The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-14
MAY BECOME RECONC|LED
Maude LaSCel!eS Touched by a
Letter From Her Convict
Husband.
1t Is Thought Her Action for an
Absolute Divorce VIII Be
Withdrawn.

NEW YORK. n. Y, July 13.-Maude
LasceIles, the wife of w. S. Beresford, alias
Lord Charles Beresford, alias Sidney Las
celles, was visited yesterday at her home in
Yonkers by an ambassador for her hus-
band, who is now serving time in a lumber
camp at Kramer, Ga.
Beresford, who in times past has proved
himself a most accomplished impostor,
was recently sentenced to five years at hard
labor for forgery. He has protested re-
pentance for his offenses and desire to
lead an honest life. Many prominent per-
sons in Georgia believe he is in earnest and
have asked the Governor to pardon him.
The press throughout the State, with few
exceptions, have favored his pardon.
1t was announced few days since that
Mrs. Beresford had begun suit'for an alb
solute divorce from her husband. She is
charming young woman, of an aristo-
cratic family, who ran away from home
and married Beresford before she knew his
true character. Until recently she was
loyal to him through all his troubles in
spite of the protests of relatives and
friends. What seemed to her conclusive
evidence of his intidelity finally turned her
against MIN. Beresford's friends claim
that they can establish his innocence of
the charge of infidelity and that the evil
dence in this respect against him, if any
exists was purchased or is black perjury.
Several attempts have been made in the
past few days by Beresford's friends to
place his letter in his wife's hands. She is
so surrounded by relatives opposed to him
that the matter was a difficult one. The
friends did not dare to send the letter by
mail for fear that it would be intercepted.
Yesterday, however, the letter was placed
in her hands and read by her in the pres
ence of her husband S representative. The
letter, in part, is as follows:
KRAMER, GA, June 26-Jfy Oacn Darling
MGade would to God you could read my
very heart as it goes out to you There is never
an hour in my life, whether awake or asleep,
but you fashion and occupy my thoughts.
While my own yfcissitudes have been more
amount to the grief and remorse which expe-
rience is my solicitude for you. The pangs
which l know have stung your tender and
my humiliation than all else.
That have repented all my past transgres-
sions is sure and certain, and all my future life
shall be spent in honest, earnest, Christian,
Godlike endeaVor to obliterate the unhappy
episodes of the past by spotess and blame
less career, inspired always by an unrelenting
and ceaseless effort to make the pathway
smooth and peaceful for you.
In all these tribulations, though appear
ances may be against me. have remained
faithful and true TO you. The deepest wound
of all was the information that you had in
reality asked the courts to sever the sacred
ties that bind US together, and I am satisfied
that you have been persuaded to the conclu-
sion and coerced by Barr and by Others
prompted by their enmity and their avaricious
greed for gain. There exists very strong
probability that the Governor will grant me an
unconditional pardon within a very few days,
a request for which is prayed for by every Off
cial here and many of the influential citizens
of this and other States. Indeed, the Georgia
press, almost without exception, favors my re-
lease. The only objections emanate from D.
B. King, and all that has appeared against me
is traceable to him. Will you, whom | have
loved beyond the natural degree and with I'M
speakable devotion, constant and true as the
stars, secured by any hope of home in Para
disc when LIES conflict is over-can you, the
only tie that binds me to the world-leaYe me
forever?
In conclusion, earnestly pray the Master to
bless and keep you always from harm, and to
permit me to be the means of Frightening your
future life.
With all my hearts love, your affectionate
husband, SIDNEY.
Mrs. Lascelles was evidently deeply
affected by the reading of the letter. She
expressed the hope that her husband
might be pardoned, and that he was sim
cere in his professions of repentance. She
made no promises of reconciliation,
but conveyed the idea thatif her husband
were pardoned and proved himself worthy
of consideration reconciliation might be
effected in spite of all opposition. She said
she would write to her husband in reply to
the letter at once.