The morning call., 1894-09-25
SHE CLAIMS HIM.
Has DR.. Prackett More
Than One Wife ?
A SENSATIONAL STORY.
After the Big Fire at the
College.
LADY YARDE-BULLER BEATEN.
The Mysterious Disappearance of J.
j. Peters Recalled in Judge
0reene's Court.
LADY YARDE-BULLER BEATEN.

OAKLAND.-Dr. James T. Prackett of
WASHINGTON and Fourteenth streets is 10
considerable trouble just now, and there is
aiikelihood of more trouble of a very seri-
Gus character in store for him if his wife
carries out her threats.
The doctor has offices at the address
above, where he lives, and on Sunday
afternoon last Mrs. Prackelt called Officer
Curtiss to go with her to the house at 366
Tenth street. occupied by Mrs. Trout.
where she said her husband was with;Mrs.
Troutt
The doctor was found there as the wife
said. and she had her spouse locked UP
over night on a charge Of disturb bling the
peace.
In the Police Court he pleaded not guilty.
and the case will come up to-day.
Mrs. Prackett told story last night
which may yet get the doctor into trouble
before the matter IS over.
She said when she first met Prackett she
was working in Pasadena at the residence
of Judge Rose. and he then represented
himself as a single man. Mrs. Prackett,
who was Rebekah Elizabeth Barnes, lis
tened to the honeved words OF the doctor
he was then painteT-and drew her hard
earned savings from the bank to the
amount of between $500 and 500 and went
with him TO Salt Lake CITY, where they
we're joined in wedlock according 10 the
rites Of the Mormon church.
Mrs. Prackett said that during all the
time they were in Utah, drifting from one
town &c another, he was spending her
money and never did stroke of work. 1t
was other women and too much fiery
liquor all the time.
She supposed she was married to him
ami a Of tho MOrD1nn .
which sealed her to him. She was always
introduced by him as his wife and now
she SAYS, he is trying TO deny that she is
his wife
The couple came to San Francisco in
Septem Der last. and then Prackett started
IN as doctor, but Mrs. Prackett says he
has no diploma. He only did indifferently
In San francisco, when the couple came
70 Oakland. where Mrs. Bracket said b e
prevailed upon her to take the name of
her first husband, McKusker, which she
did, and went TO work in East Oakland at
the residence of Il. 5. Spaulding, where
she worked i've months, always furnishing
her husband with the money to live on
and to ray his Office rent.
The woman says since they have been
here he has acknowledged that he had a
wife IN Los Angeles, and in looking over
PracketL'S things one day recently she
found letters from the supposed Mrs
loving, and among other letters found this
from the doctor himself, which he had
written and evidently forgotten to for
ward:
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. IL. 1894
My dear N,s p: Not having written to
nor heard directly from you for several months
and this being Sunday and having an hour 10
myself, thought l would employ some of The
time IN writing 10 you.
1t has been more than a year since we last
met and took our last walk over tile hills ana
during that year many changes have taken
place ana many bitter things have been
burned from our minds and many new reso.
lutlonS have been formed, and in my case reso-
buttons have been kept TO the letter. l was
man and a gentleman in education, but was
as you may know by this time, kept down. dis
couraged and dlsgraced and driven TO despair
by the very one for whom l had left friends
home ana all else which l loved. | labOrrd to
put things IN more satisfactory condition for
both. but all TO no purpose. | was compelled
1or I'VE long years 10 endure insults aud hear
dno know OF things which was peace. DESTROYING
TO one who loved and who respected himself or
that which Is honorable ana Just. Finally |
was compelled, III defense OF my manly Drnci-
pies, 10 go from you aud leave you to those who
you unhappily loved or respected more than
you did your husband. SO mere L am. and can
say TO you that II mas been the first year of
peace that L have had for five years Yes
dear woman, you brought sorrow to my
honest, loving heart. YOn trampled upOn the
honest love which was laid at your feet and
ignored the man who could and would have
made any tue and loving wife proud of him
And could you see me to-day IN my Office ia
hne building, with good practice and riding
from day 10 day IN my own top buggy sober
aud respected by the public and by the medical
profession aud with a ticket 10 my pocket
which admits me to one of the best medical
schools In the city, you would surely he Glad
II you had heart or a sense OF Justice To know
that In spite OF all The trouble and sorrow YOU
caused me / came to the top aud retained my
manhood ana am 1alrly happy. would not 90
back 10 life of SORROW and trouble such as YOU
led me for the State. and vet try 10 forget that
you were anything but loving and true Well.
GEAR nope mat Dean got home ali right, aud
DO wish that you could be a good loving and
happy wife, free from trouble and sorrow
must close now, hoping that you are all well,
Yours respectfully, L. PRACKETT MID
Mrs. Prackett has long story of woes
TO relate when she takes the stand to-day
aud she says she will make it warm for the
doctor.
After the Big Fire.
st. Mary's COLLEGE is imposing even in its
ruins. From the ceiling OF the first story
upward the entire interior of the building
was consumed by the fire, which left moth
Ing but the gaunt and blackened wal s.
with many ragged apertures, where there
had once been windows. The campus and
broad lawns, cut up and strewn with the
charred debris from the college. pres ented
almost as deSolate a spectacle as the once
handsome interior of the great building.
While the flames did not deyastate the
OdoCLlCuI VI thC utob otOi4s III udGuly seems,
viewing the interior in the light of day.
that they could have done any greater
damage by cutting these floors also than
did the showers of hot slate from the roof
and the huge rafters. which were precipit-
ated onto the flour Of the second story and
down tina light shafts and stalrcases into
he basement Everything is soaked with
water, and the walls and remaining par.
titlons are blackened and plasterlsSs. The
handsome oaken stalrcases ana artistic
ally carved banisteTs are either crushed
and broken or else charred, but in any
event useless. In short, the whole interior
will undoubtedly have TO be built anew.
The exterior walls, however, are almost
intact, albeit they are very black, and here
and there along their upper portions
bricks and stones were torn away by the
huge sandstone crosses. which went with
the roof when that fell into the burning
abyss.
The students, both little and big. dis
played great devotion in saving the urnp-
erty of the brothers. Their own, stored
away in their trunks and clothesrooms OF
the attic. had already gone up in smoke,
and, with the assistance of many out.
siders, they saved pianos, great deal oil
furniture and the largest part of the
library. Father McSweeney, assisted By
Bart Davis and Edward Noblett, saved all
The most valuable and sacred articles in
the little chapel.
When Brother Erminold, acting preSi-
dent, arrived from Martinez at O'clock
last night and saw the balding, he frs
inquired after the pupils. and when in
formed of their safety he said: ut Is
well. So long as the boys are safe let the
10 II.