The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-22
A WOMAN'S WON'T,
Slight Obstacle at the
SOrensOn Inquest.
John F. Sims and Philip BIuE1auer
Failed to Make Their Appear
ance at the Morgue.

The circumstances attending the death
of Mrs. Lena f. Graham (nee Andrews,
known in this city as Mrs. Lena SOrensoD,
who shot herself in the Hotel St. Nicholas
last Friday. we're related to a jury at an
inquest held by Coroner Hughes at the
MOrgue yesterday afternoon.
The principal interest attaching to the
proceedings was as to whether John +.
Sims, whose picture was found in the dead
womau's room. and Philip Blumauer, who
wrote the young woman long letters from
Hot Springs, Ark. would attend as wit
nesses. and, if so, what they would have
to say about the death which has placed
them so awkwardly before the public.
Blumauer mad written some time ago
that he would be in San Francisco soon.
and the people at the ST. Nich olas thought
he would arrive in time for the inquest.
but he failed to make his appearance.
Sims was not present. and a Coroner's
deputy was sent to look for him. DR.. Me-
Connell met him on the street, and. after
conversation with him. telephonsd the
Coroner that Sims was too uDwell to be
present. but would present himself at the
Morgue to-day.
Mrs. Couch, landlady Of the st. Nicholas,
had not been summoned, but appeared of
her own accord and there were several
other female inmates of the st. Nicholas
in attendance.
The Coroner examined Mary McCrone,
the cham bermaid. vino waited on Mrs.
SOrensOn, Stanley Murphy, Mrs. Couch,
w. Z. Foster, who Is interested with Mrs.
Couch In the management of the hotel,
Walter Walter, belIboy, DR.. Mcconnell.
who held the autopsy. and the COrOnor's
| deputies. who removed the body 10 the
| Morgue. Very little that was new was
! brought out.
Mary McCroue testified that the dead
woman had told her that the gentlema n
| Mrs. Sorenson had expected TO call on her
| on the day of her death, but who dis
appointed her, was her husband. The
witness had seen Sims in Mrs. Sorenson's
| rooms, but knew nothing OF the relations
| existing between the two.
When Coroner Hughes called Mrs.
! Couch she caused something of a scene
by refusing TO testify. She said: 81 doh't
want 10 make any statement because l
! don't see the use OF bringing innocent
! people into this affair"
/ She was informed that she would be
| obliged to testify. and fatty retorted that
! she would not.
Then" said the Coroner, II shall have
| to hold you for contempt. There is no
| alternative. You must answer my Ques-
tOns or you Will be taken into custody"
This was more than the stout lady in
black silk had bargslned for and she
quickly unbent and consented TO be
sworn. In the course of her testimony
she said that Mrs. S0rensOD had given her
two promissory notes, one for $1,000 and
another for S1100, and had told her TO give
them 10 the person who had drawn them.
when lie should call for them. Mrs. Couch
also admitted that she had in her posses
sion a note received by Mrs. S0rensOn on
the dsy of the tragedy. 1t was from a
gentleman who wrote 10 say that he could
not call that day. This note is the one
which is believed to have thrown the young
woman into the fit of dependency which
led TO her suicide.
The pr0missOry notes are known to have
been drawn by Philip Blumauer in favor
OF Mrs. SOrenson 10 secure debt he owed
her.
Mrs. Couch said that she did not have
any of the notes with her, but that she
thought she could get them and produce
them at the Morgue to-day.
After The other witnesses had testified
the Coroner adjourned the inquest until
to-day. when the notes. Sims, and possibly
Blumauer, will be on hand.