The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-13
NJ DONALD STEAL
Wife of Richard, Jr., Gives Her Yer.
sion of the Matter.
TALKS or POLITICAL CONSPIRACY
And the Part That Mcdonald,
Sr., Played In 1t.

ST. LOUIS, July l3-Mrs. Ellis McDon-
aid, reported to have fed from San Fran
cisco with 100000 belonging to her hus-
band, Richard ii. Mcdonald, Jr., now in
Jail in that city awaiting trial for forgery
and embezxlement in connection with the
wrecking Of the Pacific bank, was located
in this city yesterday. She is stopping
with her sister-in-law, Mrs. John Carlton.
At first she would not admit her identity,
but after reading the report OF her alleged
flight, she acknowledged that she was Mrs.
Richard Mcdonald. She then said
Now Let me explain everything TO you
since have disclosed my identity. In the
first place, the report that have fed with
my husbands money IL untrue. i have
not handled any of his money for three
months, and then the amount was not
mors than $4,000. This was all that was
ever entrusted to me for defending my
husband, and 1t was all he had"
She related the story of her first meeting
with Mcdonald, in 1890, and told of their
marriage In 1893. Three months after
their marriage, she continued, the trouble
came on.
Richard Mcdonald, ST., my father-in-
law, went to New York and sent for us"
she said. "When we arrived, he asked my
husband 70 take me and go abroad. My
husband said no; that he was content and
would GO back TO San Francisco and face
tho charges. His father begged him to go,
and even offered our expenses. But my
husband refused, and the result was that
we went back 10 San Francisco, his father
pemaining in New York, where ho Is at
present.
"Then followed my husbands arrest,
and all OF this trouble, Of which i know
nothing 1 am totally ignorant Of my
husbands financial dealings, therefore
am not in a position to talk Of them, but
know that my husband is innocent OF
the charge against him, and is the victim
of polAtical conspiracy. That is why his
father wanted him to go abroad, as he said
that our enemies in San Francisco would
resort TO any means to pull us down.
Details of Alleged Plot.
"Thc conspiracy, or as much rs under
stand Of IL, was this: There was plot
gotten up by some politicians TO secure
the chief Justices seat. The McDonalds
were ruling power In San Francisco at
that time, and as the Pacific bank con-
trolled millions and had other dealings
outside OF financial ones, these politicians
set to work and, without any good reason,
appointed a receiver fo7 the bank. They
declared it had gone under through fraud
ulent dealings of the Mcdonald family,
and would have arrested my husband, his
father and my brother-in-law If they had
dared.
Frank Mcdonald, my brother-in-law,
went 10 Japan. Now, it is said, he took
$4,000 belonging to the bank with him.
That is false. Only three months ago l
had To cable him $3.50, though he never re-
ccived it. One of our lawyers received the
money from me, but never seDti 1t. Attorney
Livernash, who Is assisting in the defense,
Is doing so for nothing. Hc simply went
into the case 10 try and make n reputation.
This is our side CT the charges against my
husband"
Mrs. Mcdonald declares that she has not
got a cent of money outside of actual liv-
ing expenses. When the reporter called
she was attircd in wrapper and engaged
in cleaning the house. 1T seems prob
able" she reIr arked, sarcastically, that /
would be doing this If l had 100000,
doesn't itf"
Mrs. Mcdonald said she would leave for
San Francisco ia n few days TO be present
with her husband when &c Is arraigned
for trial on July %.