The herald., 1894-12-30
TWO HUSBANDS AND TWO WIVES
A Tale Of Philanthropy and
PlatOnism.
William Traster Hires q Cook, and
Evil Results.
A Peculiar Domestic Arrang sments Pre-
summbiy In the Effort to Eoonomize =
Somewhat Mcsgor Income.

William Traster, q fireman in the en-
ploy OF the Los Angeles Consolidated
Electric Railroad company. who works
at tho Grand avenue power house, after
he had taken a helpmeet. found that
marriage was . fsilnre. and the twain
went their way ii different directions
thereafter. Lillian Huff, who was the
better half of Lewis N. Huff, after
stormy life on the matrimonial sea,
reached tho Same conclusion, leaving
him at Fallbrook. San Diego county.
several months ago.
She came to Los Angeles to earn a
living for hsrseli, and after some time
secured work with Madame Forrest, q
dressmaker, in the Downey block.
While working there ehe met Traster.
who had known her five years ago at
Fallbr0ok, and they went to the theater
together. In consequence of what she
told him, Traster offered to make her
his cook at the modest remuneration OF
~ q week and to provide her with Q
room. The offer was accepted by Mrs.
HUFF.
One week and one day after this CON
tract had gone into operation, Nemesis
in the shape of Lewis N. huff and de-
tective appeared on Wall street with q
warrant, and the conseq uence was that
Traeter and his cook we're landed in jail
on the charge OF living together against
the statutes In such case provided, both
being married at, the time. A convic-
tion under such a complaint means the
penitentisry, - the offenss 10 6 felony.
The examination OF the couple took
place before Justice Bartholomew yes
terdsy and occupied the courts atten.
ton during, the major part OF the day.
The first complaint drawn in the district
attorneys Office was faulty and it be.
came necessary to file another before
the prosecution had an opportunity to
show the alleged wicked conduct Of the
defendants. l,ar '9i'' 80.
THE woMAN WHO SMILED.
There were present several ladies who
reside in the Wall str, ct lodging house.
Mrs. Traster, wife Of the male defend.
and appeared to derive considerable
amusement from the testimony. Her
mirth. however, was at it's height when
Mr.. Traster and Mrs Huff took the wit.
ness stsnd and explained, the first one,
the philaptrobhy which had actuated
him in sheltering the lady defendant.
and the latter. with eyes modestly cast
down, the platonic relations that had ex-
isteG between her and William.
Not until Mr.. Traster took the stand
had it been guessed by anyone present
what ar amount of chivalry and philan-
trophy there was hidden behind the
bosom ,of his boiled shirt And, If his
tale sounded eomowhat gauzy, he told
it with, such apparent candor that it
carried conviction to the mind OF every
one present, excepting Assistant District
Attorney Ryan, who is Of skeptical ma
ture. and Mrs. Traster, who was oor-
vulsed with amusement At thie modern
tale OF Daphnis and Chloe In lodging
house. i1g sIs FN i5ts Ttsi f'as
Mr.. Traster said that he was escort
ing Mrs. Huff homo after the theater,
On certsin night, when she impaired
to him her dislike to staying in the
Downey block, because of some things
which she had seen that were un-
seemly. Thereupon ,Traster, having
put on his thinking cap, proposed that
she becomes his cook at Q weekly stipend
of 81, board and lodging "A treman on
the street caEisystem1 receiving only $50
per month, it was necessary to study
close economy. .ss
CONVENIENT ARRANG EMENT.
Therefore. Traster said to Mrs. Huff:
"As work nights and yonlsleep nights,
there is no use in spending money ON q
multiplicity of rooms. You shall &C
cupy the room from at night till noon,
and | will take my rest in it from that
time until II 60 to my work. When
am sleeping you can occupy the kitchen
or gossip with the other lddgsrs in their
apsrtmente::" This Arrangement went,
and neither ieyerywas in the room while
the other occupied it. Nothing but
philantrophys ana the dssire to see Mrs.
Huff escape the pits and onares of the
wicked in this city had acthated him.
Thensit was Mrs. Hnff's turu to OK
plain the agreement entered into with
Mr.. Traster. and she told in substance
the same st,ry, She said that she had
had no alternative than to take the su-
perntendency OF the fireman's cuisine,
being without money or friends here
The arrangement was only temporary,
she added, as she intended to take more
remunerative employment Rs soon as
leHDlDl6. tcta.a ,s+
Assistant District Attorney Ryan
asked the witness il it did not occur to
her that fora lady who wished to main
tain an unsullied reputation it was
something like jumping from the frying
pan into the fire to remove from the
premises OF the Downey block dress
maker to the sheltering wing OF William
Traster at his Wall street bower. Mrs.
Huff replied that it had never occurred
to her, sy;a A-
Justice Bartholomew eaid that there
was not sufficient testimony to hold the
defendant. Lewis n. Huff ceased to
glare at Mrs. Huff, Mrs. Traster Quit
giggling. and when Traster and Mrs.
HuH were ordered discharged they gaily
LETT the court room and walked down
Broadway.
Kate Field,s Tlec0rafi0n.