The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-14
SHE TALKS BACK.
Mrs. John Martin Attacks
L. IL. Clement.
ACCUSES HIM OF GAMBLING.
His Fellow Church Members
Shocked.
A STAR CHAMBER CONFERENCE.
Her Attacks on Clements Honesty
Investigated by the Standing
Committee.
STAR CHAMBER CONFERENCE.

OF the church last evening to Investigate
the charges made by Mrs. John Martin
against l.. 81. Clement, the former accused
the latter of playing poker for money, and
it is said that he did not deny the soft i'm
parchment
The admission is alleged to have been
made in reply to direct question from
Mrs. John Martin.
Two surprises were developed at the
meeting. The first was this alleged ad-
mission of Mr.. Clement that he was not
averse to Willing away little time once
in while at opening jackpots and "see-
ing" his neighbours raise. The second
was the reluctance with which he spoke
after the meeting with regard to the
charges made against him by Mrs. John
Martin. This reticence is more remarka-
able when it is stated on the authority of
DR.. G. 0. Brown, pastor of the church.
that few days ago Mr.. Clement had de-
clared his intention to make full state
ment last evening Tor publication.
The meeting. which was held behind the
closest kind of closed doors, was held for
the purpose of DEMONSTRATING several serious
charges made against Mr.. Clement by Mrs.
John Martin. VINO Is also a member of
the church, although she attended the
services so rarely. that DR.. Brown did not
know until few days ago that she was a
member Mrs. Martin charged Clement
with playing the part Of spy in the Mar
tin will case. She said she Employed him
to make researches and testify as to the
validity of the second will. and that at
critical time he deserted her without any
ha
drew from the case because he became
convinced that the second will was a
forgery, but in refutation of this state
ment Mrs. John produces letter of over
1000 words written by Clement and al
dressed to Judge Coffey and the jury in
which he gave scores of technical reasons
for believing the second will genuine.
The meeting was held in the pastors
study N the church. DR.. Brown presided,
aud around him we're: Deacons Charles
S. Eaton, Joseph j. Vasconcellos, Ira P.
Rankin, d. Gilbert Dexter. Robert f.
Sefridge, Leonidas B. Benchley. Isaac H.
Morse and NJ. Straus, A. S. Deming. d. W.
Folger, j. II. Barnard and George Turner
Phelps.
DR.. Brown stated briefly TO the CON-
come before their consideration and the
donrkeeper was Instructed to call Mrs.
Martin and Mr.. Clement. Mrs. Martin ap-
peared a moment later, accompanied BIZ
her eldest son. Henry Hoffman.
With the appearance of Clement, who
took seat at one end of DR.. Browns
table, facing Mrs. John, the investigation
began in earnest. Mrs. John was asked
to state her grievance and did so without
mlncing matters.
"By the advice of my counsel" she said,
81 engaged Mr. Clement to assist me in
preparing and trying the Martin will case.
He said be would be glad to assist
me if he could, for monetary
consideration. of course, and we
made a written contract and he went to
work. Before ne had been connected with
the case very long he became very anxious
TO obtain Photographic copies of the Sec
ond will and the letter written by Henry
two months he prosecuted me until on
July II finally gave him the photographs
As soon as he got them he went straight
to the offices of Crittenden Thornton and
E. 3. Pond. Two days later he sent me a
note saying that he could have nothing
further to do with the case.
"Of course 1 was astonshed when re-
ceved the letter. / knew no reason why
Mr.. Clement should withdraw from the
case at such critical time. A day or two
before | had spoken to him about the
great friendship he manifested in court
for Pond and Crittenden, as saw him ex-
changing Masonic signs with them repeat
eddy, but he said his relations with them
would not prevent him from working on
my case"
At this point DR.. Bro wn asked Mrs. John
what relations existed between herself and
Clement while he was in her employ
whether they were friendly or otherwise.
THE only difference thatev arose be-
tween US was over what pay he was to re-.
ceive," she replied, AFTER he had been
working on the case two months he sent
me bill for $780, which l refused to pay.
[ thought the amount he asked exorbitant.
and, as it was more than the sum stipu-
lated in our contract. l declined to pay
him. He never said anything about it
afterward, however,"
With this statement Mrs. Johns case
rested, and Clement was asked for his side.
of the story. He said at first he believed
the will of February % genuine, but this
conviction was removed by the testimony
of Expert Breckenfeld. When he became
convinced that the second will was
forgery he withdrew from. the case, as any
conscientious man would have done. he
said.
DO YOU ever play poker for money!"
asked Mrs. John, leaning forward in her
chair and addressing the witness with
outstretched arm.
Everybody was startled at the sharp
turn in the investigation. Although Mrs.
John had asked Clement several questions
while he was giving his testimony, she had
heretofore confined herself to cross-exam-
lining him on the subject under discussion.
But her last question was without the
slightest reference to anything that mad
preceded il.
Mr.. Clement made no reply for q
moment, evidently wondering whether be
should answer or not. Finally he said he
had played poker once or twice in his
career for small stakes.
This new turn of events created gen.
eral sensation. Mrs. John. her son and
Clement withdrew from the room short
time later, aud the committee were left to
discuss the case by themselves. Their de-
cision will not be known until formally
announced in church, but it is understood
that the charges of Mrs. John were not
considered well grounded. The committee
in L. s~hf hIYf