The San Francisco call., 1896-05-11
An Uncle of the Injured Young
Man Refused Admission to
the Bedside.
GUATEMALA's Ex-PREsIDENT.
Alfonso BarIillas' Father Coming Here
to Defend His Sen in the
Strange Tangle.

has laid so low this once bright and active
young man.
John Bell, the Santa Barbara capitalist,
nephew of the late Thomas Bell, learned
OF the so-called accident shortly after il
occurred. The news reached him by way
OF messenger sent to him by a sister of
Fred Bell. He Immediately came to this
City, hoping to help the young man as
best he could physically and morally.
Last evening Mr.. Bell was seen at the
Grand Hotel, and he, too, displayed a de-
sire to be silent on the subject OF the young
mans ailment.
What can 1 tell your he asked. "All
know is that his sister sent me word he
was dying and 1 came up here immedi-
ately. have been to the house, have seen
everybody around the poor boy, but have
been forbidden to enter the sickroom.
Yes, l believe the boy is in most dan
gerous condition, or else l would certainly
be permitted to see him. have not been
able TO get any details of how the accident
occurred, no one appearing to know any,
thing about it.
Il am told Fred is unconscious, but 1
do not know 1t positively, as they will not
let me get near him.
II do think 1t very strange that such a.
~.
Ny uncle went that way and now there
seems to be in store similar death for his
boy"
In view of John Bells statement and
the persistent refusal of all parties con-
cerned to say anything regarding this
affair, it is not likely that anything will
be learned of its details until Coroner
Hawkins has TO take the case in hand.
ho4F FHa Z Il
well kept is due no doubt to Fred Bells
peculiar encourage. Glancing down the
line OF those who are connected with it
are: Theresa Percy, who is now the widow
OF the late Thomas Bell, who died in such
q mysterious manner, and whose vast
estate appears to be the vortex OF sensation
and tragedy. Mrs. Bell, in her earlier
career in this City, when it became known
that she and Bell had married was SUBJ
lected to annoyances innumerable at the
hands of news-gatherers. Subsequently
Nanny" Pleasant, the octogenarian
colored woman so well known in after
years as Sarah Althea Hills friend in the
celebrated Sharon divorce case, appeared
on the scene. It was in connection with
the advent of Thomas Bells children by
Theresa Percy. The scandal was ven
tilated during the months that the Sharon
case was being heard, and with ''the
Bracket behind the bureau "baby farm
ing" became familiar terms connected
with the unfortunate plaintiff who is now
dying in the Stockton Asylum for the In
sane.
NANNY Pleasant has no love for re.
porters, hence her desire to keep Fred
Bells case out of print.
AS to Mrs. Clinton Ferry, the divorced
wife of the "Duke of Tacoma" in whose
house the recent tragedy occurred, she
has but Just pulled out from under the
cathode ray of journalistic investigation.
Her troubles with her husband in Paris
when the latter broke into her apartments
and caused gendarmes to arrest her for
intimacy with dashing clerk from the
Bon Marche have been published with
positively embarrassing detail, especially
by the Partisan press, and rather fully by
many of the English and American news
papers.
Now comes the last scandal, or rather
the one most recently developed, the prin-
cipals in which are not likely to want to
give out much information tending to
clear up the mystery of the Fred Bell af-
fair.
Fred Bell had a room in Mrs. Ferrv's
house, where also lived an actress named
Haines, whose divorce case is still pend
ing There also lived in the same house,
on the same floor, Mrs. Etelka Gordan,
from whom her husband-"Gordan the
TaiIor"-secured divorce some years ago.
Fred Bell courted both these ladies, and
it was from in front of their apartments
that he fell on the fateful night two weeks
ago. He had no right to be on that floor,
especially after midnight, as his room was
on the floor below.
The private detectives who have been
working on the case at the lnstigation of
those friends of Bell who have been unable
to get satisfaction as to his condition from
his relatives. claim that rival of Bells
in the affections of either Mrs. Haines or
Mrs. Gordan may have had an alteration
with him during which the disastrous fall
occurred.
In connection with the case the name OF
Alfonso Barrillas, son of the ex-President
of GuateInala has been mentioned.
The young man is impetuous, like most
people of Central America, and he had no
particular liking for Fred Bell, for whom
he knew Mrs. Gordon held high regard.
''Taey can't put any blame on me" Mr..
Barrillas stated yesterday. II have got
nothing TO do with this affair. / knew
EteIka up to year ago, but have not
cared for her since an old man has become
her friend. i was not in the Bush-street
house when Bell was thrown out, but 1
understand they're going to make me
figure IN the matter"
In the meantime ex-President Barrillas
has cabled that he has taken passage from
Guatemala and will arrive here as soon as
the steamer City of Sydney can carry him.
This viii be the first visit of that dignitary
to this country.
Last evening male nurse at the house,
11o7 Bush street, declared that Fred Bell
would probably be removed in an ambu-