The San Francisco call., 1896-11-29
SARAH SPEHCER'S
;. MANY HUMBUGS
.. The New Woman in the
Fair Case Is an Ad-
. ventureSS.
!. Her Shady Record in Many
Dark Deeds Brands Her
a Fraud.
None of the Attorneys Trust Her or
Know Aught of Her Mysteri.
ols Pretenses.

Mrs. Sarah Owen Spencer. q weak
woman who has. had considerable unenvi-
able notoriety IN the past, has come to the
front with mysterious and mythical
story about the estate of the late James G.
Fair, pretending also to great wisdom
about the affairs of Mrs. Craven.
In spite of the woman's dramatic play
that her strange statements were made in
prospect of impending death the strangest
fact.is that nobody knows anything about
her save her doubtful record i'll other
matters.
Inquiry at the law offices of Delmas &
Shortridge elected the information that
they had never heard anything about her
and cared absolutely nothing about her
preposterous claim OF great knowledge of
their client. "Her statements are all abso-
lutely false was the reply made by these
attorneys"
Though the notorious woman's odd
statements might seem at first blush to
favor the interests represented by Attor-
ney George A. Knight, he seemed equally
as much startled and dazed as anybody
else, and rejected the voluntary interjec-
tion of new evidence with tirmness and
dignity.
II the woman's evidence relative to th e
matter is of no more worth than her sem
sational statements concerning her own
health it will cut a sorry figure in the case.
=. A few days ago she or her friends sent
word to the various newspapers OF the
City TO hasten trusty stenographers to her
deathbed to obtain revelations that would
surprise an anxious world.
Almost before The woman who was
thus described as writhing in the throes
of dissolution could be seen at. the Lick
House she was hurried to st. Mary's
Hospital, where she is now resting in
better health.
Mrs Owens physician is DR.. w. S.
Thorn, man of uniJupeachable charac-
rer and standing in his profession. He
wonders TO whom his pationt referred
when she said, II have. been told / have
but few hours 10 live" for he takes a
different view.
Speaking of Mrs: Spencer last night Dr.
Thorn said: 1.-The woman is very i'll with
ulcers of the stomach, and this disease
will ultimately kill her. While she is as
bad now as she has been during the ten
months she has been under my care. | do
not think she is in any danger of dying
soon. She might llnger long time in her
I. present condition or might die almost any
time of hemorrhages."
The mystery of Mrs. Spencer's position
is intensified by the boldness, not TO say
audacity, by which she states that the
Craven deeds, letters and marriage con-
tract are forgeries, and that she knows
these things by reason of her enjoyment
of the absolute confidence OF Mrs. Craven,
for whom she declares she has been pre-
serving mysterious and valuable docu-
ment for. four years. She appears to be in
her senses, and her story is coherent, i'm
probable and ridiculous as it seems.
The woman's past career now becomes
an important factor in viewing her present
statements. To say the least, her record
Is spotted with sensational allega atoms de-
rogatory TO her character. Her name has
often been associated in an uncompli-
mentary way with the Christy forgeries,
insconnection with which she was alleged
to:be the criminal who appeared before
Lee D. Craig as the maker of the forged
papers.
At one time she had a suit against the
Iron Mountain Railroad Company for in
juries alleged to have been inflicted at
Texarkana. In this case she obtained a
Judgment for $40, 600. It was from some
of the evidence in this case that Notary
Craig learned that she was the same per-
son who imposed upon him. The Circuit
Court of Little Rock. incidentally, has
ordered that the Tonan's deposition be
taken here for use in matters now pending
there.
Mrs. Spencer was prominent also in the
case of WitZeman We. Spencer before Judg ge
Slack wherein the judgment was based
on evidence that showed that she cleverly
Melted more than $4,000 on fraudulent
scheme called the Southern California
Fruit and Orchard Company. She in
duced Mrs. WitZeman to put ABOUT $40, 900
IN money and property into this venture,
having made plausible statements that il
had large pald-up capital and was clear
ing quite large dividend.
Many stories are afioat regarding the
Spencer woman's strange ambitions and
adventures If half of them are true sne
has bad many plans atioat that have net
Ted a good income.
Attorney Alexander Campbell has at
various times been employed. in matters
affecting her character, and he is in pos
session of enough information TO make q
romance.
''At one time the woman claimed to own
valuable land near Cottonwood. Shasta
F. County. "'said Mr.. Campbell, ''and induced
Police Sergeant Cook OF this City to think
of trading for it. He went up and saw it j.
and had Dorm & Dorm examine the title. as
result of which the trade fell through -
Transactions with John Riddle at Dav-
ton, WASH, show that the woman obtained
forty lots from him by shrewd dealing in
. 1891.
AT another time the woman obtained a
: number OF lots at Twenty and
Hoffman streets. San Francisco The
dafion resulted in grave disappointments
10 many people.
1t is said by those who know the woman
best that her statement, if she made it as
reported IN q sensational morning paper.
lis wholly unworthy OF credence, and if she
did mote make IL q great fake has been
berpetrated on the public.