The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-09
Gained the First Wife'S Con-
fdence by Means of the
Civil Code.
LOVED HIS SERVANT GIRL
A Deposition From Buffalo That Leaves
No Doubt of the Gay Doctors
Mode of Life.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANc1sco CALL

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
90S Broadway, Jan. s.
A deposition was filed with the County
Clerk his afternoon that supplies the
proof to a strange story of duplicity that
was first told when DR.. Hood died at Hav-
wards about two years ago. The docu-
ment is from DR.. Hoods first wife, and
has been filed for the purpose OF substan-
tiating her claim 10 the estate of the de-
ceased. The tangle arises from the fact
that Hood was posing as the legal hus-
band Of two women at the time of his
death.
When DR.. Hood was living at Haywards
he had q wife known to all as Mrs Fife
Hassler Hood. She died few months be-
fore the doctor and left her property to
him. Before the estate was distributed
DR.. Hood died. and in accordance with
the terms OF the will the estate was ordered
10 be distrl buted to a. J. Hass!er OF Hay
wards. At this stage the Eastern widow
was heard from. In order to establish her
claim the deposi lion was taken which was
filed to-day
Mrs. Hood says that she now lives at
Buffalo \. Y. D.. and is So years OF age. She
met DR.. Hood in San Francisco when she
was Is years old at the house OF MI. ana
Mrs. heyes. In June. 1873, DR.. Hood
showed her the Civil Code Of California, IN
which he had marked several passa geS,
whlcn he said Indicated that II they lived
together as husband and wife they were
lust as legally married Is though a cere-
monv had been performed. He said his
wife had very recently died near San
Francisco ard he did not like TO make his
marriage pubic so soon after her death.
marriage, signed by Justice Shinn OF San
Rafael. testifying that on June "a, 1878, he
had married J. W. H. Hood 10 Bessie
Anderson. The certificate is attached TO
the deposition.
Mrs. Hoods says she lived with Dr.
Hood as his wife for two years and that he
introduced her TO many prominent people
whose names are well known in Oakland
and san Francisco. a child was born at
Upper Bluffs, Humboldt County, in April,
1875, and named John Paul Hood.
According TO Mrs. Hoods story, the
doctor was passionate and ELUSIVE letter
writer, and extracts from these letters
fully establish the relationship between
them. They are eli written to My dear
wife, and contain many illusions to 'our
dear boy" The direct story Of Mrs. Hood
concludes thus:
Il last saw Dr.. Hood on board the
steamship Britannia, in New York harbor
as he was leaving for England. l came
East TO Chicago from California in1SS0, at
the suggestion OF Dr. Hood, as my health
was poor and he said that the trip might
benefit me. Ny illness WAS caused by wor-
rying over the fact that DR.. Hood was
spending most of his time with a young
woman named Ellie Mallatratt (nee Has
sler1. who was once my servant, but whom
l discharged because OF her conduct with
my husband. After she left my house DIR.
Hood took care OF her-supported her
and l knew that they lived together as
man and wife later. 1t was on her ac-
count that he ceased TO care for me and
our child"
In one of the letters he says: Il am
pleased you are meeting friends and be-
ginning to feel at home but hope that YOU
will not get too thick with men. Don't
ttirt with or encourage men," AT the
time he was giving his wife such counsel
ne was introducing his former servant girl
as his wife to his HaYwards friends.
About three years ago the woman with
whom he was living got into trouble on
account of her violent and cruel treatment
Of little girl the doctor had befriended in
London ana brought out here. From that
time on the Hoods were notorious, and
when the doctor made his will on his
deathbed he left his curse upon all who
had pushed the charges OF cruelty against
them, and whom he charged with his
wije's death, The contest comes up on
the 20th inst