The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-16
THAT nSWEET PEA" GIRL.
Mrs. Bowers of Durrant Fame
Said to Have a Theatri-
cal Offer.
CLASSMATES ARE TO TESTIFY.
They Are Inclined to Speak Well of
Durrant and in Favor of
His Alibi.

The "sweet pea" girl of the Durrant
case is rapidly becoming quite celebrity.
She IS likewise somewhat a perplexity.
For the time being she occupies the
center OF the stage in the drama now being
enacted in real life. In fact she has sue
ceeded In attracting so much attention
that 1t was rumored yesterday that an en-
terprising theatrical manager had already
conceived the idea of offering her an en-
gagement, and it was stated he sought in
vain for an interview yesterday with that
object in view.
This report was in reference to Mrs. G.
J. Bowers of Oakland, whose husband viz
tually admitted in an interview that his
wife was the person who has figured so
prominently in the case as the ''sweet pea"
girl. But it was not certain that Mrs.
Bowers is the real admirer or friend of
Durrant, or, at least, that there is not
another, for the friends of Miss Rosa Hol-
land still insist that she is the person
Durrant mas recognized and who has sent
books, flowers and sweetmeats to his lonely
prison cell. They also insist that her
name is not Mrs. Bowers and that she has
never been married.
AS an evidence that this claim is well
founded, it is known that General Dickin-
son is in possession of card on which
the young lady wrote a note and
sent it to the prisoner Thursday, on one
side of which was the name of Rosalind
Holland in steel engraving. Notwith-
standing this fact it is generally believed
that Mrs. Bowers is the real and only
sweet pea" girl and it is thought that she
may have had the card printed as further
precaution to hide her real identity. She
is known to have come into the possession
of ample funds of late to enable her to
crafty any ordinary vagary.
| Mrs. Bowers has been located at the
| Galindo Hotel, Oakland, where she went
when she left home last Tuesday, taking
! all her portable effects. She remained in
her rooms all day yesterday and would
admit but few persons to her presence.
| The husband learned of her whereabouts
| during the day, but did not call to see her.
! He is disconsolately awaiting the time
when she will be cured of her haliucina-
ton and return home to him. The police
had nothing new to communicate con-
corning her last evening. Mrs. Bowers
| asserts her intention to attend the trial
daily until the end, regardless of public
opinion.
Durrants Sunday at the County Jail
was quiet one. He had few callers and
spent most of the day perusing Ian Mac
Laren's Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush,
the latest work sent him by his "sweet
pea'' friend.
To CALL reporter he expressed his firm
belief that the young lady whose atten-
tons he has accepted is really the Miss
Rosa Holland whom he met at an Endeavor
union meeting in Oakland long before he
was immersed in his present difficulties.
He expressed it as his opinion that Mrs.
Bowers IS achieving notoriety at the ex-
pense of his friend.
Durrant expressed himself as indignant
at the manner in which some of the news
papers have enlarged on the stories OF new
witnesses who are to appear for the prose-
cution. 81 am prepared, said ne, Ito see
these sensationalists bring forward as their
next cup a witness who actually saw me
commit the murders"
The session of the trial to-day is ex-
pected to be largely consumed in the
further examination of Mrs. Dorgan ana
the taking of the testimony of May Lanni-
gan, who will corroborate the testimony of
Mrs. Dorgan and Minnie :Belle Ed
wards, and Mrs. Vogel. who believes
she saw Durraut in front of the
Normal School the afternoon of April 3.
1t is possible also that Mrs. Crosett will be
called but beyond that the case will
hardly progress to-day.
1t is expected that w. J. Phillips will be
present to get a look at the prisoner to
make sure he Is not mistaken in his iden-
LITIGATION of the man he saw leaving Pawn
broker Oppenheimer's place.