The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-20
Singular Message Which Ac'
companied His Letter of
Farewell.
HIS PRESENCE IS DESIRED
By Professional Men and by Others
Who Have Had Business Deal.
ings With Him.

OuAe d AcS OOu SNlpe.
This singular inscription on ar envelope
attracted the attention OF the postal au-
thorities in this City yesterday. Being on
the outside of the envelope there was no
question that the injunction, Don t
swipe, was addressed 10 Uncle Sans
mail-handlers and was intended to bid
them not to burgiarize the envelope. The
letter was addressed to Attorney l.. E.
Phillips, whose office is at 405 Montgom-
cry street, and there is a long story con-
nected with the letter and its author, for
the latter babe Mr.. Phillips an adieu
which was more sarcastic than affection
ate.
Some six or seven months ago medium
sized, well-built young man, whose man
ners were polished and insinuating, whose
voice was smooth, soft and well modu-
lated and whose dress was stylish and I'M
exceptionable. came into San Francisco.
lie gave the ma me of Cyrus D. Noble, and
his occupation was that of agent for the
Des Moline S Life Association. He had no
difficulty in ingratiating himself into
the favor of many men around
town, professional and others. He
speedily knew physicians, lawyers, dem
lists and others, and was prime favorite
with many young ladies He was duly
commissioned by D. R. Hubbard. the su-
perintendent of agencies, who has his Of
fees at Des Moines, to get business for
the company. and be proceeded 10 do this
with vlgor and success. He did business
in Los Angeles, Stockton, Sacramento,
Fresno, San Jose, and, in a word, In about
all the towns and cities of any size in Cal
ifornia. The home office at Des Moines
seemed to be thoroughly satisfied with the
outlook, and for period of about six
months Mr.. Noble, natty and self-con-
tsined, was familiar parsonage on Mont
gomery and Market streets.
When Attorney L. E. Phillips opened
his letter yesterday, which on the exterior
bore the "Don't swipe" injunction, his key
fell out. 1t was the key to his Office.
which has for some time been in the pos
session of Cyrus D. Noble. Some time
last February Cyrus D. Noble invited At
torney Phillips to be attorney for the Des
Moines Life Association. He made a nice
little speech in which he asserted that he
had heard very favorably of Mr.. Phillips
as corporation lawyer. He closed with
the offer of salary OF $500 per annum, to
be payable semi-annually in installments
of $3.50. Not long after that Mr.. Noble sug-
gested that if Mr.. Phillips were only
nearer the place OF business which Mr..
Noble desired to occupy, it would be much
more convenient Tor purposes OF consulta-
ton, if legal questions should arise, which
Mr.. Noble said, might be expected to be
frequently the case.
Before this interview was over Mr..
Noble had engaged Mr.. Phillips outer
Office at the rate of $40 per month. Di-
rectly thereafter Mr.. Noble was installed
al 405 Montgomery street, put out his sign
on the outer hallway and on the door OF
the Office, and with his customary vigor
and adroitness invited the public to come
in. The people went in. There was
continual procession of young women.
my one fault" said Mr.. Noble to Mr..
Phillips, is that am ladykiller."
One day "a young woman, who is en-
gagged IN Montgomery-street office, went
to an attorney and wanted to know what
she could do to make Mr.. Noble fill an
alleged promise TO marry her. She is a
handsome brunette, with swapping black
eyes, petite, with regular and attractive
features and vivacious to a degree. She
said that Mr.. Noble had promised to marry
her on the occasion of their second meet
ing, but he seemed to be little backward.
In the meantime Mr.. Mobiles clientele of
ladies appeared to be on the increase.
Just about as Mr.. Phillips first install
ment of salary was due from Mr. Noble as
attorney for the Des MONIES Life Associa-
ton, Mr.. Noble dropped out of sight
There were at that time, and, IN fact, still
are, several months payments for Office
rent Oue 10 MI III aITedTS, anu
with the SIX months salary due, Mr..
Noble had quite score against him alto
gether. Mr.. Phillips did not know until
yesterday where Mr.. Noble had gone; not
until he received the letter before men
toned, which was dated at Portland, Or,
and was written on a letter-head of the
Portland Hotel. A part of the letter was
as follows:
81 am sorry that 1 did not see you be-
fore leaving the City, as 1 wanted to see
you very badly. Good-by. You should
be very much obliged to me for obtaining
for you the position of attorney for the Des
Moines Life Association. 1t makes no diff
ference what occurs in the future or what
changes come, for if you stick TO the Des
Moines Life Association you will have
money to burn
Mr.. Phillips was not greatly
assured by this letter for he had already
received letter from Mr.. Hubbard of Des
Moines, in which the last named gentle
man said that Mr.. Noble had no authority
TO make any contracts on behalf of the
company. This letter also contained the
information that prior to his engagement
the company knew very little about Mr..
Noble, but that his address and manner
had inspired sufficient confidence in Noble
to secure for him the agency which he filled
in San Francisco.
While Attorney Phillips does not quite
see how be is going to get even II Mr..
Noble does not return, and the letter from
Portland is interpreted to mean a final
adieu, there are others in the City who
would also like to interview Mr.. Noble
and receive from him some of the good
hard coin of the realm.
One of these is John Barduhn, tailor
who does business on the east side of
Kearny street, near Market. Mr.. Bar
duhn told his story last evening. He says
that he first made suit of clothes for
Noble which was not paid for. Noble
persuaded him to have his life insured to
the amount of $1,000 in the Des Moines
Life Association. Noble said that he need
not put up any cash, but that he would
bring around people to trade enough to
pay the premiums as they fell due. Mr..
Barduhn was persuaded to put mp $40
cash for. insurance, and that left $31 due
for insurance which was to be paid in
trade. The clothes made for Noble not
being paid for, Barduhn grew uneasy and
finally secured in part payment a note for
$50. which had been given by DIR. Alex
ander Mcneil, whose residence Is on Van
Ness avenue, to Noble.
There is another story growing out OF
this note according to DIR. Mcneil. This