The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
bEFR|END|NG THE
ASHLEY SISTERS,
The State Woman's Fed
GRAFTON for Public Good
Interested.
CLOTHING FOR THE BABY
A Testimonial From Lillian
Ashley's Old Congregational
Pastor.
APPEAL MADE TO E.J. BALDWIN
Efforts on the Part of Several Yer.
mont People to Procure Bonds
for Emma.
APPEAL MADE TO E. J. BALDWIN

The sad story of the Ashley sisters, OF
their poverty and despair, especially that
OF Emma, who made a frenzied attem pt
to shoot E. ]. Baldwin in the courtroom q
week ago, has awakened the interest of a
number of charitable ladies in the City,
and efforts are being made TO relieve them
of their distress
Without going into the merits or de-
merits of the suit" said a prominent mem
Der OF the Woman's State Federation for
Public Good yesterday, 1.-The case of these
unfortunate people appeals to the sympa-
thies of their sex. One is a young mother.
| the second is an innocent girl and the
third is helpless little child-three crea.
lures that woman must regard and religion
comfort. They are objects for the minis
tration of taith and charity"
Mrs. Nj. J. w oodn-an, memb of the
federation, and also of the Third Congre.
gational Church of this City, has visited
| the sisters, Lillian in her room at 81e1L
Prison. She is a native OF Vermont, and
is interesting number of ladies from that
State in the misfortunes of the Ashlevs.
II am taking an acting part in trying
to assist these poor girls" said Mrs.
Woodman yesterday, because / know the
AoObo anu Iuduy 4dCIS bO&t nave not been
published in the papers. | want the
women of the Federation for Public Good
to see them. | want them to see that
Lillian Ashley has been more sinned
against than SHINING, and that Emma
Ashley is pure girl, whose love for her
sister and whose tenderness for that poor
little fatherless babe made her attempt a
desperate deed. The case was tried with
closed doors and the public does not know
all the wrong that Lillian Ashley has suf-
fered nor Just what drove Emma to the
act OF mad woman.
when e. j. Baldwin went back to that
country village and met the Ash.ev girls
he was stranger there. With his white
hair and fatherly manners they thought
him rich, philanthropic gentleman, and
IT is no wonder he succeeded in drawing
Lillian away from her home to misery and
ruin. 10 show you the standing of the
plaintiff in this deplorab BILE case will read
you this testimonial from her former
pastor:
PARSONAGE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURcH,l
40 MAIN STREET,
WINCHESTER, MASS, March g. l894>
II gives me great pleasure to testify to the
excellent moral and Christian character of
my congregation here in Winchester. We
were very sorry to lose her from our Sunday
school, Society OF Christian Endeavor and a
circle of Kings Daughters, in each of which
she was US eiul and loved member,
would commend her most cordially to any
Christian people among whom her lot in the fu-
ture may be cast.
d. AUGUSTINE NEWTON, Pastor.
"I have written a letter to Mr.. Bald win
asking him to make some provision from
his millions for this child, who is undoubt-
edly his flesh and blood. In a compara-
lively few years he and his ranches mines.
city property and racehorses will part, and
he might make some little reparation for
h1 h0 hno
hour comes on. l do not know whether
my appeal will reach his heart or not, but
my view is the Christian-the humane
view OF the case, and my conscience is
clear. l understand Baldwin will be asked
to assist in some manner in procuring
bonds for Miss Emma Ashley. The idea
may seem wildly visionary, but E. j. Bald
win could not we'll do more creditab ble
thing, and it would put new phase on
the affair. To go on the bond of the
woman who attempted to shoot him would
be generous act that would not fail to
benefit him In the minds of the people.
Baldwin's millions may defeat the penni-
less woman who is fighting him in the
cause of his own child, but popular opin-
ion will try and condemn him.
1--WE have brought the Ashley case be-
fore the protection committee of the
Woman's Federation, and even if the
federation does not do anything fnan-
cially for them it may give them its moral
support"
A number of ladies, among them two of
Emma Ashiey's Vermont neighbors, Wis.,
tied her in the City Prison yesterday.
They brought her q number of needed
articles which would go far toward max
ing her confinement behind the bars more
tolerable. They afterward visited Lillian
Ashley in her room. Mrs. Woodman
took the baby some clothing, of which
the little one stood badly in need Chief
OF Police Crowley yesterday, at the earnest
request of Emma Ashley, permitted her to
go and see the baby she loves so well. An
officer in citizens clothes took her to the
house and remained in the room during
her visit. She cried over the child in a
pitiful manner, and could hardly be per-
suaded to leave it when the time came to
return to the prison.
Strong efforts are being made to procure
bonds for the unfortunate young woman,
and it is thouh hit she will be released in a
few days, as number of persons have ex-
pressed themselves as being willing to
stand responsible for her appearance at
her trial.
"If my sister is released" said Lillian
yesterday, II will be able to do something
for our support, for she will take care of
baby. We have nothing and must work.
which can and will do till the decision is
rendered. It's al for this child. If gain
anything from the suit it will be for it's
support. Twill bring her up rightly if |
can. She is K. ]. Baldwin's daughter, and
If a few dollars of his millions are forced
from him by this suit he will have the
consolation of knowing that his own child
and not strangers is getting the benefit of
the money. Several kind ladies have
called on me with their dear, kind words
of sympathy, and l am thankful God does
not quite abandon the worse than widow