The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16

The recent reports sent from Spokane con
corning me have not one grain of truth to
rest on. To begin with, / was never
known there as Miss Overman, for l did
not use my maiden name, which had re-
gained through the divorce courts, until
took up my residence in Tacoma.
1.-THE block where I was reported to have
lived in Spokane was in course of construc-
ton when I came away. Ny life there
was extremely quiet. 1 attended church
regularly and it was in Sabbath school I
first met Mrs. Tunnel. After closing up
my business in Spokane l went to Tacoma
where my parents had moved. During
my stay OF perhaps year in the former
place | began dressmaking in families and
with the exception of two or three months
found steady employment as long as l re-
mained there. My parents since leaving
the old farm had many reverses and mis-
fortunes, and as the older children were all
married or away from home it was the
| pleasure and happiness of my life to give
| them some comforts which they might not
otherwise have enjoyed.
II was never fond of the gayeties of life,
my whole time and attention being given
to work and study, that we might be
blessed with music and good and whole
some books with which to- cheer our fire.
side when we gathered of evenings when
the days labors were finished. Nv sister.
with whom | had formerly resided in
| Spokane being then widow, resolved to
take up her residence in Seattle. After
her dressmaking business had sufficiently
| increased spent a portion of nv time as
slstlng her. 1t was then I had an IN
pleasant business experience which has
been SO recently widely heralded. I met a
party whom | now recognize as nv Seattle
slanderer, and as l was in possession of
unpleasant. facts concerning him this was
an opportunity to strike me, which he
could not resist. The cause of this mans
bitterness toward me is simple. l had un-
| Willingly revealed to his wife that he was
regular visitor of lady. 1 thought
that he was merely relative.
II positively deny that ever attemnted
blackmail on any prominent man of Seat
| tie, or that l ever behaved in public or
private in the disgraceful manner accred-
tied me. But to return to Tacoma. NV
work there was mainly among church
people. Incidentally let me say that never
at any time did I work in any but respect
able families. The horrible statement that
I visited disreputable places is utterly
without foundation.
while engaged in pleasant family I
| met Mrs. Brown, who expressed desire
to have me assist her with some dress
work. So after time it came about that
at her dinner table | was introduced to her
husband, DR.. c. O. Brown. My acouain-
tance with him in Tacoma was slight and
principally of business character. Mrs.
Brown was always kind, and our acouain.
tance by the time of her departure from
Tacoma had ripened into friendship to the
extent of occasionally dining with her and
evenings spent in social intercourse. She
had noticed my failing health, and kindly
invited me to accompany her to San Fran
cisco for rest and change of climate. At
that time could not accept.
I'm the winter of 1898 decided, on ac
count of my ill-health, to visit my sister.
who had in the meantime moved to San
Francisco. left home in December. stop
ping in Victoria few days to visit the
sister who had formerly resided in Seattle
and had for business reasons taken up her
home in the frst-named city. Three or
four days after my arrival there I was
taken down with neuralgia, and for two
weeks did not leave my bed. As soon as l
was able to travel took the steamer for
San Francisco. My stay in Victoria
altogether did not exceed three weeks, and
my habits were necessarily of the quietest
possible character. | met no one in
social way.
literally harassed to death Tith letters