The San Francisco call., 1895-05-20

went there and delivered the message and
then went to the cemetery. The doctor had
not arrived when Il left. 1t all happened be-
tween and O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
Mrs Mathews belonged to Olive Branch
Council No. "a, Order of Chosen Friends. She
joined in August or September, 1894: I pro-
payable to the child, Matte. She paid all the
assessments but the April one of 81 90. had
not seen her for about q month, and, in order
to prevent the suspension and loss of the ben
eft or insurance, paid the April assessment
| am secretary of the lodge, and it is not un-
usual for the secretary to pay assessments to
save members from being suspended and los
ing their insurance. 1 have done this for
other members to the amount of about 800.
had called at her house twice before to collect
assessments, thinking she had forgotten about
them. She paid both assessments to me on
both occasions at the house.
Mr.. Winthrop, in addition to his state
ment, gave some further explanations last
evening. He said:
have known Mrs. Mathews for year or SO.
Last August l spoke to her about Joining the
Chosen Friends. l try to get as many to join
the order as can. There Is a commission of
brought in. Mrs. Mathews is, however, the
only one of the persons visiting the cemetery
who joined my lodge. used to see her occa-
sionally, and have called at her house twice to
collect the assessments due the lodge.
She did not get along well with her husband,
at least at times. About four months ago l re-
ceived a letter from her, which l will try to
find. do not like to say what was in it until
/ can find it. She stated something to the eff
feet that she was having trouble with her hus-
band, and that in case of her death she did not
think he would be the proper person to handle
the $4,000 insurance, which she intended for
her daughter. She said that the child should
have some other guardian.
paid up Mrs. Mathews assessment in April
and she is delinquent for another one, on
which the time ran out on the 18th inst. 1
will. however; pay this up, so that the child
will not lose the insurance.
Both Smith and myself believe that Mrs.
Mathews was shamming illness all the time we
were with her. She only complained of pains
at the cemetery, and she acted perfectly
rational all the time we were driving to her
house. She was all right then until the lady
from the fat below came up, when she seemed
do not know what happened. OF course it is
all nonsense about my giving her a pill or
about exhibiting revolver
Edwin Mathews, the husband of the
dead woman was in dazed state of mind
all day yesterday. He has not yet recov-
cred from the shock of his wifes death.
He spoke freely in answer to all questions,
but was not able to volunteer any informa-
ton. He said:
My wife's name was Jennie Renna before our
marriage, which took place about seven years
ago. She was an Italian. Her fathers name is
Vincent Renna, and he runs a barber shop at
the corner OF Folsom and Tenth streets. My
CURED. She was not quite 81 when she died.
l was summoned toher side about $3.50 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon.
/ found her suffering from some kind of
spasms. 1 could not talk to her commercially
on account of the spasms and because Dr.
Griffith did not want me TO talk to her. When
ne was out OF the room got most of her state
ment.
She said Winthrop had come to her when she
was at the grave OF our two children. They
are ar both buried in one grave. She said that
o. tn fol lnQ mill Il \
not want to take it, but he took one TO show
her it was harmless. She said he made show
OF revolver and forced her to swallow the
pill. did not get from her the reason why
winthrop wanted her to take the pill.
My little daughter Matte, who is nearly 6
years old, corroborates the pill story. She has
told me that she saw Winthrop give my wife
the Pill and make her take it, saying, "Don't
be foolish"
My wife, said that about ten minutes after
wife also said that Winthrop refused to take
her from the cemetery until she compelled him
to do SO. She also told me that Winthrop had
and that Winthrop had paid the premiums on
the policy. tried to get more particulars
from her, but could not do SO on account of her
condition. My wife was perfectly healthy and
had no reason to commit suicide.
We got along very pleasantly and she had no
WOrrlment OF mind. When our child died
about year ago she was very much affected
but she had gotten over her grief some time
ago. Recently she has taken to riding bicvcle
and was out frequently the last few days. She
rsl was IN tne pest OF spirits when saw her at
change could come over her, even though she
visited the grave of our children. | did not
know she was acquainted with Winthrop l
never saw him but once. l had no idea she
had any insurance on her life or that she he
longed to any lodge
Just before my wife died she cried out
whom she referred. She must have been in a
delirium.
DIR. E. M. Griffith was in comparatively
quiet mood yesterday and spoke freely on
all poivts in the case.
never knew Mrs. Mathews more than to see
her few times on the street / never attended
her before. was called in somewhereeabout
$3.50 ?. N. yesterday. From the woman's ac-
tions diagnosed her case as one of strychnine
poisoning and treated her accordingly. She
was in spasms almost continually when not
under the influence of chloroform to keen her
from going into the convulsions which hurt
her severely. also gave her choral hydrate
and bromide OF potassium. All three of these
are antidotes for strychnine poisoning
kept her under the influence of chlorofornn
nearly all the time, for when she would come
out from its influence she would go into
spasms on the least noise. [ heard mari of har
the room part OF the time did not hear it all
/ believe she told him that Winthrop had forced
her to take pill.
She also said something about life insur-
ance policy which Winthrop had gotten out
for her and on which he had paid the pre-
miums.
I did not want her to exert herself by talk
ing too much, as 1T brought on spasms Her
throat was affected, and she could not speak
distinctly at times. She was unconscious some
time before she died.
AS knew that the woman had made state
ment told her that she would surely die. and
that she should be particular about making a.
statement which virtually accused another
person of killing her.
She stoutly maintained that what she said
was true, and that Winthrop had given her the
pill.
The police have not made much of an
investigation of the case, as they have not
heard anything from the Coroner. Captain
Lees has received the statements of
Winthrop and Mathews and when told
last evening that DR.. Griffith had admin