New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-05
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
MYSTERY AND CRIME-RAILROAD TO
YOSEMITE-THEATRICA
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIgrsE.y

icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,
San Francisco, Aug. 4.-The sensation OF the
week has been the extraordinary Martin will
case which involves forgery. perjury and many
other crimes. Henry Martin. mining million
are died last year. bequeathing all his estate
to his widow. Three months later his sister-in-
law, Mrs. John B. Martin, produced will which
purported to have been made by Henry Martin
three months before the will submitted for pro-
bate This will left one-third to the widow, one
third to relatives at the East and one-third
to the infant son Of Mrs. John Martin. The trial
has now been going for month. but the
most exciting episodes occurred this week. when
II was shown that He Try Martin had kissed
and caressed his brothers wife and that he had
written a letter acknowledging that he was the
father OF her child Counsel for Mrs. Henry
Martin claim that the second will is forged and
that all the documents introduced are forged.
They also claim that Mrs. John Martin Is an
unfaithfu wife and that she never gave birth 20
the child The case involved more mystery and
crime than any that has been tried here for
years.
The depression in business. which was aggra-
waited by the strike, has affected the frst-class
saloons very seriously, and one OF the first signs
| OF the shrnkage In their business Is the failure
| OF Ned Fay, widely known the proprietor
OF the Grand Hotel bar. Fay is one OF the best
pigeon shots on the Coast and for ten years
| has been a noted a-around sport" He gained
| nooriety as a mixer Of drinks at the Palace
| Hotel bar, and when he opened a gorgeously
| decorated saloon under the Grand his palace
was crowded. lie lived -xtravagantly. and when
! business began to drop he made no retrenchment.
The result is heavy debts which will absorb all
| he nd axtu TaV is
Cruz Mountains.
! c. r. Bennett n man who made himself con-
spcuous here for years as the chief officer or the
Society for the Suppression Of Vice Is now In the
| Oakland Jail awaiting trial for assault TO muir
der The fellow cannot get 81 600 bail. for AZ his
! old friends admit that he played the nypocnte
and indUging his own vices while pretend
ing to discourage vice In others. he retained MS
position after several exposures but his downfall
was due to his persistent persecution OF a young
Oakland woman who rejected MS advances.
Finally this persecution became so unDeaIapie
that the girl. father threatened to shoot Ben-
nett and meeting him on the cars attempted 10
carry out his h:ea be h - ip .i Ts will
doubtless be convicted as public sentiment Is
strongly against him.
Those who have been deferred from visiting the
Yosemite Valley by the long. dusty stage ride
will be pleased to learn that In few months they
will be able to ride in a comfortable car INTO the
great valley. Several Chicago capitalists nave
oerrected plans for an electric railroad from
MERGED on the line Of the Southern Pacnc' INTO
the valley. About seven thousand people now
visit the Yosemite yearly but with the new ROAD
II IS estimated that 80 900 visitors will be carried
Work on the road will be begun next week
An ingenious hiding place for struggled opium
was found This week on the steamer City or
pueho which plys between this city ana VIC
toria The support II the superheater, an oo
iron tank filed with hot water was purely aru-
/ fcial as the tank has been constructed as 10
remain in pac without support Inc tank nao
a false bottom and in this were found seventy
five tons OF the drug.
John Drew finished this week one OF the most
! successful engagements ever known IN TINS city.
For three weeks ne packed the BALDWIN every
night while at the matinees stanclnS-rooni was
at a premium. His success mas been much ap
nreciated as II ir the best answer TO the crlu-
rlsms that San Francisco is a Jay town that
gives no encouragement 70 good actors
, The Lick Observatory was in some Danger lhls
: week from forest fires which swept up Mount
Hamilton and at one time threatened 10 burn me
I cottages Of the astronomers. The Observatory
Is nreproof but the heat ~ big fire would ne
, disastrous 10 the lenses Of the big telescope ana
n many costly Instruments Director Holden
and his assistants had II hard time for several
davs and nights fighting the hames
California fruit growers are greatly encouraged
oyer the prospects for the season. The losses py
the strike are less than at first reported.
because 90 much fruit vas delayed IN rlpehlhs
by the cool weather. New the railroad IS nan
. ding all fruit offered and dealers are reaizinS
I'D nyices The canneries are also running 10
thelr f,ill capacity The reports OF grain yleld
. chow that the wheat croJ Will be equal 10 the
average even in districts which did not get their
full quota OF rain.