The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
Gentle Chidings for His Distant
Demeanor and Lack of
Calamity.
THE Ex.MAYoR TO THE WIDOW
Proud of the Title "Guardy," but Toe
Closely Watched to Be an
Ardent Suitor

SACRAMENTO, CAL, May 1s.-when
the case of Mrs. Adelaide T. Lee of Red
Bluff against ex-Mayor Eugene J. Gregory
OF this city, who is charged by the widow
with having obtained $4,000 by false pre-
lenses on the eve of Gregory Bros. d Co. s
collapse, was resumed this morning.
Attorney Bruner asked Mrs. Lee to pro-
duce any letters containing protestations
of love from Gregory. Mrs. Lee stated she
had many which she considered contained
expressions of love, citing as such the
Come Gene" letter. The witness then
became greatly agitated, and in tragic
voice, exclaimed:
Eugene understands that. He knows
l have read between the lines. He was not
the same after had made the loan, but he
said that doubt hurt more than anything
and didn't want to doubt him. / loved
that man from the bottom of my heart. |
couldn't help that. He knew l loved him,
for he asked me: What do you mean by
your letters?' and l said, Il mean | love,
Eugene
Mr.. Bruner here objected to the witness
endeavoring to create scene by her i'm
pressive manner.
tinued Mrs. Lee; 81 always speak from
my heart, and l did when l told him /
loved him.
Still you want to send him to prison p"
What has he done for me? He has
kept me on the verge of insanity for
months, and now 1 have been brought
here to be smirched. Anvthing he can do
to hurt me he will DO Read my letters ::
read themi He told me they were to be
strictly confidential, but that is like all of
his promises"
Mrs. Lees letters to Gregory were once
more taken up. Most of them were dated
after the last loan, and contained COM
plants of neglect by Gregory; such sen
fences as: why will you not see me?"
Are you going to deny me for all eter-
nlty?" Your ward has shed many ars
over your seeming neglect" "All those
insinuations have their weight in your
ward" etc.
Several sentences upon which much
stress was laid by the defense are as fol-
lows: From your letters l cannot inter-
pref any personal regret for my hurt :;
Il have now nothing to show that 1 have
ever even had the gilt-edge security of
your friendship; II feel l must see you,
though 1t hurt me exceedingly that YOU
left the Grand Hotel on my account"
"lf you don't come to me in the city you
will be the last straw to cling to-: at is
| hard that you even refuse to send me such
little token as sheet of music. As you
refused your photo long ago, did YOU
| really mean not to show me any atten-
| ton? If you persist that you cannot be
more than a friend and if you have grown
| indifferent to me I want nothing more to
do with your firm, and you can take your
notes back
The witness was excused shortly before
noon and the County Clerk was put on the
| stand to prove that soon after the last loan
made by Mrs. Lee Gregory Bros. filed a
petition in insolvency.
In the afternoon the letters of Gregory
to Mrs. Lee were taken up. In one he re-
ferred to his business and to her delight
full letters, and said he was glad there was
one congenia soul who longed for his re-
turn to California. In another he spoke
of something that was not founded on fact
in former letter from Mrs. Lee, and
added: while l love children, l prefer
them grown up" This was underlined.
In another he said "Dear Ward-I
propose some time to write you letter.
Will endeavor to deserve the appellation of
'guardy'." and added, 'If you had three
lovely sisters watching your going out,
you would realize the position I am i'm
Attorney Bruner asked if these were love
letters, and Assistant District Attorney
Jones retorted:
"They don't say Il love you! love you
I love youp but they mean love just the
same when written to sensitive, refined
| lady"
In another letter Gregory said: 81 know
what it is to have plenty and still be hard
up"
This bears me out in my theory that
Mrs. Lee thought Gregory solvent" said
Attorney Jones.
II do not care to argue the case at this
time" rejoined the defendants attorney.
eve have lots of letters we can intro
duce," said Mr.. Jones.
Yes, we have five letters to your one, :"
retorted Bruner.
"You also have $4,000 to our none," sar-
castically retorted Jones.
In another letter Gregory said: "I am
now under obligations to you. When l
discharge such obligations, I can consult
my personal interests"
Then the attorneys had another mix-up.
and the case was continued