The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
THEIR PLAN WELL LAID.
After Driving to Sycamore the
Recreant Pair Vanish and
Leave No CleW.
THE WRATH OF THE HUSBAND.
The Mother of the Young Man Tells
How All the Trouble Came
About.

CoLUsA, March S.-George Woods, who
resides in the suburbs of this city, eloped
with the wife of his brother Thomas on
Wednesday. They were last seen at Syca-
more, eight miles from this town, in the
evening, where all trace of them was lost
There walked into the Farmer Hotel,
| located in Goods Extension, a suburb of
Colnsa, early on Wednesday afternoon,
young man, who rented a room for himself
and wife. In short time he returned, ac-
companied by a young woman whom he
escorted to the room and Immediately left
the hotel returning with a carriage and
driver. This peculiar action aroused the
curiosity of the landlord, and in reply to
his question as to why the young woman
| had not waited in the parlor the young
man informed him that his wife did not
want to sit in so public a place. He paid
his bill, the couple entered the hack and
rode away. The man was George Woods
and the woman was Thomas Woods wife.
When the carriage had reached Powells
Corner. at the town limits, where several
roads diverge, Woods told the driver to
halt. He then alighted and informed the
driver to await his return, leaving the
woman in the carriage. Woods walkedEto
the home of his mother and changed his
clothing. Then he informed her that he
was going to attend dance at Maxwell, a
neighboring village ana that party of
friends were awaiting him. He babe his
mother good-by and left.
Returning to the carriage, he ordered
the driver to take them to Sycamore,
eight miles distant, and there the couple
alighted and disappeared
1t was not long after George had left that
Thomas Woods came riding hurriedly into
town from the Berkey ranch where he is
employed and rushed exeitedly to his
mothers house. He asked for his wife.
| His mother, astonished at the question.
answered that she had not been there that
| day. Then he asked for his brother George.
and was informed that he had been there
but a short time before Thomas had
learned that his wife and his brother had
been seen walking into Colusa from the
Berkey ranch but few hours before. and
as his mother related the circumstances of
Georges visit, the truth suddenly flashed
into his mind. His wife had eloped with
his brother. He became frantic with grief
and rage, mathematical the recreant pair,
and swore mighty oath that henceforth
and forever he would never again look
upon his wife. He implored his mother
to disown the son who had brought dis
grace to them. But he made no attempt
to follow the runaways, and returned to
| his desolate home to grieve over his mis-
| fortunes and the perfidy of his wife and
| brother.
Mrs. Jane Woods, the mother of Thomas
and George, was interviewed at her home
in regard to the elopement and the events
| leading up to it. Mrs. Woods story is
substantially as follows:
| "One day last fall there came to nv
house lass named Kate Tones. Kate's
home was in Williams, where she had been
living with her mother and stepfather.
The girl was in rags, she was untidy and
in forlorn condition. With tears in her
eyes she told me pitiful story of cruel
treatment that she had been subjected to
in her home, and begged SO piteously to be
given shelter and home that my heart
went out to her and ! took her in.
THAT was the beginning of all the
trouble that has come upon my family
| since and sorely l regret now that l was
ever tempted to give shelter to that
woman, who has SO lily repaid my kind
ness.
"Kate was pleasant girl is look upon.
She was comely, and in my home under
the kind care given her, she soon grew to
be handsome, happy and ight-hearted
| girl. My sons were kind to her and paid
her much attention. Thomas and George
were especially attentive to her. Soon |
came to see that both of my boys We're des-
perately in love with the lass. 1 felt that
| 4 49, & = 4 l.
so l set about trying to mend matters.
First, talked to her of her duty to her
parents and advised her to return to her
home, but she pleaded that I should not
send her away.
"Then | asked her whom of nv two
boys, George and Thomas, she loved best.
L love George love him very much
| said she. But as for marrying him, will
not He is shiftless. So l shall marry
| Tom. for he will take good care of me-
This manner of talk made me angry.
and then and there upbraided her. And
in short time l told her that she could
stay no longer, and so sent her into CoIusa
on her way home, for 1 would have no.
more of her.
| ut was on the last night of the year 1894
that she left. Thomas followed her, and
with some young friends they went to
Judge ]. B. Moore and asked to be mar
ried by contract. Now, Judge Moore is
not believer in this form of marriage and
strongly expressed himself on the matter,
ending by refusing to comply with their
wishes.
Thomas was not to be discouraged, how
ever. In a short time the party returned
and Thomas produced marriage license.
Then Judge Moore made them man and
wife.
"All my efforts had proved futile, and
so when Tom came home with his bride
received them as cordially as | could in my
wounded pride. Here they lived until four
weeks since. During this time many
things came under my notice and seeing
the drift of things l told Tom one day that
! it were best for him to make his home else