The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-30

| an explanation he said: 81 know nothing
about the Vendetta and am the innocent
victim in the matter.
u was in Guatemala for about two years
and came from there in the beginning of
September. L met friend of mine from
Guatemala named Meddaugh, who re-
t1rned on the steamer before last. | had
seen Meddaugh talking with a man sew
eral times, and after he had taken his de-
parlure was in the Lick House and this
man spoke to me. | don't know his name
and never thought of asking it, as he was
merely casual acquaintance. He was a
man about feet inches tall and about Sc
years of age
Il met him several times afterward and
on Saturday he told me he was going to
Sacramento for few days and asked me
II would deliver letter to 319 Pine street
on Monday afternoon, as he had some
papers there which he wanted to get. He
would get them from me on his return
from Sacramento. | promised to do so
and on Monday, as l had to go to Alameda
on business, | gave the landlady the letter
and asked her TO send it with a messenger
boy In the afternoon. That's all l know
about it.
Il am a native of Michigan and have
been IN the lumber business for a number
OF years. | have had hard luck recently. but
nave cabled to Guatemala for money to
help me out OF this trouble. l have known
Westover since he was boy and l can't
see why he should disbelieve my story
that know nothing of the letter"
The police are puzzled. They are salts
he'd there has been a deliberate attempt at
blackmail, but whether there is a Vendetta
League In existence or not is what is puz-
cling them.
When Delberu L. Westover was asked
last night concerning his knowledge of s..
A. Mclean he said:
| know him to be thoroughly unprincipled
fellow, wild, reckless and dissipated.
have known him and his family for I
should say, nearly twenty years He comes
from an excellent family, and they were
wealthy. His actions, l think, had something
TO do with his fathers death. He is one Of
down.
received this letter yesterday morning It
was an old-ume threatening letter. but there
were certain "earmarks" about it that made
me suspect its authorship. 1t was in Russ
House envelope, and he used to live there until
he was put out for non-payment, and then it
Fastener.
At first was inclined to pay no attention to
II, but the more thought OF it the more be-
came provoked to think that any one would
think was the kind of man to be reached in
such way, and so I handed it to the police
and Detective Bohen traced its origin to q cheap
lodglng-house on Montgomery street near my
once. II, as Mclean claims, an unknown man
handed him the letter why didn't he step
round the corner and deliver 1t to me himself
instead of ordering the landiady to get mes
senger to take it TO me?
About two years ago he left Michigan for San
Salvador or Guatemala. saw him in Bay City,
Mich, Just before he left. He had a scheme on
foot then to build q railroad in Central Amer
lea, and he was going to buy up all the lumber
IN this City TO do it. He always had some big
scheme on hand.
His father used to be in the numbering bust
ness and when the only son went into the
mines in Honduras and in Colorado his drafts
on his father were always honored.
guess he has gone through over 5000, 900
altogether.
Before he went south to Guatemala he
pleaded with me to indorse his draft for $500
so he could pay his hotel bill before leaving
here. Finally. at his suggestion, I gave him
$3.50 in cash and took the draft with the IN
derstanding that he was to send for the re-
mainder, but when 1 presented the draft it
was returned unhonored. When he was in
Central America he drew q draft for $1,000 on
my father, who is a banker in Bay City, and,
OF course it was not honored, and l have been
told that he also drew draft on well-known
law firm in Bay City.
Fifteen years ago he was q society swell in
Bay City. He owned a 900 yacht ana had
a string of horses and his own stable. Now, l
understand, his mothers home is mortgaged,
and all to raise funds for him.
his first wife got divorce from him, but his
second wife remains with him. She is here III
California somewhere, think.