The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-17
AN ANTE.NUPTIAL AGREEMENT.
Her Husband Obtains a Divorce In
the Superior Court by
Default.

woman in a strange land.
The story of the elopement from Vic
toria, B. c., in June. 1898, of Mrs. jamie
son and John Arthur Turner to this CITY
and their subsequent fight to Mexico City
is still fresh in the mind of the public.
Lulu Gertrude Jameson is the daughter
of a wealthy father residing at Port
Angeles, Wash. She married when only
16 Lochiel P Jameson in Jefferson County,
Wash, on February I, 1885. Afterward
they removed to Victoria, B. c., where the
husband became fairly prosperous as
machinist and accumulated some property.
One day the lovely girl-wife met ].
Arthur Turner, resident of Victoria, and
her beauty inspired him with longing.
Two or three chance encounters ensued,
and then Turner betrayed the object of his
fancy and attained complete ascendeney
over her.
On the night of July 10, 1898, he COM
PEELED her to accompany him, and took
her in a boat across the Strait of Juan de
Fuca to Washington, and thence by steam
to San Francisco. The wires were hot
with messages concerning the intentions
of the despairing husband to punish the
betrayer of his wife, and the local press
took up the hue and cry. Turner took
fright and fed down the coast to Acapulco,
and thence to the City of Mexico.
Jameson came down to this city, and
yorce from his erring wife. But he has
not hitherto pressed the suit, wishing to
be at first convinced of her being con-
trite.
In the meantime, it appears from letters
received from the City OF Mexico, the poor
woman has been plunged into the last
depths of despair. As long as John
arfc cd
fairly kind, but it soon began to run short
Then Turner secured a position in the firm
of T. S. Gore & Co., coal, coke and cement
merchants, at salary of $3.50 a month.
That was not enough for his expensive
tastes, and he had the effrontery to write
to Mrs Jamieson's father in Port Angeles
for more funds, which were supplied.
All this time he kept promising mar
riage to the unhappy victim of his unholy
passion. For her, overwhelmed with
shame and. completely controlled by a
stronger mind. the only hope was mar
riage For a long time all her entreaties
were set aside, although there was pros
pect of child being born to the couple
within short time.
Finally by a mutual friend an expedient
was found which temporarily satisfied the
almost frantic desire of the poor girl to be
restored to some measure of recognition by
society. This was formal agreement be-
tween the pair.
The public records in the City of Mexico
show the following unusual covenant:
ANTE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT AND AFFIDAVIT.
This agreement, made and entered into this
9Th day of October, A. D. 1894, by and between
John Arthur Turner, now q resident or the
City of Mexico, formerly of Victoria, in the
,rnaa 81 51in and inln GET
OF Mexico, formerly of Victoria, in the Province
of British Columbia.
wrrsEssErH: That the parties hereto, each
being of the age OF 81 years and upward, do
by these presents solemnly and in good faith
covenant and agree TO and with each other
that hereafter, TO wit, as soon as decree of
divorce is granted by the Superior Court of
San Francisco, in the State of California. in the
case of Laughlin p Jameson, plaintiff, VS..
Lulu Gertrude Jameson, defendant an action
for divorce having been commenced in said
Superior Court and being now pending, that
the said Lulu Gertrude Jameson, being duly
qualified by said decree of divorce TO marry
the said John Arthur Turner, that they, the
said parties hereto, will marry each other and
become husband and wife and that such mar
riage shall be duly solemnized according to
law.
WITNEssETH, furthermore. that the parties
hereto, John Arthur Turner and Lulu Ger
trude Jameson, have by these presents each
voluntarily and with full knowledge afore-
thought made and entered into this agree
ment, and in further evidence of their mutual
good faith do now expressly make oath and
declare that 1t is their solemn purpose to faith
hereinbefore set forth.
(Signaturel JOHN ARTHUR TURNER.
(signature). Lulu GERrRuDE JAMESON.
Then follows declaration by the parties
that they entered into the ''ante- nuptial
agreement" voluntarily and with the full
same" To this is appended an affidavit by
William J. Crittenden, Vice and Deputy
Consul General of the United States at the
City of Mexico. attesting the execution of
the foregoing. The whole record is COM
pleted BY the great official seal of the
consulate.
Attorney l.. E. Phillips of this city, who
drew up the agreement, stated last night
that he was aware that 1t might not have a
binding effect in law, but relied on the
moral effect such solemn undertaking
would have on Turner to do something
toward Fighting the terrible wrong he had
done. That Turner was temporarily af-
fected by his obligation to the woman is
shown by the following letter:
MEXICO, Oct. 6, 1894.
L. E. Phillips, San Francisco. Cat-DEAR SIR:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of 21st ult.. with Enclosures:
was very glad to know that you approved
of my,plan as the first course suggested would
have led to endless delay and expense.
Mrs. Turner and l have to-day signed the
ante-nuptial agre ement and had the same wit
messed and sealed by the United States Consul
General. l inclose the ante-nuptial agreement
herewith.
III it is absolutely necessary to employ coun-
sci, OF course am willing to do so. 1 had al.
ways, however. imagined that the defendant
could let the case go by default. would ask
you to kindly let me know what the expense OF
counsel would be. 1 am, as you doubtless know,
not in very affiuent Circumstances.
/ have not, as yet. heard from Mr.. Massey,
but hope to do so shortly.
Hoping to hear from you that the case will
soon be completed, remain, yours very truly,
]. A. TURNER.
But this remorse on the part of Turner
was soon over. His child was born and
soon died. It's mother, sick and full OF
regrets. demanded more of his time and
attention than he cared to bestow. He
was tired of his fancy. Lulu, healthy,
bright and happy, was very different from
Lulu ailing, sad and suspicious.
Turner's father occupied a prominent
position in Victoria and was also partner
in the London clearinghouse of Turner,
Beatty & Co. He was in constant commu-
nication with his SON.
One day Turner told his wife he must 90
East for short time for his health, which