The San Francisco call., 1896-08-28
CRUEL CONDUCT OF
SYDNEY MILLER.
Has His Old Mother Ar
rested for Disturbing
His Peace.
HER PATHETIC STORY.
Ioviched All Her Money UDon
Lavished All Her Money Upon
Him and Then Turned
Out of Doors.
THE CASE WAS DISMISSED.
Justice of the Peace Carroll De.
nounces Miller for His Heart
less Action.

scoundrel it has been my misfortune to
know" said Justice of the Peace Carroll
in Judge Conlan's court yesterday morn
ing.
The remark was addressed to Sydney s.
Miller, conductor No. 160 on the Haight-
street cable cars, who had his mother ar
rested at an early hour yesterday morn
ing on the charge of disturbing the peace.
The story as told by Mrs. Agnes War
burton, Miller's mother, is one of the
most unflial ever heard in any court, and
has aroused universal sympathy for the
little woman.
~ belong to Perthshire, Scotland" she
said, "where l was married to Sydney's s
father, who was an engineer on steam
ship. He died when Sydney was Is
months old, and l was thrown upon my
own resources to provide home for him
and me. 1 went to Edin burgh and started
a dressmaking and millinery store and
was successful in business. l managed to
give him good education and provided
for him in every way.
''When he was 16 years old my health
failed me and I sailed with him for
Sydney, New South Wales. l did well
there, and as Sydney displayed taste for
art fitted up gallery for him at a cost
of G700. He met with serious accident,
and for long time was unable to do any
thing.
I'VE lived happily together, my only
ambition being to save money for my only
son, until 10 my surprise be one day told
me he was married. He told me who his
wife was and, although | aid not like his
choice, received her as a daughter and
did all | could for them. paid their pas
sage to the old country, as she had never
been there, and provided them with
funds. l did not hear from them for some
time, and then he wrote me that his
money was gone and L sent him ESQ to
bring them back.
The next l heard of them they were in
Texas. where their first child was born,
and then they came to San Francisco.
had been sending them small sums of
money to help them along. l could not
send more, owing to the bad times in
Australia.
Meantime | had married my present
husband, Mr.. Warburton, an old gentle
man who was at one time very wealthy,
but he lost nearly all his property during
the financial crash.
Things went on till Sydney wrote me
that he had got position here and had a
good home for me and my husband. He
urged US to come to him, but as we could
not both afford the expense my husband
remained in Melbourne, where we had
taken up our residence, and | came on
here. My husband was to follow as soon
as he was able to settle up some business
matters.
my son lives at 1716 Waller street, and
for the first week after | arrived last April
l was treated very kindly. Since then,
through the influence OF his wife, my life
has been very miserable. She twitted me
with being pauper, made me sleep in the
kitchen in a chIld's cot, and often l had to
go without my meals. although | was will
ing to cook them if she would let me.
Last night she threw my baggage out
in the yard and made me get out. She
locked the doors and | wandered around
till my son got home, about 1 o'clock
this morning. l implored him to let me
in, but he told me TO go and get room
somewhere else. told him had only q
cents in my pocket, but he went inside
and locked the door, [ was afraid nv
property would get spoiled by exposure to
the fog and l asked them to take it in, but
they wouldn't. Then | seized an ak and
threatened to break in the door unless
they took it in.
He went out by the front door and got
a policeman, and he demanded that
should be arrested for disturbing the
peace The officer did not want to do it.
but nv son insisted, and they got the
patrol wagon and took me to the prison.
"All L said to my son was, Sydney,
may God forgive you for this
Miller accompanied his mother in the
patrol wagon and preferred the charge
against her at the prison. He asked first
if it could be withdrawn, but Sergeant
Bidwell tod him he had gone too far. He
turned to his mother, who was standing.
with reproachful, streaming eyes, and
blurted out. II won have you disturbing
the children" and walked away.
Sergeant Nash, who was on duty at the
Central police station, after hearing Mrs.
Warburton's story, communicated with
DR.. Fitzgibbon at the Receiving Hospital
and the old lady found shelter for the
night in private ward in tie hospital.
Mrs. Warburton appeared before Justice
Carroll yesterday morning. After hear
ing the evidence the Judge at once dis
missed the case and said to the complain
ing witness: miller, you are about the
worst scoundrel it has been my misfortune
to know. No one regrets more than / do
that the law does not provide some severe
punishment for men like you But it does
not, and your punishment must come
from the contempt of the community.
take this occasion to tell you that | shall
make it point TO put the facts of the case
before your employers. for in my judg-
ment you are not fit person to be in the
employ of the company"
AS Miller LETT the witness-stand he was
about to make remark to the court, but
Policeman Behan hustled him out of the
courtroom, where he was joined by his
wife, who remarked sneeringly, That's
JUSTICE
Mrs. Warburton's case was brought to
the attention of Captain McFee of the
Salvation Army, and temporary shelter
was procured for her in the Sherman
House on Eighth street.
Later John NJ. Duncan, one of the COM
mittee of relief of st. Andrews Society.
saw her and told her that her son had
offered to provide for her till the next
steamer sails for Australia, when he would
fer 10 remain here. as the climate agrees
with her, but will have to accept her sons
proposition if he is able to carry it out.
st. Andrews Society will meantime at
tend to her immediate wants and get her