The herald., 1894-03-25
MRS, M'CARTHER, ADVENTURES
Pretty Priscilla ElOped With a
Los Angeles Man.
B. f. Cobb, a Main Street Livery
Man, Leaves His Family. ----
1t Is Alleged tho Couple Went to Port
land-The History OF Mrs. Mo-
CArther While in This
City.

The adventures of Mrs. Priscilla E.
McCarther. who created small sensa-
ton in this city by living with Judge
Belts, formerly mayor OF Spokane,
have been added to by her elopement
with G. F. Cobb, formerly a liveryman
of this city. Cobb left a wife and 10
year old child here, who are heart
broken over his acts.
Mr.. and Mrs. McCarther were living
happily together in Spokane until a
year ago. They went to Spokane from
Dakota in 1883, and soon became prom
inent in social and business circles in
that city.
McCarther and Judge Bettis, a prom.
inent man of Spokane, formed a part
nership and went into the real estate
business.
Bettis evidently could not Withstand
the charming Mrs. McCarther's pleasing
and graceful ways and became infatu.
ated with her.
When the situation had reached the
point when Judge Belts and Mrs. Nc
Carther could no longer live without
each other, Spokane society was shocked
by the lady suddenly leaving her hue-
band. The partnership between her
husband and Bettis was shortly after
ward dissolved, and Bettis followed Mrs.
McCarther south. She went to Portland,
thence to San Francisco, finally settling
in Los Angeles. While residing in this
city as the wife of Judge Bettis, McCar-
ther came here and had a warrant
issued, charging her with living with
Bettis as his wife.
In the meantime, a man named B. F.
Cobb. his wife and child came here from
San Antorio, Tex. They arrived here
year ago this month. Cobb had no
money, but his wife was comfortably
fixed financially. The new arrival,
through letters OF recommendation,
CouttE, now city jailer, who WAS then
conducting the o. K. livery stable on
Main street.
Mrs. Cobb finally furnished the
money and purchased O half interest
in the livery stable, and her husband
went to work as Coutts partner. Judge
Bettis was a patron of the stable, and
he frequently took Mrs. McCarther
there when the went driving. Bettis
always introduced her as his wife. :
Cobb was introduced to Mrs. Nc
Carther, and he Immediately took
fancy to her. He would always watch
his chance to take horse to the Belts
residence whenever the Judge ordered
one, though he is known to have visited
her when Bettis was away from home.
Things got rather mixed, and Cobb
sent his wife and child east to visit the
worlds fair. This WAS evidently a
scheme to get an opportunity to elope
with the fascinating Spokane adventur-
ess. In the absence of his vile, Cobb
purchased the interest OF Mr.. Coutts in
the stables, and afterward sold the en-
tire business to Shearer & Riordan, the
contractors.
When Mrs. Cobb returned from the
east she was dumfounded to learn what
her husband had DONE Matters were
finally patched up between them, but
Cobb continued his relations to Mrs.
McCarther.
When 1t became known that a war
rant had been issued for her arrest, she
and Bettis separated. Cobb Immediate
ly took her under his protecting wing.
When the detectives were searching
for her, Cobb WAS paying her expenses
in Hill street lodging house. where he
kept her secreted until the matter
quoted down.
She recently brought suit for divorce
from MIR. Carther, alleging desertion
ana neglect to provide the necessaries
of life. The divorce was granted on the
4th inst. She sold her furniture, horse
and pnaeton, which, it ie said, were
purchased with Bettis' money, and ten
days ago left for the north. Cobb, too,
started away, and on the day she left
this city Cobb started from San Francis
CO by boat for Portland. The supoosi-
tion is they have met in Portland. The
wonder lie, how long will she and Cabh
live together before she takes fancy to
another man. She has wrecked three
or four homes already, and seems to be
reaching out for more worlds to con-
quer.
A warrant has been issued for the ar
rest of Cobb. The complaint was sworn
to by his wife, charging him with en-
bezzlement. She alleges that he took
$1,000 from her by selling the livery
stable.
Upon her return from the east she
grew very indignant on learning that
Cobb had disposed of the business and
pocketed the money, but the matter was
finally settled and things ran along
smoothly for awhile.
Constable Richardson, in whose hands
the warrant is, has telegraphed the
authorities at Portland to arrest Cobb.
The case will be sensational one if the
recreant Cobb is returned to this city
and tried for en- mbezzling his wife's
money.