Oiai valley; and we congratu-
late Ventura county that its supervisors
have understood the wisdom and Justice
of lending helping hand to our pio-
neers-psthfnders-who are clearing
the way for larger population.