The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-02
MAY UNEARTH SKELETONS,
Revival of a Famous Suit
Against the Late Mrs.
Mabel TreadweIl.
WITNESSES ON THE STAND.
Grave Hints of Counsel In an Inter-
esting Resume of the
Case.

In the opening statements in the case of
Charles A. Loomis against Mrs. Mabel
Treadwell, now deceased, and Calvin Som
ers, yesterday, the attorney for the plant
iff, J. B. Mhoon, dropped some grave hints
as to the character of the sensational evil
dence that may be expected to be produced
in that celebrated case.
He said that after Mrs. Treadwell had
gained possession of her husbands estate
after his death she found herself involved
in number of important lawsuits.
At that time Charles Loomis was a close
friend of hers and rendered her much valu-
able service in her trouble. and all he did
for her was inspired by friendship, Loomis
receiving no compensation whatever for
his services.
Mrs. Treadwell at that time procured the
services of a private detective named
Joseph McClintock, and one day the latter
made statements to her, the veracity of
which were doubted, and Mr.. LOOMS went
out to verify the reports and found that
they were false. As result the affair
ended in a row between Mr.. LOOMS and
McClintock, which eliminated in Loomis
shooting McClintock in the cheek, making
a serious but not dangerous wound.
Mr.. Mhoon said that he would also show
that subsequently Mrs. Treadwell made
proposals to Loomis, trying to get him to
resort to illegal means to assist her in her
litigation, which he declined to do. Cal
vim Somers was the only witness to the
shooting ARRAY, with the exception of his
wife, who was in the next room at the
time, who heard but did not see the shoot
ing.
These four persons only knew that the
trouble had occurred, and all agreed to
keep the matter quiet and did so for few
months. When LOOMS and Somers had a
misunderstanding on account of certain
troubles between Mrs. Treadwell and her
mother over the latters support, which
concluded with the facts of the shooting of
McClintock by LOOMS becoming public
LOOMS suspected that Somers had given
the facts of the shooting to the press and
mmediately consulted his attorney as to
what steps he should take in the matter
He was advised to surrender himself and
stand trial.
Prior to the time of LOOMS trial Somers
made affidavit that the shooting was justi-
fable but when the case came up in the
Police Court for a preliminary hearing he
declared that Loomis had been guilty of
an unprovoked assault to murder Nc
Clintock, and his statements being
corroborated by his wife, Loomis was tried
and convicted, but was granted new
trial and fually acquitted.
LOOMS Immediately commenced suit in
Judge Wallace's court for 100000 dam
ages. but Mrs. Treadwell made application
to Judge Wallace for a change of venue,
as she supposed that that court was preju-
diced against her, and that the case would
not get fair and impartial trial.
The attorneys for the plaintiff vigorously
opposed such a measure, but Judge Wal
lace declined to try the case, saying that
he would not hear any civil case if both
sides were not satisfied to have the action
before him. Mrs. Treadwell's attorneys
Immediately asked that it be transferred
to Judge Firms court, but LOOMS attor-
neys would not consent, and it was finally
decided to let the matter rest in allegiance
until another Presiding Judge should be
selected, and the case is now before Judge
Daingertield and a jury, which was i'm
paneled yesterday.
Fisher Ames and P. II. Pendergrast were
examined as witnesses for the plaintiff,
but their testimony was not OF much i'm
portance or bearing on the case, both of
them simply making statements which
had come up before and with which the
public are thoroughly conversant.
James A. Watt and J. B. Mhoon have
been retained as the attorneys for the
plaintiff, and the defendants are repre-
sented by CARRIER Boalt & Bishop.