The herald., 1894-06-03
BORROWED HER MONEY.
THE INTERESTING STORY OF MRS.
SMITH AND C. +. w. PALMER.
A Threatening Letter and How 1t
Stirred Up Hornets Nest.
Mrs. Smith Obtains
Judgment.

The suit OF ii. A. BOND We. y. +. w
Palmer, which has been on trial before
Judge Van Dyke and jury for the last
two days, was concluded yesterday alter
noon.
The title of the case does not iselose
its meat, and the testimony developed a
story OF more than usual interest.
Although the name OF III. A. Bond
figures as the plaintiff, the real plaintiff
ia Mrs. Lizzie Vance Smith, delicate
looking little woman, who assigned the
claim upon which she sued to Mr..
Bond.
Palmer is q neat looking man of some
what insinuating address, now a dry
goods salesman. and the testimony
showed him up in anything but an en-
viable light. The claim against him
was for money borrowed frem Mrs.
Smith, which she said he has not paid
back, while he claimed he had paid
part OF it in money and part in services.
Out OF the bill for services singular
state OF facts was revealed.
A few years ago when Mrs. Smith was
q Mrs. Vance she was in Denver for her
health. At park one day Mr.. Palmer,
who was not there for his health, but
was in a condition of financial collapse,
got into conversation with the lady. The
acquaintance thus begun ripened and
Palmer became q caller upon Mrs.
Vance, who had money. She removed
to his boarding house and liked him SO
we'll that they became very good friends.
She was not In good health and Tor the
sake OF company had Mr.. Palmer 60
with her on various trips, paying his
expenses. He borrowed money from
her in various sums at different times
until the sum total amounted to nearly
$500.
Finally Mrs. Vance came to California
and married Mr.. Smith, her former hus-
band having died. She has since been
divorced. She wrote to Palmer several
times asking him to pay her the money
he had borrowed. In response to one
of these letters Palmer made the follow
ing reply, which was put in evidence:
Los ANGELES, CAL. October 3, 1893.
Mrs. Lizzie Vance, 4s Freeman block. city:
Yours of the 10Th ultimo received yes
terday. In reply will say, as l said in
answer to your inquiry before this, that
| do not owe you anything, and do not
purpose having you write me as though
I were owing yeu. This is my last let
ter to you. After this my lawyer will
attend to all matters. am in posses
sion of letters, facts and dates sufficient
to make it more than pleasant for you.
and l will most certainly do so if you
persist In sending me letters. l started
once to write this UP. and If l undertake
it shall spare no time or means, and L
think l can raise as much money
through my friends as you and yours
can, and will succeed in NOT only tell
ing but proving to ali your family and
friends. 1 will do this If it takes
10 years OF my time. L remember full
we'll the story you told me just before
you were married to Mr.. Smith about
your having been married TO the man
whom you claimed was then on his
| death bed, and that you got his money,
etc. / have not told this to my lawyer,
but believe there can be something
done with you concerning this. KIN W
enough of names, dates and places to at
| least make it very unpleasant for you.
l could say very much more, as you
very we'll know.
Choose your own course, and proceed
in any way that may please you. ! will
act on my statement here.
CT. w. PALMER.
Mrs Smith testified that the sllusion
to the story she had told, and to which
Palmer alluded in such threatening
manner, was an effort of her imagina-
ton. They had been talking about q
novel they had been reading and che
remarked that she could imagine as
good q plot as that of the story. After
wards she told him the story he threat
ened her about, having made it up,
never imagining that he would think it
was a true episode in her life.
Palmer has since married and his
wife was in court with him as we'll as
his mother. He admitted borrowing
the money, but was very hazy in bic
explanation OF the way he paid 1t back.
Mrs. Palmer had testified that she took
his notes for the sums advanced, but
one time thinking she was about to die
destroyed them that they might not fall
into the hands of her husband.
The services for which Palmer claimed
an offset of $3.50 were, he said, Tor acting
as a nurse to Mrs. Smith and taking
care of her. He did not rehect upon her
character, except to intimate that she
wanted him to marry her and he did
not wish to do go.
The case went to the jury about 8
clock and after being out but 20 min.
utes, they returned verdict in favor OF
Mrs. Smith for the full amount claimed
by her.