The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-28
Arrives in Topeka at 10 O'clock
Last Evening
TALKS OF HIS WIFE
Saws She Had Il Great Mind but
Was Eccentric
Tells About Their TroublOus
Marriage Relation

Albert Matson. Of san Diego. husband
or AImeda Matson. who was mysteriously
murdered two weeks ago, arrived IN To
peka last night and registered ar the
Copeland hotel. He arrived at 10 o'clock
on the Santa Fe train which was delayed
four hours by snow
Mr Matson talks freely regarding
himself and his vile. Mr. Matson is
man past middle age. in poor health lie
is short in stature and dresses poorly. His
face is wrinkled with years and sickness
and his fun beard is stre4ked with grey
although his hair is blacs. He wore
aeedy, black overcoat and derby hat
Mr Matsou is nervous man naturally,
and this with the troubles Of the past
two weeks and a severe toothache made
D. m a wretched man when 81 JOURNAL
reporter found him this morning.
My wife was an eccentric woman"
he said. .She had one Of the greatest
brains / ever knew. but she was contrary
and went by opposites. since we separ-
ated i had often cautioned her about
staying alone. but it did no good. 1t was
one of her hobbies from the time we were
first married in 1861 never ~ allow any
one else around lhe place. She never
allowed a domestic about the house, al
though we we're able TO keep one, aud on
the farm she objected to hired men be-
Ing ON the EIaCe. often said,
sWe are getting old and can afford to
fold our hands and let some one else do
tAe work. but the very idea seemed to
irritate her Another OF her hobbies was
staying our late 1t night She would
often go away AID remain until II
o'clock, coming home alone. AT length
A resorted to thretts t0 try and control
her. and ! Threatened 10 have the police
arrest her when She was out late. This
seemed 20 have some effect on her and
she cried about Il nearly i week. After
that we lived happily for fully a year
"She was in the habit when I
wouldn't do as she wished, 10 60 into the
streets and veil murder and police
may have created the Impression shat l
was unkind to he- But ! wasn't. Ny
whole life was devoted 20 her.
she was very eccentric in business
matters Wnea She would get 81 10 or
$500 she would put it in an old Tin box
and place i1 back OF the door
I often told her that was no way
70 keep m1ury- Sometimes when l
would tell tenant they would have to
pay up within thirty days or ge. out, she
would 90 around there secretly aad tell
them they could stay as long as they
wanted to-
Il went TO san Diego in 1886 eight
years ago. I have been back only once
since. That Was In 1891 l went there
because ] had chronic cafarrh, with a
lungs. and couldn't live here. I tried
t0 get her 60 4ccampany me. but she In
sisted on staying here 20 look after the
property. That is where her going by
opposites comes in 1 suppose if / had
said for her 10 stay here she would have
packed uD her trunk aud gone with me-
IL was the unders1 1anding that l was to
return when l regained my health.
"Do you know anything about her
wili1' the reporter inquired
.Nrlr
know that when we were first married
we made wills leaving the property to
each other But 5 vii made that long
ago would probably be outlawed BY this
time.
"It is a fact, is it not, that you had a
great deal of trouble regarding the di-
vision Of the property.
f4es, there was considerable trouble.
but she caused IL all BY the way. that
agreement which am told was printed
in the papers here, was aof our final set
uemenr That agreement was written
by cur attorneys and we both agreed to it.
But three days after il was written Mrs
Matsou changed her mind and wanted it
chauged 10 the way il was at first So
she brought 4 suit in the California SUI
preme court 70 nullify the contract. aud
sued me and my lawyer for attempting
to defraud her ] said to her If you
wanted that changed, why didn't you
come % me- Z would have agreed 10 it,
-1As @lc s&ll. "A wanted lE nNeQ like it
was al first. and m going to have il that
way IL / have to sell the property to get
the money 10 do 1t. I saw it was no use
arguing the matter, for 1 knew she
would do all She said. so [ agreed to all
her demands and the suit was withdrawn
The second AGREEMENT which was made
three days after the first one converted
rl the properly back uuder the Joint
ed / supposed the contract was. flegs
he e like the frs one. remember we'll
wing my lawyer the money to nav for
--Ag it. but 4 iind this morning that il
wasn't hled here. know it is He'd in
san Diego.
How long viii you remain in To-
pekasn
II don't know. / can't stay long. I
borrowed the money 10 get here on md
have only enough to buy nv return
ticket don't see what excuse the pro-
pate court has in appointing an executor
LOT the estate when the woman's own
husband Is alive. 1 am sure Of half the
property. and probably three -fourths~
hat is your theory regarding the
Il haven't any was shocked of
course but not greatly surprised
larlly think amy of her tenants would
DO II, and am inclined to think It is the
work OF tramps. Ii was evidently done
Aer the purpose 0f robbery. I under